About the Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway
The Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway is a preserved standard gauge heritage railway with its headquarters and main station at Chinnor Railway Station in South Oxfordshire.
Originally known as the Watlington and Princes Risborough Railway Company, the railway was largely promoted by local landowners following the failure of the planned extension of the Wallingford branch through to Watlington. Construction of the branch was authorised by an Act of Parliament dated 26 July 1869.
This authorised the construction of the branch as a Light Railway, commencing from the Great Western Railway Station at Princes Risborough and running for a distance of 8 miles 66 chains to a terminus at Pyrton just outside Watlington. The branch was opened on 15 August 1872 and had two intermediate stations at Chinnor and Aston Rowant.
After opening, the company immediately faced financial difficulties, and the Great Western Railway (GWR) acquired it on 01 July 1883. Rail level halts were opened at Bledlow Bridge, Kingston Crossing and Lewknor Bridge in 1906, and Wainhill Crossing in 1925.
After the Second World War, the passenger traffic on the branch started to fall, and by the mid-1950s, it had fallen to such a level that on 01 July 1957, the line was closed to passenger traffic.
The halts at Lewknor, Kingston Crossing, Wainhill and Bledlow Bridge were closed immediately, but the stations remained open for goods and parcel traffic until 02 January 1961, after which the section from Chinnor to Watlington was closed completely and the track lifted. The section from Chinnor to Princes Risborough was retained to serve the cement works and the wood yard in the village.
Maintenance of the branch from Chinnor to the junction with the Thame branch near Princes Risborough was given to the Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway Association in January 1990.
The Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway (C&PRR) was granted a Transport and Works Order under section 6 of the Transport and Works Act 1992 on 04 July 1994, the order coming into force on 26 July 1994. Thus, the legality of the C&PRR status was assured, and passenger services could recommence.
A new platform suitable for two coaches was completed in May 1994, and the restoration of operational passenger and goods stock was also completed that year.
The Association purchased the freehold of the branch in August 1994, and the first public service since 1957 ran on 20 August with round trips to Wainhill Halt.
In April 1995, the passenger-carrying line was extended some 2 miles to Horsenden Lane. A further extension to Thame Junction opened at the start of the 1996 season, where a run round loop has been constructed.