1962/06/xx, 1. The original Haddenham station on the GW & GC Joint Line, view looking north from the Station Road approach in June 1962. The station was opened to GCR trains in 1906 and for GWR trains in 1910. It was closed when the local passenger services were withdrawn in January 1963, though remained open for goods until September 1963. Photo by courtesy Ron Fisher. More of Ron's pictures can be found on his site by clicking on the link on the homepage of this site.

1962/06/xx, 2. GW & GC Joint Line trespass notice at the original Haddenham station on the approach from Station Road, June 1962. Photo by courtesy Ron Fisher.

1963/01/05, 1. Members of a local family pose with the driver of a northbound DMU at Haddenham station on the last day of service of local trains, Saturday 5th January 1963. The train is the 12:30 from Princes Risborough to Banbury. This was during the very hard winter of 1962/63 and the snow is quite deep. The train is standing at the down platform, the through main lines can be seen to the left, the up loop line through the far platform does not seem to have had a train so far, the track still completely hidden by the snow. The lattice girder bridge is the station footbridge, the bridge beyond carries Station Road over the railway, as it does today. I think the gentleman in the sheepskin coat is Michael Farrar-Bell, the famous stained-glass artist. The station officially closed "on and from" 7th January 1963, but as there were no services on Sundays by then, the last trains ran on the 5th. Photographer unknown.

1963/01/05, 2. A rather out-of-focus picture, but evocative nevertheless. Possibly taken on the last day that Haddenham station was open for passenger trains, Saturday 5th January 1963 (the station closed from 7th January 1963, but there were no Sunday services!), two members of the station staff pose by the GWR style station running-in board on the up platform, in fairly deep snow. The station remained open for goods traffic until 2nd September 1963 and the small yard here certainly has some wagons in it here. The gentleman on the left of the picture is Arthur Hopkins and on the right is Frank Hopkins, stationmaster, identified by Nick Burch of Haddenham. Photographer unknown.

1965/xx/xx, 01. Viewed from the old up platform at the original Haddenham station, the small building on the down platform is still standing some time after closure of the station. The footbridge is also still in situ as an unidentified GWR "Castle" Class 4-6-0 comes through northbound. Regular steam ended on the line during the summer of 1965, but judging by the cleanliness of the engine and its carrying of a proper "reporting number" on the smokebox (possibly "X83"? - the "X" would denote a special train), as well as Class A headlamps and what could be a GWR crest headboard above the bufferbeam, this may have been a later special run. Photo by Frank Hopkins, courtesy Nick Burch.

1965/xx/xx, 02. Seen from the partially demolished up platform at Haddenham station, an unidentified GWR "Hall" Class 4-6-0 rushes through on the down main line, passing under Station Road bridge and about to pass the footbridge. This train may be the 16:15 from Paddington to Banbury which became the last regularly steam-hauled train from Paddington, running until June 1965. It was usually a "Castle" working, but occasionally a "Hall" did the honours. This train used to stop at Haddenham while various faster trains overtook it, by this time it simply waited longer at Princes Risborough. The down loop (the far track) looks as though it is out of use, though the up loop (nearest track) still sees some use as the rails are shiny. Photo possibly around May or June in 1965 by Frank Hopkins, courtesy Nick Burch.

1965/xx/xx, 03. BR Standard 9F 2-10-0 No. 92069 makes its way southwards through Haddenham station on the up fast line with what looks like the Parcels train from Leicester to Marylebone. This train was the last regular user of the line from Grendon Underwood junction to Ashendon junction and it ran until 1965/66. Photo taken by Nick Burch, with permission from the stationmaster!

1965/xx/xx, 04. An unidentified English Electric Type 4 diesel (later Class 40) is about to pass through Haddenham station heading south with another Parcels train on the up main line, another northbound train being signalled on the down main line. I'm not sure if this was taken on the same day as the shot of 92069 at the same spot, but it doesn't look like the usual sort of consist of the Leicester parcels train, so was presumably a different working. The picture is not dated but would be around 1965/66. Photo by Nick Burch, with the stationmaster's permission!

1966/xx/xx, 01. The local hunt (Vale of Aylesbury?) meets in the old goods yard at Haddenham station, complete with horses and hounds. The yard tracks have recently been lifted, goods facilities having been withdrawn in September 1963, but the signalbox and signalling is still in place, not being removed until April 1966. The old up platform has been partially demolished, the resultant debris has been dumped in what was the cattle dock bay, though the parcels shed still stands. Winter 1965/66. Photo by Frank Hopkins, courtesy Nick Burch.

1966/xx/xx, 02. The local hunt (Vale of Aylesbury?) meets in the old goods yard at Haddenham station, complete with horses and hounds. The yard tracks have recently been lifted, goods facilities having been withdrawn in September 1963, but the signalbox and signalling is still in place, not being removed until April 1966. The old up platform has been partially demolished, the resultant debris has been dumped in what was the cattle dock bay, though the parcels shed still stands. Winter 1965/66. Photo by Frank Hopkins, courtesy Nick Burch.

1966/xx/xx, 03. View looking north west from the old station at Haddenham as the up morning working of the blue "Birmingham Pullman" diesel unit comes into sight. The loop lines through the station platforms have now been disconnected, the track in the goods yard has been lifted, the signalbox and signalling have all gone in this winter scene, possibly in late 1966. Photo by Frank Hopkins, courtesy Nick Burch.

1966/xx/xx, 04. On what looks like a cold but clear winter's afternoon, possibly in late 1966, the afternoon up "Blue Pullman" from Birmingham Snow Hill to Paddington approaches the remnants of the original station at Haddenham. After closure to passengers in January 1963, and the withdrawal of goods services in September 1963, the platform loop lines have been disconnected, all signalling removed (though the empty signalbox is still in situ), the up platform has been partially removed along with the buildings and the small goods yard on the up side has been dismantled. It makes for a somewhat bleak picture! The signalbox and loops were taken out of use from 18th April 1966. Photo by Frank Hopkins, courtesy Nick Burch.

1966/xx/xx, 05. The morning up "Birmingham Pullman" blue diesel unit train passes the now derelict staion at Haddenham sometime after closure in January 1963. Goods facilities lingered on until September 1963, but it looks as if this picture is taken after that date, perhaps in late 1966. The old up platform has been partially demolished, the signalling has all gone along with the footbridge, which was at the other side of Station Road bridge. Disused pointwork is still in place from the up loop line to the up main and the picture is taken from the up loop headshunt by Frank Hopkins, former Stationmaster at Haddenham. Photo courtesy of Nick Burch.

1966/xx/xx, 06. The up afternoon "Blue Pullman" diesel unit from Birmingham Snow Hill to Paddington races through the old station at Haddenham, rather overwhelming the capabilities of the camera and film! Though sunny, the picture would appear to be taken in low winter light, so a short exposure time was probably not possible. This is the view looking south from the old down platform, the loop line now disused after closure of the station in 1963. The building on the platform is still in situ, but the footbridge and signalling have all been dismantled. Photo taken perhaps in late 1966 by Frank Hopkins, courtesy Nick Burch.

1966/xx/xx, 07. Taken not long before sunset on a winter evening, a Brush Type 4 (later Class 47) in original two-tone green livery approaches Haddenham station with a down express from Paddington to Birmingham Snow Hill, the train consisting of BR Mk.I coaches in a mix of the old maroon livery and the new blue & grey. The rusty foreground track is the backshunt from the down loop through the station, while the far track is the headshunt of the up loop. These were taken out of use in April 1966, so this picture is probably dated around winter 1966/67. The recently built house on the left is nowadays completely obscured by trees and other vegetation! The shot is a slight pan by the photographer in an attempt to capture the motion of the train, successful at around the first coach, but resulting in slight blur elsewhere - pleasing nevertheless! Photo by Frank Hopkins, courtesy Nick Burch.

1966/xx/xx, 08. The original slide is simply labelled "Last bus down Station Road", an Oxford to Aylesbury service worked by an AEC double-decker of the City of Oxford Motor Services. Whether the service was withdrawn or diverted via Thame Road after Haddenham station closed I'm not sure, but these days there is a very good service which calls at the new station. Date not known, but not before 1966 as the car on the driveway has a suffix "D" on its registration for 1966. Photograph by Frank Hopkins, courtesy Nick Burch.

1966/xx/xx, 09. The original slide is simply labelled "Last bus up Station Road", an Aylesbury to Oxford service worked by an AEC double-decker of the City of Oxford Motor Services. Whether the service was withdrawn or diverted via Thame Road after Haddenham station closed I'm not sure, but these days there is a very good service which calls at the new station. Date not known, but not before 1966. Photograph by Frank Hopkins, courtesy Nick Burch.

1966/xx/xx, 10. View along Station Road in Haddenham, looking from the village towards the bridge over the railway and the station approaches, the station house on the right of the picture. Photo taken on the morning of a chilly day, possibly during the winter of 1966/67. Photo by Frank Hopkins, courtesy Nick Burch.

1986/11/02, 1. LNER A4 Class 4-6-2 No. 4468 "Mallard" races south through the old station at Haddenham with the return working of the "Sunday Luncheon Express" from Marylebone to Stratford-upon-Avon & return, Sunday 2nd November 1986. Something of an experiment this shot - hardly in the O. Winston Link class - using a hand-held time exposure and somebody else's flash!

1986/11/02, 2. An hour or so after "Mallard" passed the same spot, A3 No. 4472 "Flying Scotsman" rushes through the old station at Haddenham, returning from Stratford-upon-Avon to Marylebone. This time, no-one set off a flash so a longer time-exposure has resulted - however, the firehole door was open and the resulting glow through the gap between cab roof and tender has illuminated the smoke like a travelling shutter! Sunday 2nd November 1986.

1987/05/09, 1. The site of Haddenham & Thame Parkway station on the morning of Saturday 9th May 1987. This was the last day of that year's winter timetable and this train was withdrawn from the summer timetable, so this was the last time it ran. It was the Saturdays Only 06:40 from Stratford-upon-Avon to Paddington working, the Saturday equivalent of the Monday to Friday loco-hauled train which at that time ran from Leamington Spa at 06:55 to Paddington. Here the train is worked by a Tyseley based DMU No. T322 plus an unidentified set, forming a six-coach unit. Work started on the site to build the new station the following Tuesday, 12th May 1987.

1987/05/09, 2. The site of Haddenham & Thame Parkway station on the morning of Saturday 9th May 1987. This is the view looking south, the original station was beyond the Thame Road bridge and before the Station Road bridge, seen in the distance. After the line was singled, only what was the up main line remained through both the new station site and the old station remains. The milepost visible by the roadbridge marks 30 1/4 miles to Northolt East Junction (South Ruislip), which is the point where the former GWR and GCR lines split, the former to Paddington, the latter to Marylebone. Work started here on the new station a few days later on Tuesday 12th May 1987.

1987/05/09, 3. General view of the site for the new Haddenham & Thame Parkway Station, looking north from the Thame Road bridge. When the track was singled years earlier, the former up line was used at this point, leaving space on the trackbed where the down line used to be for the new platform to be built, the area to the left of the picture to become the station entrance, new building and car park. In the distance the track can be see to slew over to what was the original down line, this slewing happened at various places to utilise what was the best track at the time of the singling, but made for more problems when the line was re-doubled years later! Saturday 9th May 1987. On the right of the picture is Haddenham Airfield, which apart from anything else housed large gliders during World War II, and is still used by the Upward Bound Trust for gliding to this day, though a new business park is now being built on the site, with a road entrance from the main A418 road in the distance.

1987/05/10, 1. An up Banbury to Marylebone Class 115 DMU passes the site for the new station to be built at Haddenham & Thame Parkway on the afternoon of Sunday 10th May 1987. This picture is taken from the point that became the ramp down to the platform, which was built on the trackbed on what was originally the down line. Note the gliders of the Upward Bound Trust at the end of the grass strip of Haddenham Airfield. Launches from here are usually made using a winch, though occasionally an aircraft tow is used instead. The returning gliders can come in pretty low over the railway, depending on wind direction!

1987/05/10, 2. BR (S) rebuilt Bulleid "Merchant Navy" Class 4-6-2 No. 35028 "Clan Line" passing the future site of Haddenham & Thame Parkway station with the southbound return working of the "Shakespeare Limited", Marylebone to Stratford-upon-Avon dining train on the evening of Sunday 10th May 1987. Note the gliders at the adjoining airfield. Work commenced on the new station two days later.

1987/05/11. Class 50 No. 50035 "Ark Royal" is in charge of the Monday to Friday 06:55 Leamington Spa to Paddington train, this and its return in the evening being the only loco-hauled train on the line. Seen from the Thame Road bridge over the railway, it is passing the site of the new Haddenham & Thame Parkway station, building work starting the following day. The new platform was built on the bed of the original down line, alongside the train in the picture, the rather scrubby area of land on the left becoming the new car park and station approach. Monday 11th May 1987.

1987/06/10, 1. A month after construction started on the new station, and considerable progress has been made, though there is not much improvement in the weather! Class 50 No. 50044 "Exeter" is passing the new piers for the platform as it works the 17:53 train from Paddington to Leamington Spa, while work continues on the car park and approach on the right of the picture. Wednesday 10th June 1987.

1987/06/10, 2. A month after construction started on the new station, and considerable progress has been made, though there is not much improvement in the weather! Footings and new piers for the platform are taking shape alongside the track, while work continues on the car park and approach on the right of the picture. Wednesday 10th June 1987.

1987/06/10, 3. View looking towards Princes Risborough at the site of the new Haddenham station - foundations for the platform supports are done and the piers are about to be built on the formation of the original down line, long since removed. Wednesday 10th June 1987.

1987/06/10, 4. View looking towards Princes Risborough at the site of the new Haddenham station - foundations for the platform supports are done and the piers are about to be built on the formation of the original down line, long since removed. The ramp down from the station building area to the platform is also taking shape. Wednesday 10th June 1987.

1987/06/10, 5. View looking towards Bicester from under the Thame Road bridge at Haddenham, as with many structures on the line this was built for eventual four-tracking, though this hasn't happened (so far!). The original up line was the only track still in situ, the new platform for the station is being built on the formation of the old down line. Wednesday 10th June 1987.

1987/06/15. This train was usually a Class 50 turn, but is here seen with Class 47 No. 47 501 in charge. It is the 06:55 Leamington Spa to Paddington train, this and its return working at 17:53 from Paddington were the only loco-hauled trains each day, Monday to Friday. It is passing the worksite for the new station at Haddenham and as it would eventually be stopping here, it was the length of this train that determined the length of the new platform, which was built to accommodate eight coaches. Monday 15th June 1987. The station car parking area is now taking shape on the left and the ramp down from where the station building will be to the platform can also be seen.

1987/06/21. LNER "A4" Class 4-6-2 No. 4498 "Sir Nigel Gresley" comes under the Thame Road bridge alongside the works for the new Haddenham & Thame Parkway station. It is returning from Stratford-upon-Avon to Marylebone with "The Shakespeare Limited" dining train on Sunday 21st June 1987, another sizzling summer day...

1987/06/28. This shot is taken from the same vantage point as the picture of the DMU in the snow on the closing day in 1963, the former down platform at the original station. This platform survives to this day, though in a poor state of repair! When the line was singled, the former up fast line was the only track to remain in use. The up platform, station buildings and goods yard were all demolished and the land redeveloped as a small recreational area in conjunction with a new housing estate alongside the track. At 12:30 on Sunday 28th June 1987 LNER A4 Class 4-6-2 No. 4498 "Sir Nigel Gresley" (carrying a headboard celebrating its 50th year) races through at the head of the northbound "Shakespeare Limited" dining train from Marylebone to Stratford-upon-Avon and return, watched by some of the local population.

1987/08/07. The 06:55 train from Leamington Spa to Paddington puts in another appearance, once again with 50035 "Ark Royal" in charge. It is passing the works for the new station at Haddenham & Thame Parkway, which have now moved on considerably. The platform is in place and the station building is under construction, while the car park is being surfaced. The picture is taken from the Thame Road bridge, which is in the process of being widened to accommodate a pedestrian pavement on the north side. At last there is some sunshine too! Friday 7th August 1987.

1987/10/02. Taken in very poor light on a miserable morning, this is not the best of pictures! It was, however, the last time this train passed by the new station at Haddenham & Thame Parkway without stopping, as the station was opened the following day, so the train stopped as from the Monday. This is the 06:55 Leamington Spa to Paddington train, here hauled by an unidentified Class 50, this train and its return working in the evening being the only loco-hauled train on the line, running Monday to Friday. Friday 2nd October 1987. There are still some finishing touches to be done before the station is ready to open for business.

1987/10/03, 01. Saturday 3rd October 1987 was a great day for Haddenham as the rail service was reinstated after the original station closed in January 1963. A new station called Haddenham & Thame Parkway was built slightly further north of the original and became part of Network SouthEast. Several "big-wigs" from Network SouthEast attended the ceremonies for the opening, which were also covered by BBC Radio Oxford. A special train was run to and from Marylebone hauled by LNER A4 No. 4498 "Sir Nigel Gresley" and hundreds of villagers took the opportunity to travel to London for the afternoon for the first time from their new local station.

1987/10/03, 02. The plaque to celebrate the opening of Haddenham & Thame Parkway had been unveiled earlier by Miss Rose, a member of a long-standing Haddenham family, Saturday 3rd October 1987.

1987/10/03, 03. Fortunately, Saturday 3rd October 1987 was a lovely autumn day with warm sunshine! The crowds begin to gather at the newly opened Haddenham & Thame Parkway station to await the first trains to stop from late morning onwards. The marquee in the car park was to accommodate the celebrations that took place later in the day, after the arrival back of the opening day special train from Marylebone.

1987/10/03, 04. This is the 10:45 train from Banbury to Marylebone, and was the last train to pass the new station at Haddenham & Thame Parkway without stopping, as the crowds gather for the official first train. Saturday 3rd October 1987.

1987/10/03, 05. The ceremonial banner across the track for the official opening of Haddenham & Thame Parkway station was broken by the 10:38 train from Marylebone to Banbury formed of two three-car units, L421 leading. This was the first train to stop at the station for fare-paying passengers, Saturday 3rd October 1987.

1987/10/03, 06. The ceremonial banner across the track for the official opening of Haddenham & Thame Parkway station was broken by the 10:38 train from Marylebone to Banbury formed of two three-car units, L421 leading. This was the first train to stop at the station for fare-paying passengers, Saturday 3rd October 1987.

1987/10/03, 07. The ceremonial banner across the track for the official opening of Haddenham & Thame Parkway station was broken by the 10:38 train from Marylebone to Banbury formed of two three-car units, L421 leading. This was the first train to stop at the station for fare-paying passengers, Saturday 3rd October 1987.

1987/10/03, 08. The ceremonial banner across the track for the official opening of Haddenham & Thame Parkway station was broken by the 10:38 train from Marylebone to Banbury formed of two three-car units, L421 leading. This was the first train to stop at the station for fare-paying passengers, 11:52, Saturday 3rd October 1987.

1987/10/03, 09. The official first train to stop at Haddenham, the 10:38 Marylebone to Banbury pulls away from the station after the stop. The two Class 117 units, L421 and L424 had been specially bulled-up for the occasion. 11:52, Saturday 3rd October 1987.

1987/10/03, 10. My son Christopher (on the right) and one of his mates pose by the newly erected station running-in boards at Haddenham on the morning of the opening day, Saturday 3rd October 1987.

1987/10/03, 11. The first northbound train having gone, the crowds await the arrival of the southbound opening day steam-hauled special to Marylebone - attitudes towards Health & Safety were a little more relaxed in those days! Saturday 3rd October 1987.

1987/10/03, 12. LNER A4 4-6-2 No. 4498 "Sir Nigel Gresley" was the 100th "Pacific" to be built for the LNER at Doncaster in 1937, and as such was named after its designer at Marylebone station in 1937. In its fiftieth year, it was a most appropriate locomotive to haul the opening day special, the "Haddenham & Thame Pioneer", here seen arriving at Haddenham from Banbury on Saturday 3rd October 1987. The train was 12 coaches and the fare was the normal Cheap Day Return (£5.60 in those days!), departing at 12:30 for the non-stop run to Marylebone. The return train departed at 18:15 and arrived at Haddenham at 19:25, 15 minutes earlier than the booked time - and was followed by music, dancing, drinking and fireworks!

1987/10/03, 13. LNER A4 Class 4-6-2 No. 4498 "Sir Nigel Gresley" at Marylebone station with the outward working of the "Haddenham & Thame Pioneer" special train to mark the opening of Haddenham & Thame Parkway station earlier the same day. Saturday 3rd October 1987.

1987/10/03, 14. LNER A4 Class 4-6-2 No. 4498 "Sir Nigel Gresley" at Marylebone station with the outward working of the "Haddenham & Thame Pioneer" special train to mark the opening of Haddenham & Thame Parkway station earlier the same day. Saturday 3rd October 1987.

1987/10/03, 15. LNER A4 Class 4-6-2 No. 4498 "Sir Nigel Gresley" waits at Marylebone station with the return working of the "Haddenham & Thame Pioneer" special train to mark the opening of Haddenham & Thame Parkway station earlier the same day. 18:00 Saturday 3rd October 1987.

1987/10/05, 01. After the glorious weekend weather it was back to autumnal gloom on Monday 5th October 1987. It was also the start of the revamped Timetable 115 to include the new station at Haddenham & Thame Parkway, opened on the 3rd October. Here, the slightly re-timed 06:51 from Leamington Spa to Paddington is drawing to a halt in the station for the first time at 07:48, with 50024 "Vanguard" in charge of a GUV (General Utility Van) and eight Mk.II coaches. A goodly few passengers are already waiting, eager to make use of the new service. This train and its return working in the evening became very popular - passengers had their regular seats and even card schools were operated! Monday 5th October 1987.

1987/10/05, 02. Class 50 No. 50024 "Vanguard" starts away from Haddenham & Thame Parkway station having stopped for the first time with the Monday to Friday 06:51 from Leamington Spa to Paddington train. The train comprised a GUV and eight coaches and together with its return working in the evening was the only loco-hauled working on the line, everything else being DMUs. 5th October 1987. The small-holding with the geese is still there, though largely masked by trees and bushes these days!

1987/10/05, 03. On the first day of the new Timetable 115, Monday 5th October 1987, a Class 115 DMU arrives from Banbury, the 08:19 from the newly opened Haddenham & Thame Parkway station to Marylebone, on a very dull morning.

1987/10/05, 04. Reminder notice at Princes Risborough station for drivers to stop at Haddenham station as it's now open! Monday 5th October 1987.

1987/11/01. Soon after the opening day steam-hauled special train, another special comes through Haddenham & Thame Parkway station, non-stop. This is the northbound "Shakespeare Limited" from Marylebone to Stratford-upon-Avon and return dining train on Sunday 1st November 1987. BR(S) rebuilt Bulleid "Merchant Navy" Class 4-6-2 No. 35028 "Clan Line" is in charge with an "ETHEL" behind the tender. These Electric Train Heating Ex-Locomotives were converted from former Class 25 diesel locos and were used to provide heating for the coaches (steam-heat having been discontinued) and played no part in hauling the train.

1988/05/11. A much-loved and now sorely-missed train was the sole loco-hauled working (all other trains were worked by DMU's) which stopped at Haddenham at 07:48 on its way from Leamington Spa to London Paddington, and returned from Paddington at 17:53 - though the times varied over the years. During the Network SouthEast era, Class 50 Co-Co Diesel No. 50037 "Illustrious" approaches Haddenham with 9 coaches in tow, the down working from Paddington, Wednesday 11th May 1988.

1990/08/16. By this time the former ScotRail Class 47/7s had been transferred to NetWork SouthEast and received that livery. Here 47707 "Holyrood" is just pulling into Haddenham & Thame Parkway station with the 17:37 train from Paddington to Banbury, the sole down loco-hauled working of the day. It had previously run through to Leamington Spa but was now cut back to Banbury before eventually being withdrawn altogether. Thursday 16th August 1990.

1991/05/24. The Class 115 DMUs that operated the services on the Chiltern line were fast wearing out by this time and their "Networker Turbo" Class 165/0s replacements had yet to arrive, so several trains became loco-hauled for a while. Here, the driver of Network SouthEast liveried 47 587 "Ruskin College Oxford" consults his watch to ensure an on-time departure from Haddenham & Thame Parkway station with the 09:30 train from Banbury to Marylebone, Friday 24th May 1991.

1997/07/22, 1. By 1997 the station at Haddenham & Thame Parkway was well established and had become part of the landscape. However, the single track between Princes Risborough and Bicester North had become a real bottleneck, causing many delays. Thus in July 1997 the contracts were announced to rebuild the double track over this section. This meant rebuilding the station again as the single platform occupied the former down track formation! 165 007 arrives with a working from Marylebone to Banbury, Tuesday 22nd July 1997.