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This report traces the route of the mile-long siding that once connected RAF Bicester to the LMS main line from Oxford to Bletchley, as well as some of the bomb storage area. It's not the most exciting of sites but since it's there it has to be worth a quick look. The siding dates from 1933 and though its exact date of closure is unknown it was certainly disused by the 1970s. Originally it extended right into the heart of the technical site. This is not an exciting site by any means so it's a short report, however since not all RAF bases had rail connections and not all of those that had them have survived it is worth recording as part of the greater picture of RAF Bicester. There is a bit more on my web site.
First up, after a comedy lost-in-the-cornfields moment saved by a friendly farmer, the bomb storage. Not as extensive or well preserved as that at RAF Oakley, and now home to a muckheap.
Back to the siding, it's just an idilyc farm track nowadays, a lot less overgrown than a lot of the Beeching closures.
With possibly the weediest standard gauge railway bridge I have ever seen. Just what kind of motive power did the RAF use? I've seen hiking trail bridges stronger than this!
Otherwise, loads of concrete sleepers and fence posts, a stream culverted 3/4 of a mile under the airfield which sounds a lot more interesting than it is until you realise it's culverted in a 2'6'' concrete pipe, and this thing, next to the airfield perimeter fence. The arrow says ex-MOD, but what is it? RAF boundary post? Buried cable marker?
The siding is easy enough to find because it's clearly visible on Flash Earth, plus it's marked on the OS map. Hazards are few, nettles, thorns, cows.
First up, after a comedy lost-in-the-cornfields moment saved by a friendly farmer, the bomb storage. Not as extensive or well preserved as that at RAF Oakley, and now home to a muckheap.
Back to the siding, it's just an idilyc farm track nowadays, a lot less overgrown than a lot of the Beeching closures.
With possibly the weediest standard gauge railway bridge I have ever seen. Just what kind of motive power did the RAF use? I've seen hiking trail bridges stronger than this!
Otherwise, loads of concrete sleepers and fence posts, a stream culverted 3/4 of a mile under the airfield which sounds a lot more interesting than it is until you realise it's culverted in a 2'6'' concrete pipe, and this thing, next to the airfield perimeter fence. The arrow says ex-MOD, but what is it? RAF boundary post? Buried cable marker?
The siding is easy enough to find because it's clearly visible on Flash Earth, plus it's marked on the OS map. Hazards are few, nettles, thorns, cows.
