Two forum gatherings in the coming weeks. 24th July and 21st August

Looking at the Atlantic chart for Sunday it still looks to be a mixed bag there is a high pressure system filling from the Southwest which is meet the cold(ish) low system we have currently; warm are mixing with cold are is great English cricket weather

Anywho here is a short write up on the line, there are a few hyperlinks that go to website relating to the line

First Great Western Coffee Shop ^ Forum Gathering

The great train journeys on the GW^▸ - The Marlow Branch 21st August 2011

The line between Maidenhead and High Wycombe was opened in 1854 as Broad Gauge with the Marlow branch from Bourne End opening in 1873. The Line was truncated at Bourne End in 1970. The line has always been a single line since it opened; originally there was a passing loops at Cookham, Bourne End and Loudwater. This link takes you to a website with a photos and write up on the history of the line with quite a lot of infor on the closed section http://pete63.me.uk/pete63_010.htm
the section from Bradshaw^s is amusing http://pete63.me.uk/pete63_047.htm
Allen Henbest^s website has a good section the line with many photos taken in the 1960^s http://sites.google.com/site/signalaninterest/platform6-bourneendbranch The station still open would be worth looking at so that you can compare them to what you see on Sunday. The Marlow & District Railway Society newsletter has a write up reflecting on Loudwater station http://www.mdrs.org.uk/documents/donkey127.pdf

Electric Key Token Block working is still used between Maidenhead and Bourne End with the Bourne End section uses Train Staff a description on the Bourne End signalling system can be found here on the Marlow & District Railway Society newsletter http://www.mdrs.org.uk/documents/donkey120.pdf

Also of interest may be Marlow & Maidenhead Passenger^s Association website http://www.mmpa.org.uk/

Our Journey

As we journey along it is worth noting the remaining brick and flint buildings of the original Wycombe Railway company at Furze Platt, Cookham and Bourne End. (Furze Platt is now a private dwelling on the East side of the crossing this originally would have been the crossing keeper^s house)

The Marlow train departs form platform 5 which has the unique train shed, we head West past signal S174, (trains can also depart from platform 4 where signal S172 is the controlling signal), the Token machine is located in a wooden shed on the west end of the build on platform 4; we pass where Maidenhead Middle Signal Box was located before its control was moved to Slough Panel. The line soon turns North the line speed is 15 mph until we cross over Silco Drive where the line speed increases to 25 mph. There is a steady climb of 1:176

As we pass under Grenfell Road bridge the line speed increases to 50 mph between this bridge at Castle Hill bridge the original Maidenhead Boyn Hill station the entrance was from Castle Hill. The line continues its climb until we reach the over bridge at Gringer Hill (A308) where the line descends toward Furze Platt.

We approach the ABCL^▸ level crossing and arrive at Furze Platt, this staion opened in 1937. Furze Platt crossing originally known as North Town, the crossing keepers hut name plate proudly calling it North Town Signal Box while the crossing keeper had Distant signals in either direction there were never any block instruments just block repeater bells from Maidenhead Middle and Cookham.

The line proceeds North towards Cookham under Spencer^s bridge. Just North of Half Way Cottages there is an accommodation crossing although this is not used as such now but is used to on and off track maintenance machines.

As we approach the Cookham road over bridge just North of the houses was the location of an accommodation level cross which was the scene in 1961 of the only fatality on the line (link to Railway Archive site) http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/docsummary.php?docID=1048
Cookham station was the first passing point you can see the remains of the down platform, there was a small goods yard at Cookham. As we cross over the ABCL the signal box was located across the crossing on the East side. Cookham level crossing has been the scene of a collision between a train and road vehicle (link to Railway Archive site) http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/HSE_Cookham1999.pdf

The line climbs at 1:84 for approx. 500 yards before descending at 1:82, we pass under Terry^s Lane bridge we are now passing through Winter Hill Golf course which Rowborrow Road Bridge is a public foot path through the course.

The county side starts to open out the area is known as Cockmarsh Common to the West can be seen the Winter Hill escarpment and the first sights of the River Thames. We pass over Cockmarsh Common viaduct (44 yrds) and then over the Thames on the Bourne End Bridge (162 Yrds), this Bridge had a foot bridge added a few years ago, locals used to use to trespass on the railway to cross the river perhaps after visiting The Bounty public house on the Berkshire side more a stagger back as the only other way to the pub from Bourne End was by a small row boat. Our train will arrive at platform 1, the Marlow branch can only be accessed from platform 1. The Drive hands the single line token to the Guard / Conductor who goes the Ground Frame which is realised by placing the Token in the Token Machine; once the Token is locked in the points are moved, this then allows another train to depart Maidenhead which happens during the week in the morning and evening peaks these trains arrive at platform 2, these run as a max of 5 cars the Marlow^s run as 2 cars.

Before the line was truncated in 1970 the line went through where the stop blocks are now there was a level crossing the signal box was across the road from the station

The journey is now described from Marlow to Bourne End. The current Marlow station is on the site of the goods yard, Marlow has at one time private sidings into a sawmill it also had a small steam shed which closed in 1962.
The line speed is a steady 40 mph there are a number of accommodation level crossings alone the line, once under the Marlow bypass (A404) bridge we pass the Scout^s Longridge site. As we proceed there some good views of the Winter Hill escapement and the river although there are fleeting at times. As we approach Bourne End the line speed drops and we cross Marina level crossing closely followed by Brooksby level crossing both ABCL, the line turns from its Easterly course to a northerly on and we arrive at Bourne End^s platform 1, the Driver changes ends while the Guard / Conductor carries out moving the points and receiving the token.