55033 Towersey 29 June 1986

55033 finds a small patch of weak sunshine, as it passes Towersey on 29 June 1986 with the Hertfordshire Railtours 14:50 High Wycombe to Thame 'Thame Phoenix' railtour. This was one of a series of trips along the branch, bringing passenger trains back to the line after a gap of over 20 years. Unfortunately this did not herald the start of the line's renaissance, as a few years later the oil depot at Thame, which was the reason's for the line's retention, closed. The track was lifted shortly afterwards, and this location is unrecognisable today, being part of the Phoenix Trail cycle route. On second thoughts, perhaps the railtour's name did predict the route's future!