Cotswold Line Promotion Group (CLPG) - merged posts

[whole diary]

[willc]

Yes, sorry Chris, was running around collaring people about possible stories for the papers and getting collared myself.

Not entirely surprised the points went out of shape - had a wrestling match with my back door catch as well. Was certainly a bit scorchio in these parts today.

9pm update: points still causing problems according to FGW^▸ (First Great Western) site:

Train services are being disrupted due to emergency engineering works between Oxford and Moreton-In-Marsh.Engineers are working as fast as possible to restore services to normal. Short notice alterations and cancellations can be expected.
Road transport will operate between Oxford and Moreton-in-Marsh via all stations in both directions. Limited train service will be in operation for the remainder of the day.

[Oxman]

Twas a buckled rail, no less, which resulted in single line working between Ascott and MIM.

[inspector_blakey]

I've never understood why it's called Wolvercot Junction even though it's located in Wolvercote! The railway in those parts didn't have a great track record at spelling, given that Hanborough was incorrectly known as Handborough until surprisingly recently...

[willc]

Because, as I'm sure I've explained before (and constantly have to at work), Wolvercot was how the name of the village was spelled when the Oxford Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway opened in 1853, hence the junction got that spelling. But while the village later got an e added (and it was certainly still Wolvercot in the 1920s, as I have a book with the relevant chunk of a 1922 OS^▸ (Ordnance Survey) map showing it without the e), the railway never changed and has a standard BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) nameboard up next to the points to prove it.

And there was nothing incorrect about Handborough either. This too was the spelling used in the mid-19th century. In this case, BR did eventually change to Hanborough, in the 1980s or early 1990s, certainly some time after the d was dropped by other people - and only after a period when the sign at the top of the station approach road had one spelling, while the platforms had the other.

[inspector_blakey]

After I posted that earlier on I did a bit of digging and the sources I came across on the web suggested a different explanation. The entry for Wolvercote village in Wikipedia suggests that it's been known as such since 1185, and doesn't mention any alternative spellings. Nor does the slightly more scholarly British History Online from a quick skim-read, so it looks as if the spelling Wolvercote has been in common (although maybe not exclusive?) usage since long before the Old Worse and Worse came along.

The other suggestion I came across is that the spelling of the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) platform's name as "Wolvercot" was to avoid confusion with the LNWR^▸ (London North Western Railway)'s nearby Wolvercote Halt, although I must say it doesn't strike me that much confusion would be saved by the trivial differences in station name... It did get me wondering though whether this may have led to a chicken/egg situation where the village's name may have sometimes been spelt Wolvercot after the GW^▸ (Great Western) station's appearance rather than before.

[willc]

Wolvercote, Wolvercot and Woolvercot have all enjoyed periods in use, just as Wytham and Witam have been used just across the river in what used to be Berkshire - or do I mean Barkshire? Maybe we should bring back Moreton Henmarsh? It would at least have the virtue of stopping some conductors telling people trains are arriving at Moreton-in-the-Marsh...

Bicester Local History Society suggests that the LNWR^▸ (London North Western Railway) actually used the Woolvercot spelling for its halt http://www.blhs.org.uk/index.php?page=railways but it's on the internet, so who knows?

County archives may be a more reliable source but the rail network at least is sticking to spelling it Wolvercot.

[Tim]

The person I knew who lived in Wolvercote pronounced it without the e.  I never saw her write it but I had always assumed that that was the correct spelling.

[grahame]

From http://www.clpg.org.uk/blog/cotswold-line-service-problems-a-response-from-gwr/

We will also attend meetings where we are asked, and on that note, I would like to thank you for your invitation to speak at the CLPG^» (Cotswold Line Promotion Group - about)'s AGM^▸ (Annual General Meeting) in Moreton-in-Marsh on Saturday, May 12. I would like to do so and am grateful for the opportunity to address members directly.

CLPG has over 1600 members ... including a number who visit us here on the Coffee Shop.   I don't know if they welcome guests at their AGM (so how wide this "Meet the Manager" opportunity is), but I'm flagging up the date anyway for members and perhaps wider.  Can someone from CLPG follow up on due course / let us know if this is "members only", "guests by invite" or public?   Thanks!

Link to last year's AGM: http://www.clpg.org.uk/blog/the-39th-agm/


Edit to add - Members only, I'am afraid - see follow up

[grahame]

 I don't know if they welcome guests at their AGM^▸ (Annual General Meeting) (so how wide this "Meet the Manager" opportunity is), but I'm flagging up the date anyway for members and perhaps wider ...

Update; I have heard from a member of the committee and due to space limitations at the venue, this is "members only".

As it's the 40th anniversary / AGM they're expecting a busy meeting and "those attending just about squeeze into the venue normally" .... 

[ChrisB]

It is usually a tight squeeze, and with it being the 40th Anniversary year, we are expecting it to be extremely cosy. Apologies to everyone. There isn't a larger venue along the line available that is walkable from a station. Unfortunately, I have to be in Edinburgh for another AGM^▸ (Annual General Meeting) in which I am a required attendee.

[grahame]

http://www.clpg.org.uk

The Cotswold Line Promotion Group is an entirely voluntary organisation which was formed on 11th March 1978, with the aim of safeguarding and promoting improvements to rail and bus feeder services along the Oxford-Worcester railway line.

In 1986, the Group's activities were extended to include the Worcester to Hereford line.

It considers that a mixture of through and local services is essential to the very future of the railway.

The line had been at risk for some time and the Group has worked to increase use of it so that no further downgrading or, ultimately closure, would occur.

Gentlemen and ladies, you have performed miracles over the years.  Power to your knees and elbows, long may you continue.

[ChrisB]

Now found at http://www.clpg.online