Bicester Military Railway
The Bicester Military Railway (BMR) is now a scheduled monument. It was the primary mode of transport at the Central Ordnance Depot Bicester. It was opened in 1942 as part of the war effort. It belongs to the Ministry of Defence and links the military depots at Piddington, Arncott and Graven Hill with the Oxford to Bicester Line. The BMR has no road bridges. All of its crossings of public roads at Ambrosden, Arncott and between Arncott and Piddington are level crossings. The Army railway has over 41 miles of track. The Bicester site was divided into two main areas. The depots were named for the hills that they surround – Graven Hill Depot and Arncott Depot. Very recently (2018) the MOD has been selling off some of its estate and the Graven Hill Depot area of this site has now been turned over to housing which has inevitably resulted in the closure of lengths of the railway. The history of the BMR is very well described on the Roger Farnworth website: rogerfarnworth.com/2018/08/01/bicester-military-railway/
The section of the railway which feeds Piddington Depot to the far East is now abandonned. The photo shows the Murcott Road crossing looking towards Arncott Depot, the crossing carries the formr line to St Georges Barracks which is now truncated a short distance East of the crossing.
© 2020 Nigel Matthews (Gook the Goblin) - All rights reserved.
Do not use, download, print or reproduce any of my images without my permission!
Bicester Military Railway
The Bicester Military Railway (BMR) is now a scheduled monument. It was the primary mode of transport at the Central Ordnance Depot Bicester. It was opened in 1942 as part of the war effort. It belongs to the Ministry of Defence and links the military depots at Piddington, Arncott and Graven Hill with the Oxford to Bicester Line. The BMR has no road bridges. All of its crossings of public roads at Ambrosden, Arncott and between Arncott and Piddington are level crossings. The Army railway has over 41 miles of track. The Bicester site was divided into two main areas. The depots were named for the hills that they surround – Graven Hill Depot and Arncott Depot. Very recently (2018) the MOD has been selling off some of its estate and the Graven Hill Depot area of this site has now been turned over to housing which has inevitably resulted in the closure of lengths of the railway. The history of the BMR is very well described on the Roger Farnworth website: rogerfarnworth.com/2018/08/01/bicester-military-railway/
The section of the railway which feeds Piddington Depot to the far East is now abandonned. The photo shows the Murcott Road crossing looking towards Arncott Depot, the crossing carries the formr line to St Georges Barracks which is now truncated a short distance East of the crossing.
© 2020 Nigel Matthews (Gook the Goblin) - All rights reserved.
Do not use, download, print or reproduce any of my images without my permission!