DMU Operations: London Midland Region
Oxford - Cambridge
DMUs were introduced to the services in November 1959 in an attempt to keep the line open - it had been scheduled for closure.
Class 108s were initially used with nine sets allocated to Bletchley. They would be replaced by Derby Lightweights in January 1965.
Passenger services were withdrawn on 1 January 1968 except the Bletchley - Bedford section.
At the end of 1965 the once reliable Oxford, Beford and Cambridge passenger services were noted as having been allowed to run down. Timekeeping was poor as was the condition of the DMUs which were in constant need of attention. There was an inability to refuel the busy 07:14 Bletchley-Cambridge which had been noted up to 40 minutes late and the 07:28 Cambridge-Bletchley was very unreliable with consequences on connections. In the run up to Christmas lengthy parcel trains used the line and the loading/unloading times caused further delay to passenger service particularly at St Johns.[1]
The 10:43 Cambridge to Oxford "express" (stopping only at Bedford, Bletchley, Winslow and Bicester) operated by a two-car on 10 March 1966 was noted as almost full on leaving Cambridge. The 14:48 "stopping" service in the opposite direction was also reasonably loaded, mostly shoppers, with about half a dozen getting on and off at each stop. The 17:11 from Bletchley didn't leave until 17:26 but it was noted that passengers were still joining at this time so the delay could have been deliberate for workers. The delay was almost made up by Cambridge where the two-car arrived just 2 minutes late. The heavily loaded departure from Bletchley had picked up many more workers at Fenny Stratford, After than the train became lighter at each stop until only about fifteen to twenty passengers remained for the final Sandy to Cambridge section.[2]
Sample Timetables
In the November 1960 timetable there were only one through service from Oxford to Cambridge - none in the opposite direction. The timetable was divided into two sections: Oxford to Bletchley and Bletchley - Cambridge, with many of the services being just Bletchley - Bedford.
2nd November, 1959 to 12th June, 1960
(Cover only displayed here)
21st November to 11th June 1961
This measured 4 3/4" x 6 1/2 when folded.
14 June 1965 to 17 April 1966
This measured 4 3/4" x 6 1/4 when folded.
Images
7th August 1961
M56225 leads a (blue square) Derby Lightweight twin DMU leaving Sandy station with the 10.12am Cambridge - Bletchley service on 7 August 1961. Note how the cab roof dome is much darker than the roof. Michael Mensing.
7th August 1961
A (blue square) Derby Lightweight DMU is seen at Sandy on 7 August 1961. Michael Mensing.
September 1961
A Blue Square Derby Lightweight DMU departs Bedford St Johns with a Cambridge service in mid-September 1961. The vehicles are M56223 and M50940 which were allocated to Bletchley depot. Michael Mensing.
Unknown date
A two-car Derby Lightweight DMU arrives into Oxford station, probably on a service from Bletchley or Cambridge. Date unknown. Stuart Mackay Collection.
4th September 1965
A Derby Lightweight twin arrives into Claydon station with an Oxford service on 4 September 1965. Closest seems to be M79633, originally built as power car M79191 then converted to a trailer in 1962. John Cosford.
4th September 1965
A Derby Lightweight twin departs Verney Junction bound for Bletchley on 4 September 1965. John Cosford.
4th September 1965
An Oxford - Bletchley services arrives into Verney Junction station formed of a Derby Lightweight twin on 4 September 1965. John Cosford.
Unknown date
A Derby Lightweight calls into Old North Road station with a Cambridge - Bletchley service in the 1960s. Steve Davies Collection.
27th July 1966
A Bletchley to Cambridge service descending from the ECML flyover at Sandy on 27th July 1966. Leading is a trailer car from a lightweight set attached to M79901, one of the single units from the same stable which were used on the Buckingham branch until its closure in September 1964. Copyright Chris Burton. Gerard Fletcher.
30th January 1967
A mixed-livery Cravens DMU descends the Bedford-Cambridge line after crossing the ECML at Sandy on 30 January 1967. The DTCL closest is from the batch of five LMR sets that had three marker lamps and the route indicator (56145-9), all of which were allocated to Bletchley at the time. Stuart Mackay Collection.
1967
A Derby Lightweight DMU (the DMBS with yellow cab doors) at Sandy thought to be of the 1257 arrival from Bletchley sometime in 1967. Roy Endersby.
1967
A Derby Lightweight DMU at Sandy thought to be of the 1257 arrival from Bletchley (for Cambridge) sometime in 1967. Roy Endersby.
References
The Railway Observer is the journal of the Railway Correspondence and Travel Society