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Sandpit Lane, PRINCES RISBOROUGH, HP27 9QL

For some reason, nostalgia, economy, laziness or whatever, this short length of the original train track has been left here in the road years after the rest of the line has been dismantled and turned into a cycleway.

This railway station in Sandpit Lane was situated on the railway line between Princes Risborough and Oxford which closed in early January, 1963. Following closure, it then became a Bed and Breakfast establishment "The Old Station" although that has now closed. The track was lifted some while ago and has since been converted into the Phoenix cycle trail. Its postcode is HP27 9QQ.

Phoenix trail at Sandpit lane slightly diverted off the former track bed which is now the garden off the nearby house

View eastward, towards Princes Risborough and London; ex-GWR Princes Risborough - Thame - Oxford line. Station closed with passenger traffic on line 7/1/63, but line remained open (for oil traffic to Thame) until 17/4/91.

Over the road from the former Bledlow Station.

This was Bledlow Station on the Thame to Princes Risborough railway, with a level crossing. The disused railway is now a cycle track, which is diverted around this short section which is a private house and garden.

The former Princes Risborough to Oxford railway line crossed Sandpit Lane at this point. The railway was opened in 1863, but the through route was closed in 1967, leaving open only the section, including this level crossing, from the junction with the Watlington branch line to Thame to serve the oil depot there. In 1991 that section was closed and the track subsequently lifted, apart from a few odd places, this level crossing site being one of them. The former Bledlow station is immediately to the left.

The Phoenix Trail follows a section of the route of the former Princes Risborough to Oxford railway line, between Princes Risborough and Thame, and was constructed by, and is currently managed, by Sustrans. After the closure of the through route between Princes Risborough and Oxford in 1967, this section from the junction with the Watlington branch line to Thame remained open until 1991 to serve the oil depot at Thame. After closure of this section the track was lifted later in the 1990s. This is a permissive footpath with the kind permission of the landowner, presumably the Strategic Rail Authority, arranged by Sustrans. It is not a public right of way, and is open to walkers, cyclists, and horse riders only. All forms of motorized transport are banned. The post on the left is one of several artworks along the route of the trail, based on observations of light at different times of the day, and at varying times of the year http://www.sustrans.org.uk/default.asp?sID=1098368804265.

The remains of some of the old machinery, including the mill wheel, are on display here at the end of North Mill Road.