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SOUTH LEIGH |
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South Leigh station (SP396082) was situated 5 miles 37 chains from Yarnton and had another of the original Witney Railway Co wooden station buildings, only on a slightly smaller scale than either Eynsham or Witney. A single goods loop was provided but there was no goods shed or even a yard crane. Signaling was equally basic: three ground frames controlled the points and adjacent level crossing, there being no conventional semaphore signals. During the Second World War a large food buffer store was built just to the west of the station and a rail connection was laid into the goods loop. These buildings can still be seen today (SP395082). The road to Stanton Harcourt crossed the line at the east end of the station by means of a level crossing. |
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Two views of South Leigh station looking towards
Oxford. The early 1960s view (top) contrasts markedly with the 22 September
1972 view (lower), taken nearly a year after the line closed. In the
first picture the crossing and ground frame hut are in good order, and
there still appears to be maintenance being undertaken on the line.
The fencing on the south side of the line in the distance looks new, a
view reinforced by the presence of some wire spacing rods leaning
against the fence. Although not as immaculate as in times past,
peonies still thrive in the platform garden. Just over a decade later
the peonies have been smothered by grass and thistles. The grass covered platform and crossing
keeper's cottage frame the line of rusting rails disappearing into the
distance up South Leigh Bank. During the last years of operation one
of the crossing gates became damaged and was replaced by the two
lengths of rope seen here. Note the 10, 20 & 40 wagon length
warning boards, giving the driver an indication where to pull up clear
of the crossing. The crossings both here and at Eynsham were padlocked
across the line following withdrawal of passengers services, being
released by a key attached to the train staff. |
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South Leigh crossing keepers
cottage in Summer 2006. Extensively altered, including the insertion
of a couple of first floor windows facing the site of the station,
as well as white rendering covering the original brickwork. The site
of the level crossing is marked by the slight hump visible here in
the road. Rumours of the rails being still in situ under the tarmac
have been disproved with the use of a metal detector! |
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South Leigh station looking towards Witney in the
early 1960s. In addition to the ground frame near the level crossing,
South Leigh boasted two others in lieu of a signal box. These can both
be seen in this view - the first in the bushes near the point that
leads to the small goods yard, while the furthest one can just be seen
next to the large tree in the distance. Colour Rail |
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In June 1957 an ex GWR Diesel
Railcar pulls away from South Leigh station with the 12:30 Fairford to
Oxford service. These pioneer units were by no means common on the branch
and pictures of them in action are quite scarce. This view
clearly shows that the station building was designed with the original
low platform in mind, as there were steps down into the building from
the modern platform. Note that the booking office notice below the two
panes of glass in the door is in fact a third of the way up the door,
but appears nearly level with the platform from this angle! |
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South Leigh station building pictured
on 22 September 1972. It survived in use as a private house until it was
demolished in 1979 to make way for a new bungalow. The smallest of the
original Witney Railway Company station buildings, accommodation
consisted of a waiting room (through the double doors) with adjacent
booking office, a small ladies waiting room (through the white door) and
a toilet block (to the left). |
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Viewed from the north side, the
basic nature of South Leigh station building is even more evident.
This type of structure was a Victorian "quick fix" building solution,
using prefabricated components, and at the time used for all manner of
semi-permanent buildings. There is no reason to suppose the Witney
Railway Company was considering it to be merely temporary, rather the
cost was the deciding factor. This view from the late 1960s also shows
the approach road and corrugated iron parcels shed. The station
building at this time is obviously in use as a private residence, as a
pint of milk can be seen on the door step! |
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A South Leigh panorama. In early 1970 the siding
had been removed, although as can be seen here the point remained in
situ. This view taken from the cattle dock area shows the entire
station area, and also the warning boards installed after the line
became freight only. |
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Just to the west of the station
(SP393080) there was a wooden permanent way hut on the north side of
the line, next to which during the line's last years, a sign warning of the approach to South Leigh level
crossing was erected. In this fine view looking east in early spring
1970, two more signs can also be seen in the distance, and just
visible near the tree is the white painted station building. |
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In this 24 May 1969 view from the 'London Division Branch
Line Tour' the level crossing warning sign can be seen, along with its nighttime illumination lamp on an
adjacent post. On 4 April 1980 only the brick built base of the hut
remains, along with the stove, while the post now has no lamp or sign
to illuminate. |
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On the approach to the
Ballaso (SP381080) the line crosses another small stream by means of
a standard brick built bridge of 3 feet diameter. Luckily on 7 April
2007 the stream had dried up sufficiently to allow me to take this
picture looking through the arch. Generally the surviving stream
bridges and culverts are in good condition, but here it is evident
that the entire arch has subsided a little, leaving cracks between
it and the parapet. |
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