Cholsey and Wallingford Railway

The Cholsey and Wallingford Railway is a two and a half mile branch line that links the historic riverside town of Wallingford with the Great Western mainline at Cholsey. We start our journey at Wallingford station which is about half a mile from Wallingford town centre.

 

Whilst in Wallingford, it is worth exploring the historic town. Once the home of the monarchy, the town boasts remains of a castle, saxon fortifications and has a charter that was first granted in 1155. You can find out more in Wallingford Museum. The River Thames runs through Wallingford and is its banks are a pleasant place to sit, or for a stroll on a summers day. 

The Wallingford station site is not the original site of the station. This was located a few hundred yards further East, and was sadly demolished around 1969. The current station site was once the home of the large Paul’s Maltings, which was demolished in 2003. 

 

The station currently has a single platform which shall suffice until the society is able to develop the site. On departing from the platform, the train crosses Bradford’s Brook a small tributary of the River Thames. The line then falls into a shallow cutting as it curves to the right, as the houses of Wallingford immediately give way to the open countryside.

We have not left Wallingford entirely however, as we now cross the Wallingford bypass on a modern barrier crossing. The society successfully fought to save the line from being severed at this point when the bypass was built.

 

For further information on opening times and pricing please see the website.