Recreating the Golden Age of the Great Western Railway
Didcot Railway Centre occupies the original steam locomotive depot at the junction on the Great Western Railway is on an island where the lines separate for Birmingham and the North, and the main line West for Bristol and Wales. The Centre focuses almost entirely on the old GWR. Visitors can enjoy (on steam Days) two working lines with modern trains rushing by on the main lines. The Railway Centre is one of my favorite places to go as there even on non-steam days there is sure to something going on plus working repair sheds with locomotives and wagons in every stage of rebuilding.
(photo WikiCommons)
Didcot Railway Centre is accessed via the subterranean passage under Didcot Parkway Station.
Didcot Railway Centre Table of Contents
- The Story of Didcot Railway Centre
- Dicot Railway Centre Photos 2008
- Didcot Railway Centre Links
- Thomas The Tank Days at Didcot
- Railway Books on Amazon
- Didcot Railway Centre Tips
- Railway Stuff on eBay
- Didcot Railway Centre Photos
- Didcot Railway Centre a Real Working Railway Centre
- Didcot Railway Centre Videos
- Didcot Railway Centre Photo Gallery
- Didcot Feedback, did you visit?
The Story of Didcot Railway Centre
(text from Wikipedia see link below)
The Great Western Society was offered the use of the site and took it over in 1967. The society has a comprehensive collection of Great Western Railway locomotives and rolling stock. There are two short lengths of running track, each with a station at both ends. The shorter of the two lengths - the 'branch line' - has a wayside halt-type station named Didcot Halt at one end while at the other end is the transhipment shed dating from Broad Gauge days, when it was used for transferring goods from broad to narrow gauge rolling stock and vice versa; it has been carefully reconstructed from its original site nearby. This is where the Firefly replica, completed in 2005, can be found. The other length of track has a prefabricated concrete station platform at one end next to the entrance, and a newly built platform at the other end. Long term plans include the reconstruction of the Brunel station building from Upper Heyford on this platform.
The site retains many original GWR features including the engine shed, turntable pit and coal stage from the 1932 rebuilding. The turntable itself is a Southern Railway (UK) item from the Southampton Docks.
The centre regularly holds events such as steam and diesel railcar days. Members of the Great Western Society are active in the preservation of locomotives and rolling stock and as of 2005 several locomotives such as King Edward II are being restored, in addition to the restoration of rolling stock such as coaches.
The railway centre is accessed through Didcot Parkway railway station , which links the centre by rail to London and much of the south and central England.
Dicot Railway Centre Photos 2008
Didcot Railway Centre Links
- Didcot Railway Centre
- Didcot Railway Centre Official Website
- Didcot Railway Centre
- Didcot Railway Centre on Wikipedia
- Great Western Society Main Line Steam
- GWS MAINLINE STEAM
- GWS Bristol Group
- The Great Western Society, Bristol Group, Website.
- 3650 Great Western Pannier Tank
- A photographic record of the on-going restoration of Great Western Pannier Tank 3650 at Didcot Railway Centre
- GWR 7202 and 3822 home
- GWR steam locomotives 7202 and 3822
- The GWR Steam Rail Motor and Trailer Project
- The GWR Steam Railmotor and Trailer Project
- Great Western Railway King Edward
- Home Page of the history of the restoration project of Great Western Railway King Edward 2nd - 6023.
- First Great Western
- First Great Western - Plan & book tickets online
- Didcot - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Didcot From Wikipedia
- Didcot Railway Centre from the Air
- Didcot Parkway railway station Aerial Photo Maps
- Armistice Day Didcot Railway Centre 2008
- ROD 5332 in Wartime Livery
Thomas The Tank Days at Didcot
Railway Books on Amazon
Didcot Railway Centre Tips
There are many places to Picnic, but also an authentic railway cafe.
The Museum is small but packed with Railwayana
When you arrive at Didcot you actually have to enter the First Great Western mainline station , then go through the underpass until you see the "modest" entrance to DRC at the far end. One of the attactions of DRC is to be able to see both modern and old railway activity.
The Broad Gauge train is stored in the Transfer shed at the far end. This has very limited Steaming Days
Immediately when you enter DRC you will the "main" DRC Station on steaming days this will take you a few hundred yards to the "Oxford Rd" Station , leave your train there walk to the transfer shed and take an even shorter train ride (secondary line), this takes you to the centre of DRC where you'll find Engine Sheds, the cafe and the Museum.
Didcot Railway Centre a Real Working Railway Centre
- Museum/Relics Display
- Refreshment Room
- Science, Learning and Railways Centre
- Coaling Stage
- Travelling Post Office
- Engine Shed & Display
- Locomotive Works
- Welford Park Ticket Office
- Didcot Halt (Steam Days)
- Turntable
- Traverser
- Carriage & Wagon Workshop & Display
- Radstock Signal Box & Level Crossing
- Brunel's Atmospheric Caper
- Frome Mineral Junction Signal Box
- Transfer Shed Burlescombe
- Oxford Road Station
Didcot Railway Centre Photo Gallery
Didcot Feedback, did you visit?
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Reply
- Kate-Phizackerley Kate-Phizackerley Nov 21, 2009 @ 1:48 pm
- Never been. It's sad that Steam Town in Carnforth has shut but they had an open day last year with loads of steam locos. Nice lens
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Reply
- Ramkitten Ramkitten Jun 23, 2009 @ 7:30 pm
- I was looking for more lenses relating to historic and scenic trains and found this one. I've featured it on Colorado's Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Well done!
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Reply
- SPARAR SPARAR Sep 12, 2008 @ 1:59 pm
- very interesting Lens, nicely presented, love the old steam trains...
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