Chipping Norton Railway


The Chipping Norton Railway opened in 1855, first linking the town of Chipping Norton with the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway. It closed in 1963 as part of the Beeching cuts, but freight traffic continued for a while after.

History

Opening

was opened in 1855 as the terminus of the Chipping Norton Railway, which linked the town with the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway by a junction at. The line was promoted by William Bliss and its traffic included freight to and from his tweed mill at Chipping Norton.

Merger

In the 1880s a railway extension was opened between Chipping Norton and and the Chipping Norton Railway merged with the Bourton-on-the-Water Railway to form the Banbury and Cheltenham Direct Railway.

Take-over by GWR

The newly extended line was taken over by the Great Western Railway before its completion.

World War Two

World War Two saw many children from London being evacuated to small towns and villages in the countryside. Chipping Norton was one such place, and trains brought children from Acton and Ealing Broadway to places such as Oxford and Chipping Norton. These trains were some of the longest to have ever used the platforms at the station at Chipping Norton.

Modern day

The passenger service to Chipping Norton was closed in 1963 as part of the Beeching cuts, but freight traffic continued into the 1970s. Because of this, the station and infrastructure stayed open at Chipping Norton and was not demolished for at least another 10-15 years.
The site that was once occupied by the station and goods yard is now part of an industrial estate, and only the cattle shed remains. The tunnel through the hill and bridge for the road still exist, but the tunnel has been closed and has become flooded due to the filling-in of the bridge.