51895 Chinnor 6 August 1988

A scene that has now changed out of all recognition. On 6 August 1988, the Hertfordshire Railtours 1Z22 'Chinnor Tonic' railtour pulls way from Chinnor along some very rickety track as it heads back along the branch towards Princes Risborough. The train is formed from an unusual Class 115/108/115/108 combination, with 51895 leading 54213, 51893 & 54224. The tour, which had started from Marylebone, would later visit Thame and Morris Cowley. At the time this picture was taken the Chinnor Cement Works was still in production and still receiving coal via the line. In fact, a rake of HTV coal hoppers can just be seen on the siding directly above the roof of the DMU. Now of course, the works and its distinctive chimneys have gone, and the line has reopened as the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway, with the rebuilt Chinnor station now occupying the area that is just a grassy bank next to the 20mph sign in this view.