Cross Country

As mentioned in an earlier post (NE thing goes), there was a branch off the Great Central at Culworth to the GWR station in Banbury. In the summer timetables of 1934 to 1938 there was a cross country semi-fast from Leicester Central to Reading (and back) via the Great Central London Extension, the Culworth branch (like so many other cross country trains) to the Great Western at Banbury, on to Oxford, Didcot and terminating at Reading. Unlike most cross country expresses and semi-fasts, the loco change did not take place at Oxford. It must have been too crowded and busy. Instead, the change occurred at Banbury, like most goods trains. Another difference with this train, was that due to the growth in importance of Buckingham, the train divided at Banbury. Whilst the main part continued South, always with a Swindon product at it's head, the lesser part travelled to Buckingham West. The engine power for the last leg to Buckingham West was the loco that brought the train into Banbury. As such it alternated each day between an ex-Great Central and a GWR loco. The importance and tight timing on the GCR line meant that some fast locos were often used. Castles, Stars, Saints and even the pensionable Counties and Cities were seen. On the LNER roster ex-GCR Directors were the normal providers of the horsepower - in LNER Apple green of course. The coaching rake was interesting too, always being a combination of teak LNER stock and GWR coaches instead of alternating between days like the locos.

Of course, this is pure fiction (apart from the existence of the Culworth branch). But it is a great back story to why I now own a mixed rake of teak and chocolate and cream stock and a lovely Apple green Director, courtesy of Model Rail and Bachmann.

And I do know that Directors were in black paint by the mid to late 1930s, but hey, they never ran to Buckingham West either, mainly because it didn't exist. Rule number one as they say!

Now I must get on with the building of the layout.

Rich