1960s Steam Paddington To Banbury Via Bicester

[@TheCyberSalvager]

It's great to see some footage of Bicester (My home town) and Banbury (My birth town) before my time. You wouldn't see anyone standing by the line at Bicester North like that nowadays, as that area is fenced and tree-lined, but the footbridge still exists and I stand on it from time to time as there is a great view of the town from there.

[@KenBrownekb71000duke]

Another dose of nostalgia Bill and well worth watching! These videos really do show the steam locos off to advantage in typical everyday workings - thanks once again, Ken

[@84asrd84boxy]

Cheers Ken, so glad you enjoyed watching this mini series, this being the final one. I think Jim Clemens did a fantastic job recording these scenes of the former route of The Cambrian Express from Paddington to Shrewsbury, and people of my age can sit back, watch and enjoy what we used to have all those many years ago, cheers...Bill

[@jamesavenell2368]

I travelled that line just before I was called up for National Service. It was 1960 & I was after going to Wolverhampton to see Spurs there. I lived in Reading so instead of going via Oxford I got to 'Pad' & was pulled all the way by a King class loco. Coming back I did the normal Oxford trip. That was the 23rd April 1960 & Spurs won 3-1 so I was quite happy, Wolves was not an easy ground to gather points but the 'Lilywhites' produced the form that was to secure them the Double the following season. Two months later I travelled for the first time via the S & D from Templecombe to Blandford Forum for six weeks training. Nowhere near as much bloody fun as watching Spurs.

[@sam8alex12]

Well there's another great reminder from the past, really enjoyed seeing it. Many thanks Bill.

[@84asrd84boxy]

Cheers Ernie, glad you enjoyed watching, and that it reminded you of the great past we used to have watching our glorious steam loco's on a daily basis. We now have to thank various preservation society's to give us a reminder of bygone days, cheers...Bill

[@TheWesternExplorer]

Another great set of nostalgic shots. With the commentary, it reminds me a lot of the old Railway Roundabout films. Cheers, Dave.

[@84asrd84boxy]

Dave, many thanks for watching, and for your kind comments, much appreciated. I think the commentary throughout these clips is excellent, it gives any viewer a great description of what is seen and where. Regarding the Railway Roundabout series, I bought the box set many years ago, a most enjoyable watch, cheers...Bill

[@allan5919]

Fantastic old footage Bill and many thanks for sharing this. Allan.

[@84asrd84boxy]

Allan, many thanks for looking/commenting, much appreciated, it gave me great pleasure putting this slice of history together by courtesy of Michael Clemens of B&R videos. It gave me a chance to retrace my footplate days between Paddington and Shrewsbury, and bought back so many great memories for me, glad you enjoyed watching cheers...Bill

[@MrSteamMad]

Good old film showing the end of the good old days. Thank you for the memories Barry

[@84asrd84boxy]

Cheers Barry, glad you enjoyed watching, we have Jim Clemens to thank for these great memories from yesteryear. I feel privileged to be allowed to show some of his footage from that wonderful time, cheers...Bill

[@TrevorLedgeway]

Some more great footage of the steam era Bill,A very enjoyable watch...Trevor.

[@84asrd84boxy]

Cheers Trevor, thanks for looking/commenting, glad you enjoyed watching. All credits have to go to Michael and Jim Clemens for recording these fantastic scenes at the time, so that we can all enjoy that great era from the 60s, cheers...Bill

[@JimTLonW6]

Some pretty amazing scenes at Bicester, with enthusiasts apparently walking on the running lines, up a signal gantry and even on the bridge parapet! It is good that this line is being rejuvenated by Chiltern Railways, who are undoing some of the neglect that took place on this line from 1967 onwards.

[@84asrd84boxy]

Amazing scenes everywhere indeed, it may have been that enthusiasts during the 60s used more common sense in watching what was going on around them whilst pursuing their hobby, I don't really know, at least in those days enthusiasts weren't being challenged by jobsworths with nothing else better to do than brand all enthusiasts as so-called terrorists, the most common excuse used nowadays when either taking photo's or filming, thanks for looking, cheers...Bill

[@nigelpearson6664]

I remember in 1960 at Oxford dreaming of the day I would travel by diesel. The drivers at Oxford let me in the engine room of a Warship etc ( 1967 ? ). Very neat and not too noisey.

[@malcolmtinnelly5011]

Brought back many memories, Bill. I and some school chums picked up the last "5 o'clock steam" (as we called it ... the time for High Wycombe) behind 7029 at Gerrards Cross if I remember correctly. I have a photo' of it at High Wycombe taken by my father. Many thanks.

[@84asrd84boxy]

Malcolm, many thanks for looking/commenting, nice to know that it bought back some great memories for you of the last booked steam out of Paddington, and that you still have a photo of Clun Castle from the day itself, happy days, cheers...Bill

[@timothysmith8300]

been to banbury nice station might try and go back there some time .

[@paulhayward6723]

Too deep for words...and smell of steam...thanks big....oh for a walk round those steam sheds at the end...

[@DownGrand1967]

Amazing footage, long gone days!

[@84asrd84boxy]

Gaz, thanks for looking, and for your kind comment, this was an era never to be forgotten, we owe our thanks to Jim Clemens for recording all of this he did a great job, Not sure if you have watched the Swan Village to Shrewsbury video, if not you may find it interesting, cheers...Bill

[@antman09ful1]

Very watchable Bill I only saw Falcon once at STJ depot.

[@84asrd84boxy]

Cheers Mike, thanks for looking, I can't remember seeing Falcon myself only on a couple of videos I have, take care...Bill

[@jimusgrimus]

The Falcon was in two tone green up until 1970 when it was renumbered.....D1200

[@84asrd84boxy]

kelly Kelly, thanks for the info, and for looking, cheers...Bill

[@jimusgrimus]

wish those days were back

[@84asrd84boxy]

Sadly, those days are just memories now, but great ones...Bill

[@timothysmith8300]

What a disgrace replacing steam with hopeless deisels

[@Pauldjreadman]

I would like to steam engines run through Banbury. This is freaky seeing this. Wow

[@84asrd84boxy]

Thanks for looking/commenting, much appreciated. As you can see this short video represents what was common place until the mid 60s, now we can only see steam charters every now and again through places like Banbury, always a welcome sight, cheers...Bill

[@Pauldjreadman]

84asrd84boxy Its funny what you stumble across. I love KZbin for Archive films and i like mechnical things :). Subscribed. Not really into trains as such, but history i am :)

[@84asrd84boxy]

So glad you enjoyed watching this little blast from the past, and thanks for subscribing, cheers...Bill

[@elrjames7799]

The commentary is actually a distraction from the visual presentation. Pleasant voice but, never-the-less :-)