What it Looks Like Today: Scott's Quarry Siding
Those of you that read my previous article, What it Looks Like Today: Bampton Station, will remember that after looking around Bampton,my little gang and I didn't return home,but instead went to investigate the old siding that linked Scott's Quarry to Bampton Station.
If you walk down towards the industrial estate in Bampton,you will come to a footpath that leads to the housing estate that was built on the old quarry works,suitably called Scott's.If you walk down this path,after you have walked down the winding bit,you will come to a long straight section.You are now on the old siding.
"How do you know that that is the old siding?",I hear you cry.Well,I know it's the old siding for various reasons,but mainly because,unbelievably, there is still a length of track there!(Thanks to my son Cai who discovered it).You can find this old piece of track for yourself,by looking off the path to the right, when facing the housing estate.Be careful when doing this though,as there are still inconsiderate and illegal dog owners,who allow their dogs to foul this area without cleaning it up(one of my pet hates,can you tell?).I believe that this piece of track was part of the old passing place or loop(see diagram).
This photo is obviously from sometime between 1880 and 1904,as the siding is there,but only the bridge over the Batherm has been built.It would be interesting to know when and why the other bridge was built.Note the passing place.
There has been quarrying in Bampton,probably since Roman times and this peaked towards the end of the Victorian times.If you study the 1889 map you will notice that there is no siding to the quarry works.Compare this with the 1904 map and you will now notice that the siding has been added and so have two bridges.Out of interest you may also notice that there is also an old tramway going into Bampton Woods.I haven't discovered this yet,but maybe I will one day.
1889 map with no siding
1904 map with siding and bridges added.Note also how extensive the quarrying is in Bampton
Comments
Probably because it was deemed to be the best location for visibility of shunting operations and/or reducing the length of point rodding needed to be run all the sets of points.
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