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Didcot Railway Centre, located in the town of Didcot in the English county of Oxfordshire, is based around the site of an old engine shed which became redundant due to the nationalisation of the UK railways, as well as the gradual switch from steam to diesel power.

Introduction

The Great Western Society was offered the use of the site and took it over in 1967. The society has a comprehensive collection of Great Western Railway (GWR) locomotives and rolling stock. There are two short lengths of running track, each with a station at both ends.

The shorter of the two lengths - the 'branch line' - has a wayside halt-type station named Didcot Halt at one end while at the other end is the transshipment shed dating from broad gauge days, when it was used for transferring goods from broad to narrow gauge rolling stock and vice versa; it has been carefully reconstructed from its original site nearby. This is where the Firefly replica, completed in 2005, can normally be found.

The other length of track has a prefabricated concrete station platform (from Eynsham) at one end next to the entrance, and a newly built platform at the other end. Long-term plans include the reconstruction of the Brunel station building from Heyford on this platform.

The site retains many original GWR features including the engine shed, turntable pit and coal stage from the 1932 rebuilding. The turntable itself is a Southern Railway item from the Southampton Docks.

The centre regularly holds events such as steam and diesel railcar days. Members of the Great Western Society are active in the preservation of locomotives and rolling stock and as of 2005 several locomotives such as King Edward II are being restored. Certain 'new-build' projects to create locomotives that didn't escape scrapping are also undertaken at Didcot, such as the completed Firefly locomotive mentioned above, a Saint locomotive (using a Hall chassis and boiler), a County locomotive (using a Hall chassis and LMS 8F Boiler), and a steam railmotor (using an autocoach that was rebuilt from a railmotor in the 1930s).

The railway centre is accessed through Didcot Parkway railway station, which links the centre by rail to London and much of the south and central England. Wheelchair and pram access is practically non-existent; they have to be carried up a flight of concrete steps. Although this contravenes the Disability Discrimination Act, the Great Western Society is unable to improve it since the site is owned by Network Rail.

Future of the site

After being given use of the site from 1967, the Great Western Society (GWS) negotiated a long-term lease from the early 1970s which will expire in 2019. However, the present lease is subject to a six-month termination clause which would force the GWS to quit the site, and which can be operated at any point in time by Network Rail (NR). In an attempt to secure a long-term future for the society, in 2002 the GWS started a negotiation with NR to either purchase the site or extended the lease. In a letter in May 2007, NR wrote to the GWS saying they were prepared to sell the site subject to Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) approval. It had been thought the site could be subject to need as a depot, either due to: the rebuilding of Reading station; a Crossrail project depot; or the Intercity Express Programme. After expressing some concern at the slow speed of negotiations at the GWS annual meeting in September 2008, NR wrote to the GWS to advise that the site was no longer available for sale, and although a lease extension was still on offer it was still subject to the previous six month termination clause. The GWS have written to their local MP Ed Vaizey, and placed any long term development plans on hold.

Locomotives

Steam Locomotives

Operational steam locomotives

• GWR 2884 Class 3822 2-8-0. In regular service at Didcot, boiler ticket expires in 2012. This locomotive is famous for appearing in the Queen music video Breakthru
• GWR 4300 Class 5322 2-6-0. In service at Didcot, boiler ticket expires in 2018. Still requires running in.
• GWR 5700 Class 3738 0-6-0PT. In regular service at Didcot, boiler ticket expires in 2017.
• GWR 5700 Class 3650 0-6-0PT. In service at Didcot, boiler ticket expires in 2018.
• GWR Firefly Class "Firefly". Early Broad Gauge 2-2-2. Built in 2005.

Steam locomotives under overhaul

• GWR 6000 Class 6023 King Edward II. Undergoing restoration, completion planned for 2009
• GWR 4073 Class 4079 Pendennis Castle. Undergoing overhaul, completion planned for 2009
• GWR 7200 Class 7202 2-8-2T. Undergoing restoration

Steam locomotives under construction

• GWR 2900 Class 2999 Lady of Legend
• GWR 1000 Class 1014 County of Glamorgan

Steam locomotives on static display

The following locomotives have all been restored to working order since withdrawal from British Railways, but their boiler certificate has expired and hence they cannot be steamed until they have undergone a major overhaul.

• GWR 4073 Class 5051 Earl Bathurst
• GWR 6959 Class 6998 Burton Agnes Hall
• GWR 4900 Class 5900 Hinderton Hall
• GWR 7800 Class 7808 Cookham Manor
• GWR 5600 Class 6697 0-6-2T
• GWR 6100 Class 6106 2-6-2T
• GWR 4575 Class 5572 2-6-2T
• GWR 5101 Class 4144 2-6-2T
• GWR 1361 Class 1363 0-6-0ST – painted in BR Black livery
• GWR 1400 Class 0-4-2T No. 1466

Diesel Locomotives

• GWR railcar No.22
• British Rail Class 08 08 604 Phantom

Non-GWR Locomotives

• • Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns 0-4-0ST No. 1 Bonnie Prince Charlie. Awaiting overhaul, painted in lined light green livery.
  • Kitson & Co. 0-4-0ST No. 1338. Operational and used on Autocar Trains. Accurately painted in GWR green livery, since the locomotive was owned by GWR during operational service.
  • George England 0-4-0WT No. 5 Shannon. Awaiting repairs to its boiler and a cracked firebox.
  • GWR No. 1340 Trojan". Avonside 0-4-0ST Operational and used on Autocar trains. Accurately painted in GWR green livery, since the locomotive was owned by GWR during operational service.

References

1. Latest news
2. http://www.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk/locos/firefly/firefly.html
3. http://www.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk/locos/1/1.html
4. http://www.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk/locos/1338/1338.html
5. http://www.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk/locos/5/5.html
6. http://www.didcotrailwaycentre.org.uk/locos/1340/1340.html

External links

• Map sources for Didcot Railway Centre
• Didcot Railway Centre website
• Listed building information from Images of England
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51°36′49″N 1°14′41″W / 51.613509°N 1.244772°W / 51.613509; -1.244772

• Heritage railways in England
• Museums in Oxfordshire
• Railway museums in England
• Visitor attractions in Oxfordshire
• Railway depots in the United Kingdom
• Grade II listed buildings in Oxfordshire
• Railway societies