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WITNEY JUNCTION |
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Witney Junction (officially Witney Goods Junction) was the point where the East Gloucestershire Railway diverged from the original Witney Railway route into the town. From the opening of the EGR extension in 1873, the old Witney passenger station became the town's goods station, and in this role outlived its replacement by several years. The approach to Witney from the east was on a straight section of nearly a mile, with the spire of St. Mary's church visible on the horizon. |
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The bridge over the eastern arm of the
River Windrush (SP361088) as seen from the Witney by-pass on 16 May 1979
(above left). This bridge (28 ft 8 in wide, 32 ft 6 in on the skew) is
still in situ, although over twenty years growth of vegetation have now
almost obscured this view! Note the post on the right for the lamp that
illuminated the junction warning board. The building in the distance
directly above the bridge is Farm Mill, situated on the other branch of
the river. The bridge remains in much the same condition as pictured
here (above right) on 4 April 1980. The ineffectual barbed wire in the foreground meant it was
then possible to
walk (carefully) across the girders of the bridge. The embankment in the
background is the A40 Witney by-pass, which was constructed across the
route of the line in 1977. |
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A high security fence now
blocks access to the first of the River Windrush bridges, although strangely
the western two have yet to be so treated. Presumably as the goods
line bridge is a semi-unofficial right of way, and the other bridge
is more or less completely overgrown, they were seen as less of a
priority. However, on 5 April 2006, this is the view that greets
anyone walking across the site of Witney Junction. The whole area is
now part of the Witney Lake and Meadow Country Park, and so in these
health and safety conscious days the inadequate protection of the
1980s has obviously had to be uprated! |
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A couple of views of the
underside of the River Windrush bridge on 12 April 2006. Strengthening
of the bank is evident around the eastern abutment (above left), while
severe erosion of the stonework in the western abutment (above right)
can be clearly seen. Also noticeable is the extensive corrosion on the
bridge girders, although due to the size of the beams, and the lack of
any stress from above due to the access restrictions, the structure
looks safe for a while yet. |
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Class 22 diesel hydraulic D6327
shunts a rake of wagons at the site of Witney Goods Junction in the late
1960s. The loco has just come from the goods station (the original Witney
Railway Company's passenger station) and is passing over the point
that leads to the truncated remains of the East Gloucestershire
Railway, and Witney's later passenger station, which is hidden from
view behind the train. Formerly there was a headshunt where the
photographer is standing, the point to which can just be seen near
the brake van. The high voltage electricity wires crossing the
picture still mark out the site today, as can be seen in this view
taken on 12 April 2006 (hover your mouse over the image). |
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Witney Goods Junction just after the
rails had been lifted, clearly showing the course of the two lines. The
goods shed with its white painted extension can be seen in front of St.
Mary's church. The end of the visible ballast on each line marks the
site of the bridges over the western arm of the River Windrush. 3
October 1972. |
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The site of Witney Goods Junction
pictured on 2 January 2002. The course of the line into the goods
station can clearly be seen heading towards St. Mary's church, the
bridge over the western arm of the River Windrush being just in front of
the buildings. I am standing on the actual junction, the line to the EGR
passenger station curving away into the undergrowth on the left. A well
used public footpath now crosses this location. Martin Loader |
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The bridge between the junction and
the goods station (SP359089) is pictured on 4 April 1980, looking back
towards the junction. This 29 ft 8 in bridge is clearly a replacement, as
one girder from the original survives on the left acting as footbridge.
Today this bridge also still survives, only surrounded by dense
vegetation, and although used as a footpath, currently has 'No right of
way' notices attached - expect a fence shortly! |
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The other bridge over the western
arm of the River Windrush (SP359088), this time between the junction and
the EGR passenger station is seen here looking upstream on 4 April 1980.
This 29 ft 8 in bridge also still survives, but once again is completely
surrounded by willow, hawthorn and bramble bushes. Anybody walking along
the Ducklington to Witney footpath can mainly recognize this spot today by
the cattle drinking spot in the foreground! |
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