59103 Village of Mells approaches Circourt Bridge, Denchworth, on 16 October 1992 with what is presumably the late running 6A43 ARC stone empties returning to Whatley Quarry. As this was well before the days of easy access to gen, this could either have originated from Oxford Banbury Road at 06:38 (booked), or Appleford at 06:59 (in theory). Both trains ran under the same headcode, as required. Note the fresh ballast in the foreground, and the sleepers laid out to take the soon to be reinstated down relief line. The installation of up relief line would follow just over a year later. This was in preparation for imported coal for Didcot Power Station coming via Avonmouth, instead of from domestic pits in the Midlands. |