Yarnton Junction

The Fairford Branch diverged from the Oxford to Worcester line (the former Oxford, Worcester & Wolverhampton Railway) at Yarnton Junction (SP474114), which was approximately 3½ miles north of Oxford station. A basic two platform station was provided, with a rather spartan wooden station building on the up platform and tall signal box at the Oxford end of the down platform. Although the buildings were demolished many years ago, it is still possible to view the location, as a public footpath crosses the site. It is easiest to approach on the path from near Yarnton church. You are guided to the site by that characteristic of former Great Western station sites - a line of Scots Pine trees.

7412 at Yarnton Junction in 1961

The driver of 74xx 0-6-0PT 7412 working the 12:32 Fairford to Oxford service hands over the token for the Eynsham to Yarnton Junction section to the Yarnton signalman. This March 1961 view is looking towards the 'LMS Loop' line that diverged to the left to connect with the former LMS Oxford to Bletchley line at Oxford Road Junction. This was a very little used line in later years. A light mist rolling in off the River Cherwell water meadows slightly obscures the up main signal, which is 'off' for the branch train. However Wolvercote Junction's distant signal, just below it on the same arm is 'on', therefore the train will have to wait just around the corner for a train on the Oxford to Banbury line.
Tony Doyle

7412 at Yarnton Junction in 1957

Regular branch loco 74xx 0-6-0PT 7412 is pictured again just a few yards from the previous picture and facing the other way. It is pictured crossing the underbridge between the two junctions at Yarnton with the 11:15 Fairford to Hinksey Yard freight on a fine June day in 1957. The signal on the main post controls access to the 'LMS' loop, while the bracket nearest the camera has Yarnton Junction's up starter and Wolvercote Junction's distant one above the other. 7412 has come through the loop line behind the signal box as is just rejoining the main line. Presumably the building just visible on the extreme right of this picture is purely agricultural and not connected with the railway.
H. C. Casserley

Yarnton Junction Signalbox was a striking building, with the 25 ft x 12 ft timber cabin noticeably wider than the very tall brick pedestal on which it stood. This is combination with the remote location afforded some splendid views of the countryside. Originally this 1909 box housed a pioneering McKenzie & Holland electric frame with miniature levers, all powered by batteries. Later a standard 51 lever mechanical frame was installed which lasted until the box finally closed on 28 March 1971, although it had in effect been redundant ever since the Witney Branch closed the previous autumn. It is pictured here in around 1960.
Stanley C. Jenkins Collection

Yarnton Junction Signal Box

Yarnton Junction Station

The basic facilities provided at Yarnton Junction station are evident in this early view looking towards Oxford. The tall signal box dominates the background, in front of which is a small waiting shelter with a strikingly unusual canopy. This down platform originally had two faces, but as can be seen here was soon fenced off from the loop line. On the left, the up platform only had a cast iron gentleman's toilet, which was joined in later years by a small wooden building, which was provided when the station house was demolished. Rather strangely, this house was situated at the north end of the up platform, hard up against the line. A couple of huts at the far end of the platform complete the picture.
Martin Loader Collection

Originally the station master's house at Yarnton was situated at the 'country' end of the up platform, next to the actual junction and perilously close to the running lines. This Edwardian view shows the station master and his wife with the house behind. As can be seen it was quite a distinctive design with narrow early gothic style windows and elaborate brickwork. It was demolished at a relatively early date and had certainly gone by the early 1930s.
Martin Loader Collection

The site of Yarnton Junction in 1980

This 4 April 1980 view shows the site of Yarnton Junction, looking west. The Fairford Branch diverged to the left near the second telegraph pole. Rubble from the former up platform litters the foreground, while the farm building in the background is on the site of the wartime marshalling yard. In 2005 the site is a little more overgrown, the telegraph poles long gone and a large earth bank hides the former yard area, which is now home to a waste recycling company. The public footpath crosses the line here, the stile visible on the left of the picture is still in use. The post that once supported the 'Beware of Trains' notice by the footpath crossing is just in front of the farm building.
Martin Loader

On 1 March 2003 the site of the former wartime marshalling yard had become a large recycling plant. Taking advantage of the earth bank at the end of the site to gain some extra height, this view is taken from a position on the far left of the above picture. The course of the Fairford Branch can be seen behind the fence on the right.
Martin Loader

This July 1971 picture from a similar viewpoint shows the recently severed Fairford Branch tracks curving away to the left. Very soon after this picture was taken, the main Oxford to Worcester line was singled from Wolvercote Junction to Ascott-under-Wychwood, creating a ridiculously long 14 mile section which is the bane of the present day train operating companies and can create inordinate delays if just one train is late running.
Colour Rail

Yarnton Junction July 1971

7412 at Yarnton Junction in 1962

A slightly unusual perspective on an unusual subject at Yarnton Junction. Instantly recognizable around Oxford during the last days of steam was 74xx 0-6-0PT 7412 by virtue of its unusual improvised chimney repair using part of an oil drum. This view from the cab of sister locomotive No. 7404 is of the 14:25 Fairford to Oxford service on 11 June 1962. The Fairford Branch curves away to the left behind the standard GWR water tower, which can just be seen above 7412's tank filler.
Paul Strong

Yarnton Junction turntable

During the Second World War a large marshalling yard was constructed on the south side of the Fairford Branch at the point where it curved away from the Worcester main line. Initially used for inter-regional freight between the LMS & GWR, the sidings were later used for ironstone traffic. This remote location could not warrant provision of a shunting locomotive, so it was possible in latter years to see BR Class 9F 2-10-0s shunting their own trains here. The yard finally closed in July 1966. The turntable is pictured (above) during the 1960s, with the weed choked sidings host to several rakes of 16 ton mineral wagons. A close up of the makers sign (right) shows that it was built by Ransomes & Rapier Ltd of Ipswich.
R. H. G. Simpson

Yarnton Junction turntable

On 4 April 1980, the battered remains of a former GWR standard corrugated iron hut was lying at the base of the bank between the Fairford Branch (on the left), and the site of the wartime marshalling yard. The dusty track on the right of this picture roughly follows the course of the lines into the yard, at that time being used for agricultural purposes.
Martin Loader

GWR hut at Yarnton Junction

Fairford Branch curving away from Yarnton Junction

Another view from 4 April 1980 shows the point where the trackbed curves to the south-west and proceeds in a dead straight line towards the site of Cassington Halt. The jogger is passing the point (SP472114) where the footpath from Yarnton crosses the trackbed and heads off towards the village of Cassington. The footpath is still open but this view is no longer possible.
Martin Loader

A view along the straight section of the trackbed between Yarnton Junction and Cassington on 4 April 1980. At this time the trackbed was just used by farm vehicles. It was soon to be converted into a properly surfaced road for the use of gravel lorries and vehicles traveling to the recycling plant built on the site of the former marshalling yard. Even without a tarmac surface, the ballast of the old line with an appropriate top dressing made an excellent road, as being slightly above the level of the surrounding fields it was immune from the danger of flooding, which is a reasonably common occurrence in this area during the winter. This picture is taken from approximately half way between Yarnton and Cassington stations (SP465109). The A40 roadbridge is visible in the distance, with traffic on the A40 just visible on the left. The brick construction to the right of the track in the distance is the Cassington sewage works! Note how open the view is, with just a few odd bushes in addition to a low hedge. Most of the route would have been like this when in operation, affording numerous lineside vantage points for photography. Unfortunately very few pictures have come to light showing trains at locations between the stations on the line. This is presumably due to the fact that in those days the few railway photographers that were actively recording the scene had so many lines to photograph, that they didn't bother to walk to remote spots. This is quite likely, as even today the average photographer doesn't like to walk too far!
Martin Loader

Trackbed between Yarnton and Cassington