Cholsey & Wallingford Railway
A brief history of Cholsey & Wallingford Railway
Businesses in Wallingford were disappointed when the original proposed route from London to Bristol was changed and passed through Didcot. Local businessmen met and formed the Wallingford and Watlington Railway Company (WWRC) in 1864 with the aim of building a branchline from Moulsford (initially named ‘Wallingford Road’ Station) to Wallingford and then going on to Watlington. Although the line to Wallingford opened in July 1866, it was hard to raise share capital as bank interest rates were high in the 1860s following the collapse of at least one bank and the line did not progress further because of the prohibitive cost of building a bridge over the River Thames at Benson.
From the outset the WWRC built to the ‘new’ standard, not broad, gauge and it was the first standard gauge branchline to be built in the GWR region (others being converted from broad gauge), the company also hired rolling stock from the GWR. Unfortunately passenger and freight revenues never realised the predicted levels and WWRC had financial difficulties from the beginning and in 1872 the line was sold to GWR. When changing the main line to standard gauge the land occupied by the branchline between Moulsford and Cholsey was needed to increase to double the tracks to four and so a station was built at Cholsey (1892) and the branchline ran only from the new bay platform at Cholsey to Wallingford, as it does today.
Cream Tea
Enjoy a fabulous cream tea whilst riding behind a heritage locomotive through South Oxfordshire. Available Sunday 4th August and Monday 26th August.
Our amazing cream teas are back in 2024 with Cream Tea trains running on Fathers Day and various dates during the year.
Traffic diminished after WW2 and passenger services to Wallingford ceased in June 1959, freight services continued until September 1965 when Wallingford Station was closed, and the line was shortened to serve only the ABM Maltings – the site of the present Wallingford Station. This freight-only long siding was used until 29th May 1981 by which time even the Maltings were moving most of their goods by road and the condition of the line had deteriorated considerably. On the 30th May the Royal Train was present overnight and on the 31st May 1981 a DMU tour (The Wallingford Wake) ran from Paddington to Wallingford. The Cholsey & Wallingford Railway Preservation Society was formed by those travelling on that DMU.
The line was often used to stable the Royal Train to allow the Royal party to arrive in Slough (for Windsor) or London in daylight, it was also used to stable Winston Churchill’s train at times during WW2. In another claim to fame the initial publicity photos for the new high-speed 125 trains were all taken on the branchline – the 8-coach, blue and yellow liveried train would have made quite a sight on the line as would have double-heading Castles on the Royal train!
Later this year we hope to install a run-round loop at Wallingford. We’d love to build an engine shed, have plans to relocate Stoke Canon signal box to Wallingford and erect the old Oxford signal gantry with semaphore signalling. We also hope to install a water tower close to the signal box. Looking further ahead we have plans for a Station building and we would like to construct a small Halt by Church Bridge to provide access to St Mary’s Church where Agatha Christie is buried. Your assistance in any of these projects would be much appreciated!
Start your heritage railway journey today and book your tickets to travel through the countryside on "The Bunk"
Midweek School Holiday Specials
Midweek School Holiday Specials. Thursday 25h July, 1st August, 8th August, 15th August.
Enjoy a fabulous journey on our heritage Bubble Car through the South Oxfordshire countryside. Trains will depart from Wallingford at 1200 and 1400.
Cream Tea
Enjoy a fabulous cream tea whilst riding behind a heritage locomotive through South Oxfordshire. Available Sunday 4th August and Monday 26th August.
Our amazing cream teas are back in 2024 with Cream Tea trains running on Fathers Day and various dates during the year.
The Wallingford Fryer - Fish and Chips Train
The Wallingford Fryer. Saturday 17th August.
Enjoy an evening on the Bunk Line with a fish and chip supper.
Start your heritage railway journey today and book your tickets to travel through the countryside on "The Bunk"
Running Days 2024
July 2024
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Monday 8 | Tuesday 9 | Wednesday 10 | Thursday 11 | Friday 12 | Saturday 13 | Sunday 14 |
Monday 15 | Tuesday 16 | Wednesday 17 | Thursday 18 | Friday 19 | Saturday 20 | Sunday 21
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Monday 22 | Tuesday 23 | Wednesday 24 | Thursday 25
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Monday 29 | Tuesday 30 | Wednesday 31 |
August 2024
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Thursday 5 | Thursday 6 | Thursday 7 | Thursday 8
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Thursday 19 | Thursday 20 | Thursday 21 | Thursday 22 | Thursday 23 | Thursday 24 | Thursday 25 |
Thursday 26
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September 2024
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Thursday 2 | Thursday 3 | Thursday 4 | Thursday 5 | Thursday 6 | Thursday 7
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Thursday 9 | Thursday 10 | Thursday 11 | Thursday 12 | Thursday 13 | Thursday 14 | Thursday 15 |
Thursday 16 | Thursday 17 | Thursday 18 | Thursday 19 | Thursday 20 | Thursday 21 | Thursday 22 |
Thursday 23 | Thursday 24 | Thursday 25 | Thursday 26 | Thursday 27 | Thursday 28
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Thursday 30 |
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Cholsey & Wallingford Railway
Wallingford Station, 5 Hithercroft Road, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, OX10 9GQ