Didcot Railway Centre
Didcot Railway Centre is a former Great Western Railway engine-shed and locomotive stabling point located in Didcot, Oxfordshire, England, which today has been converted into a railway museum and preservation engineering site.
Background
The founders and commercial backers of the GWR supported Isambard Kingdom Brunel's scheme to develop an integrated railway and steam-ship service which allowed trans-Atlantic passengers and freight quicker passage to and from London to New York City. However, whilst backing the scheme the railway had to make a profit, and so it took a number of detours and added both mainline and branchline traffic to increase its domestic earnings. This earned the railway the nickname The Great Way Round from its detractors.Whilst the route from London Paddington to Reading was relatively straight, the then obvious most direct route to Bristol would have taken the railway further south, thus avoiding both Didcot and Swindon. However, passenger and freight traffic both to and from Oxford and onwards to the West Midlands in part dictated a more northerly route. Secondly Brunel had originally planned to cut through Savernake Forest near Marlborough, Wiltshire to Bristol, but the Marquess of Ailesbury, who owned the land, objected - having previously objected to part of the Kennet and Avon Canal running through his estate. With the railway needing to run near to a canal at its midpoint - as it was cheaper to transport coal for trains along canals at this time - and with need for the branch northwards to Cheltenham via Stroud, Swindon was the next logical choice for the junction, north of the original route. This dictated that the Oxford junction also be moved northwards, and hence via Didcot. The Great Western Railway built the first rail line through Didcot in 1839 and opened its first station in 1844.
Construction
Due to the technical operational difficulties of running and maintaining a mainline service from London to Bristol, as well as the need for servicing locomotives going to Oxford, Didcot became an obvious midpoint maintenance and stabling point. Having built a timber-framed broad gauge shed on the original site during the railways development west in the 1800s, in June 1932 a new steel-framed half-brick 4-road through shed, was completed by the GWR under the Loans and Guarantees Act. With shed code DID, it also included a repair shop, coaling stage, sand furnace and turntable plus associated offices. During World War II, a standard steel-framed with corrugated iron-panel covered ash shelter was erected.Operations
After World War II, the site remained virtually unchanged during the nationalised ownership of British Railways, but for taking on the new code of 81E. The standard allocation of locomotives remained the same, with Halls, Dukedogs and Panniers making up the bulk of the depot's fleet.Closure
With the replacement of steam with diesel traction under the Modernisation Plan, the shed became redundant and was closed in June 1965.Formation and site lease
The Great Western Society was offered the use of the former Didcot locomotive depot, taking it over in 1967. In the 1970s, the Society negotiated a long-term lease with BR which was to expire in 2019. But this was subject to a six-month termination clause which could force the GWS to quit the site, and which could be operated at any point in time by lease-holder Network Rail.In an attempt to secure a long-term future for the society, in 2002 the GWS opened negotiations with NR to either purchase the site or extend the lease. In a letter dated May 2007, NR informed the GWS that they were prepared to sell the site subject to Office of Rail Regulation approval. It had been thought the site could be subject to need as a depot, either due to: the rebuilding of Reading station; a Crossrail project depot; or the Intercity Express Programme. After expressing some concern at the slow speed of negotiations at the GWS annual meeting in September 2008, NR wrote to the GWS to advise that the site was no longer available for sale, and although a lease extension was still on offer it was still subject to the previous six-month termination clause. The GWS then wrote to their local MP Ed Vaizey, and placed any long-term development plans on hold. Richard Croucher signed a new 50-year lease with Network Rail, therefore preserving the site for at least another 50 years.
Museum and railway centre
Today the GWS have developed the site, which still retains many of the original GWR buildings and features, as both a working steam locomotive and railway museum, engineering maintenance centre, and railway line offering short rides to visitors.Access via Didcot Parkway station brings the visitor into the southern end of the site, at the start of the ramp coal wagons would take up to the coaling stage. Beyond this is the original 1932 four-road engine shed, and beyond this the original repair shed and 1988 constructed locomotive works, both of which have restricted access due to safety concerns. Beyond this lies a Ransomes & Rapier turntable and pit, originally built for the Southern Railway and installed at Southampton Docks.
The centre regularly holds events such as steam and diesel railcar days. Members of the Great Western Society are active in the preservation of locomotives and rolling stock. Certain 'new-build' projects to create locomotives that did not escape wholesale scrapping are also undertaken at Didcot, such as the completed Firefly locomotive, a 'Saint' class and a 'County' class locomotive.
The Railway Centre is used a period film set and has featured in works including Anna Karenina, and The Elephant Man.
Running lines
There are three short lengths of running track, each with a station at both ends:- Branchline: starts at a typical GWR wayside halt, named Didcot Halt, and runs north on the western edge of the site to a platform, named Burlescombe Station, at the transshipment shed. Dating from broad gauge days, the shed was used for transferring goods from broad to "narrow" rolling stock and vice versa. It was moved to its present location carefully from its original site nearby.
- Broad gauge Line: the broad gauge line of starts from the transshipment shed, and runs halfway back down the branchline. The 2005 replica GWR Firefly is housed within the shed when not running
- Mainline: starts from the Main Line Platform opposite the site entrance, using a pre-fabricated concrete station platform from, and runs on the eastern-edge of the site to a newly built platform, named Oxford Road Station, near the transshipment shed. Long-term plans include the reconstruction of the Brunel-designed building from station on this platform.
Access
Collection
Steam Locomotives
Diesel Locomotives
Other rolling stock
The GWS has an extensive supporting collection of GWR rolling stock, including three of the GWR Super Saloons that serviced the boat train traffic to Plymouth.| Type | Number | Image | Status | Notes |
| Churchward Auto Trailer | No. 92 | Restored to run with Steam Railmotor 93. | Built at Swindon, 1912. | |
| Collett Auto Trailer | No. 190 | Operational, although was in workshop on 7 April. | Built at Swindon, 1933. | |
| Hawksworth Auto Trailer | No. 231 | Operational, although was in workshop on 7 April. | Built at Swindon, 1951 | |
| Bristol & Exeter Railway Broad Gauge Coach | No. 250 | Enough of body remains to reconstruct a small compartment. | Built between 1852 & 1892 | |
| Dean 4w 1st 2nd Composite | No.290 | Restoration began in Summer of 2011. | Built at Swindon, 1902 | |
| Dean 4w Brake Third | No. 416 | built at Swindon, 1891 | ||
| Collett Third | No. 536 | Operational | Built at Swindon, 1940 | |
| Dean 4-Wheel Third | No. 975 | Restored | Built at Swindon, 1902. Restoration complete. Restored to recreate a Victorian train. | |
| Collett Third | No. 1111 | No plans to currently restore. | Built at Swindon, 1938. | |
| Collett 'Excursion' Third | No. 1289 | built at Swindon,1937 | ||
| Dean 8 Compartment Third Clerestory | No. 1357 | Awaiting major restoration in carriage shed. | Built at Swindon, 1903. | |
| Dean Third | No. 1941 | Operational. | Built at Swindon, 1901. | |
| Hawksworth Brake Third | No. 2202 | Operational. Was rescued and preserved from a house and placed on the underframe of a GWR 6-wheel van. | Built at Swindon, 1894 | |
| Churchward “Dreadnought” 9 Compartment Third | No. 3299 | One of the first coaches acquired by the Great Western Society. Now requires a major restoration. | Built at Swindon, 1905. | |
| Churchward Non-Corridor Brake Third | No. 3755 | Operational, comes out of the shed occasionally. Now in GWR livery. | Built at Swindon, 1921. | |
| Churchward Non-Corridor Brake Third | No. 3756 | Under restoration. | Built at Swindon, 1921. | |
| Churchward Toplight Corridor Third | No. 3963 | There are no current restoration plans. | Built at Swindon, 1919. | |
| Collett Third - Bow Ended | No. 4553 | No plans to currently restore. | Built at Swindon, 1925. | |
| Collett 8 Compartment Bow-Ended Third | No. 5085 | Built at Swindon, 1928. | ||
| Collett Brake Third | No. 5787 | No plans to currently restore. | Built at Swindon, 1933. | |
| Collett All Third | No. 5952 | No plans to currently restore. Restoration may commence once 7371 has been completed. | Built at Swindon, 1935. | |
| Dean 6-Wheel Tricomposite | No. 6824 | Stored on an LMS 6w underframe. | Built in 1887. Was a convertible coach, originally built for the Broad Gauge. | |
| Collett Composite | No. 7285 | Built at Swindon, 1941. | ||
| Collett Composite | No. 7313 | Restored. | Built at Swindon, 1940. | |
| Collett Brake Composite | No. 7371 | Under restoration. | Built at Swindon, 1941. | |
| Hawksworth Brake Composite | No. 7372 | Operational | Built at Swindon, 1948. | |
| Collett Brake Composite | No. 7976 | Built at Swindon, 1923. | ||
| Collett Special Saloon | No. 9002 | Operational. | Built at Swindon, 1940. Used by Winston Churchill, General Eisenhower and the Royal Family during WWII. | |
| Hawksworth First Class Sleeping Car | No. 9083 | Operational | Built at Swindon, 1951. | |
| Collett Super Saloon | No. 9112 "Queen Mary" | No current plans to restore to service | Built at Swindon, 1932. | |
| Collett Super Saloon | No. 9113 "Prince of Wales" | Under Restoration | Built at Swindon, 1932. | |
| Collett Super Saloon | No. 9118 “Princess Elizabeth” | Built at Swindon, 1932. | ||
| Dean Composite Diner | No. 9520 | No plans to currently restore. | Built at Swindon, 1903. | |
| Collett 'Centenary Diner' | No. 9635 | Built at Swindon, 1935. |
Two Broad Gauge replica carriages were also made by the GWS:
| Type | Number | Image | Status | Notes |
| Six-Wheeled, Second Class, Broad Gauge Covered Carriage | BG1 | On display | Built in 1984 | |
| Six-Wheeled, Third Class, Broad Gauge Open Carriage | BG2 | On display |
| Type | Number | Image | Status | Notes |
| Tool Van | No. 1 | Stored amongst the other vehicles beside Swindon's loco shed. | Built in 1908 at Swindon. | |
| Tool Van | No. 47 | Stored under cover with 9083 and 2232, used as a stores van. | Built in 1908 at Swindon. | |
| Tool Van | No. 56 | Stored amongst the other vehicles beside Swindon's loco shed. | Built in 1908 at Swindon. | |
| Collett Full Brake | No. 111 | No current plans to restore. | Built at Swindon, 1934. | |
| Hawksworth Passenger Brake Van | No. 316 | Built at Swindon, 1950 | ||
| Hawksworth Passenger Brake Van | No. 333 | Built at Swindon, 1951. Acquired from the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway. Now a sales vehicle. | ||
| Churchward 'Monster' Carriage Truck | No. 484 | Built at Swindon, 1913. | ||
| Churchward 'Python' | No. 565 | Currently in use as a workshop and stores vehicle. | Built at Swindon, 1914. | |
| Travelling Post Office | No. 814 | Not currently operational. | Built at Swindon, 1940. | |
| Dean Full Brake | No. 933 | Restoration was almost complete as of 2011. Now operational by 6 April 2019 in GWR livery. | Built at Swindon, 1898 | |
| Medical Officers' Coach | No. 1159 | Originally a Churchward Passenger Brake Van - Toplight | Built at Swindon, 1925. | |
| Collett Full Brake | No. 1184 | Being restored and modified to run with GWR TPO 814. Last bow-ended full brake. | Built at Swindon, 1930. | |
| Collett 'Siphon G' | No. 2796 | Restored. Operational | Built at Swindon, 1937. | |
| Six-Wheel Milk Tank | S4409 | Operational | Built in 1931 as four wheeler. Rebuilt in 1937 as six wheeler. Ex-Southern Railway. Recently painted in the Co-op's green livery with the lettering "MILK C.W.S SERVICE". | |
| Special Cattle Van | No. 752 | Built in 1952 at Ashford. Diagram W17. | ||
| 'Bloater' Fish Van | No. 2671 | Built in 1925, Swindon. | ||
| 'Fruit C' Van | No. 2862 | Built in 1939 at Swindon. | ||
| 'Fruit D' Van | No. 2913 | Built in 1941 at Swindon. | ||
| 'Fruit' Van | No. 47886 | Operational with Dean brake system. | Built in 1892 at Swindon. |
| Type | Number | Image | Status | Notes |
| Tar Wagon | No. 1 | Often used in demonstration goods trains on open days. | Built in 1898 | |
| 6w Drinking Water Tank | No. 101 | Built in 1948. | ||
| Department Mess Van | No. 263 | Stored amongst unrestored stock | Built in 1905. Rebuilt by BR from a GWR 25t brake van No. 56867. | |
| Oil Tank Wagon | No. 745 | Painted in light buff with a red band with WD branding. | Built in 1912 by Hurst Nelson. | |
| 'Rotank' Flat Wagon | No. 3030 | Built in 1947 at Swindon. | ||
| Goods Van | No. 4166 | Unrestored, used for storage. | Ex-LMS. Purchased from MoD Bicester for storage by the locomotive department. Stored beside locomotive workshop at the end of line of unrestored stock. | |
| Goods Van | No. 4167 | Unrestored, used for storage. | Ex-LMS. Purchased from MoD Bicester for storage by the locomotive department. Stored beside locomotive workshop at the end of line of unrestored stock. | |
| Four wheel 7-plank mineral wagon | No. 10153 | Restored | Built by Gloucester RCW. Ex-Taff Vale Railway, only surviving TVR wagon. Most likely 1880s because of the handbrake gear. | |
| Iron Mink | No. 11152 | Restored, not operating. | Built in 1900 at Swindon. | |
| "Toad" Brake Van | No. 17447 | Built in 1940 at Swindon. | ||
| 4 wheel 5-plank open wagon | No. 18553 | Operational | Built in 1927 by Sheffield C&W. | |
| 'Mite' Single Bolsters | Nos. 32337 & 32338 | Non-operational | Built in 1881 at Swindon. | |
| 'Coral A' | No. 41723 | Awaiting restoration. | Built in 1908 at Swindon. | |
| 'Pollen E' | Nos 84997-85000 | Restored, on Loan from NRM | Built in 1909 at Swindon | |
| 'Crocodile F' bogie well trolley | No. 41934 | Few left. Stored outside. | Built in 1908 at Swindon as Crocodile G, modified 1909 as Crocodile F, Diagram C12. | |
| 'Hydra D' machinery wagon | No. 42193 | Few left in existence. Stored out in the open. | Built in 1913 at Swindon. | |
| Grain Wagon | No. 42239 | Built in 1927 at Swindon. | ||
| 'Loriot L' machinery wagon | No. 42271 | Built in 1934 at Swindon. | ||
| Oil Tank Wagon | No. 43949 | Built in 1901 at Swindon. | ||
| 16ton 'Toad' brake van | No. 56400 | Unrestored | Built in 1900 at Swindon. Originally 14-ton but later 16-ton. Stored amongst other unrestored stock, inside verandah is covered by inside tarp for protection. |