The Chuffington and Oval Light Railway

This line has been undergoing maintenace for some time, including some major route changes. (See The History of the Chuffington and Oval Light Railway for full details.) I hope you will enjoy your journey with me.

Any persons wishing to help restore the line are encouraged to join the Chuffington and Oval Light Railway Preservation Society.

Although this terminus shares its name with a cricket ground in London, it is actually only around five miles from St James' Park, the home of my favourite football team. (How are they doing in the Premiership just now?)

As this is the start of your journey, you may wish to pick up a copy of the Chuffington & Oval News from the station newsstand, or visit my limerick-writing friend Richard Long at the station bookshop.

At this beautiful and much-frequented halt the signalman, an ex-member of the National Youth Choir of Great Britain, is polishing up a plaque dedicated to the memory of Flanders and Swann. On the wall of the signalbox rests the rather more mucky plaque celebrating Tom Lehrer. This plaque has suffered over the years from an overdose of smuts. A lot of hard work from the locals has meant that the stunning flowerbeds destroyed in the Great Disaster are returning to their former glory, and some violas are already in flower. No viola jokes, please.

Change here for a couple of railways:

• Talyllyn Railway where you may find the C&OLR's General Manager and Star Preservationist on their days off.
• Ffestiniog Railway - perhaps if you are lucky you will find that the guard on the train is my brother Andrew.

The station has now been restored to its former glory. A central feature is the board showing railway timetables. A charming girl is putting the last touches of paint on the window frames of the General Manager's office. Under the canopy you will find the C&OLR model railway, which you can play with for free.

On leaving Chuffington we pass through a large area of open countryside, and you may notice many farms as you pass through. The Happy Valley Sewage Farm is advertising fertiliser and methane gas for sale in its farm shop.

This station is deep underground below my old college. If you can find your way to the surface this historic city is well worth a wander round. You may run into members of the Oxford University Gilbert and Sullivan Society if you are particularly lucky.

I thought Poplar ought to have a station, as I lived there for a year.

At one end of the platform at Aberystwyth station is a sign pointing to the local library. The librarian's desk is frequently unmanned while the staff pop out to assist readers or go train-spotting.

Yes, OK, but this time you get to visit the Bodleian Library and Oxford Brookes University Library. You may still run into members of the Oxford University Gilbert and Sullivan Society.

At Dundee the train splits into two, as the two branch lines are both very popular with our visitors. Please move to the front or back portion of the train according to your choice of destination. Both are equipped with buffet cars. If you need further distraction on the journey you could try playing one of these games, or looking at the Magic Eye Stereogram of the Week (it took me ages to be able to see these, but once you get the knack it's quite fun!).

Clickable map of the Chuffington and Oval Light Railway

                                                                     ???
Oval            Chuffington      Poplar           Rhydychen       /---O
 O-------O-----------O--------O-----O-------O---------O-------O--<
    Much Sington           Oxford      Aberystwyth         Dundee \---O
                                                                     ???

Last updated 28th October 2004 by Hilary Phillips.