Trains passing through Culham
2018
Railtours through Culham were fairly few in number during 2018 but one special visitor, the LNER class A4 locomotive number 60009 Union of South Africa with its distinctive American Crosby chime whistle, paid a number of visits during the year. Originally named Osprey and designed by Sir Nigel Gresley, this famous locomotive was built by The LNER in 1937 at Doncaster Works and was withdrawn by British Railways in 1966 when John Cameron purchased her in 1966. Sadly, we will not see this locomotive steaming through again as, after finally retiring on 4th October 2021, it went on static display, still under the same ownership.
LMS Stanier class 5MT 44871
12th December 2018
SR Merchant Navy Class 35028 Clan Line
24th November 2018. Photograph © David Armitage
LNER class A4 60009 Union of South Africa
25th August 2018
LNER class A4 60009 Union of South Africa
28th June 2018
Cross Country trains Voyager set
June 2018
LNER class A4 60009 Union of South Africa
16th June 2018
LNER class A3 60103 Flying Scotsman
31st May 2018
LMS Stanier class 5MT 45212
15th May 2018
BR standard class 7 70013 Oliver Cromwell
10th February 2018
2017
When Chiltern Rail made the connection at Bicester to the line between Banbury and Marylebone it opened up a round trip route from London through Oxford and Oxford Parkway. The first railtour to take advantage of this route was the Hastings DEMU on 27th May which travelled to Oxford via Didcot and Culham, and back via Oxford Parkway and Bicester. This unique train configuation is basically an electric multiple unit with its power being supplied by a large diesel generating set, rather than taking it from the third rail. This means it can go anywhere and we hope it will pay us another visit sometime in the future.
We did get rather excited in June as the Great Western Society's steam Railmotor and trailer was due to pass in transit from its home at Didcot to the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway in readiness for special operations there during the June and July. All had been prepared with crew training, transit contracts signed and tickets sold out until the plug was pulled by Network Rail with days to go. Sadly gauging issues with the Down platform (platform 1) at Culham had been identified. Similar problems with the alternative route via Tilehurst put paid to the whole thing.
LMS class 7P 46100 Royal Scot
28th October 2017
LNER class A4 60009 Union of South Africa
26th August 2017
LMS Coronation class 46233 Duchess of Sutherland
17th August 2017
LMS Coronation class 46233 Duchess of Sutherland
17th June 2017
LNER class A3 60103 Flying Scotsman
13th June 2017
LNER class A3 60103 Flying Scotsman
9th June 2017
LNER class A3 60103 Flying Scotsman
6th June 2017
Hastings DEMU
27th May 2017
Bulleid light pacific Braunton as 34052 Lord Dowding
22nd April 2017
2016 and earlier
Whilst our interest in Culham station began in early 2014, the very first railtour which we recorded passing through Culham was in August 2015. It was headed by LNER class B1 number 61264 Mayflower, a locomotive which was set to subsequently return a number of times in the years following. We are grateful to Martin Loader and Chris Jennings for kindly allowing us to supplement this page with some earlier photographs from their personal collections.
GWR Castle class 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe
8th October 2016
LMS Jubilee class 45699 Galatea
2nd July 2016
LNER class A1 60163 Tornado
25th June 2016
Class 47 and class 57 double headed
23rd April 2016
English Electric class 37s double headed
Early 2016
LNER class B1 61306 Mayflower
August 2015
Adelante class no. 180103
9th August 2012. Photograph © Martin Loader
165 class no. 165127
9th August 2012. Photograph © Martin Loader
165 class no. 165107
28th April 1993. Photograph © Martin Loader
Classes 121, 108 & 104
26th May 1992. Photograph © Martin Loader
L419 (51398, 59508 & 51356)
10th July 1991. Photograph © Martin Loader
GWR Castle class 5051 as Drysllwyn Castle
3rd September 1981. Photograph © Chris Jennings
