QUAINTON ROAD TO BRILL (Wotton Tramway)
11th December 2005

The Wotton Tramway, later known as the Brill Tramway and eventually the Brill Branch of the Metroplitan & Great Central Joint Railway ran from Quainton Road to Brill in Buckinghamshire. For its last few years the line was an unlikely outpost of the London Underground system. It closed in 1935.
Waddesdon Road station was situated about a mile and a half north of Waddesdon, at the point where the tramway crossed Akeman Street (A41). Nothing remains today but the station site can be identified by the widened verge next to the road to Quainton.
Westcott was the next station and it has survived much better than any other. As well as the station house the timber station building also remains.
Wotton station was situated near to the GCR station of the same name. The station house remains but all other structures have gone.
Wood Siding was the penultimate station on the branch As well as being the only station in the country named after its siding, Wood Siding was an exeptionally remote and improbable station. Shortly after the turn of the century the GWR's new main line was constructed and passed under the western end of the station, somewhat shattering the tranquillity of the location.
The terminus at Brill was situated some considerable distance from the village itself at the bottom of a steep hill. Other than the station house, little remains today.

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The Brill platform at Quainton Road. It is often used for filming and has featured on
The Brill platform at Quainton Road. It is often used for filming and has featured on "Midsomer Murders" and "Scrapheap Challenge" in recent years. 14th May 2006. OS: SP738189
 Looking towards Brill from the end of the branch platform at Quainton Road. 29th May 1994. OS: SP738189
Looking towards Brill from the end of the branch platform at Quainton Road. 29th May 1994. OS: SP738189
 A branch train at Quainton Road in Brill Tramway Days. (Picture courtesy of John Law).
A branch train at Quainton Road in Brill Tramway Days. (Picture courtesy of John Law).
 The first part of the trackbed now forms an access road to the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre. View looking towards the junction. 6th May 2009. OS: SP736189
The first part of the trackbed now forms an access road to the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre. View looking towards the junction. 6th May 2009. OS: SP736189
View towards Brill from the same position. 6th May 2009. OS: SP736189
View towards Brill from the same position. 6th May 2009. OS: SP736189
 The first level crossing on the line was here where the line crossed the lane to Waddesdon. 6th May 2009. OS: SP735187
The first level crossing on the line was here where the line crossed the lane to Waddesdon. 6th May 2009. OS: SP735187
 The trackbed looking towards the junction at Quainton Road. 6th May 1996. OS: SP733186
The trackbed looking towards the junction at Quainton Road. 6th May 1996. OS: SP733186
 Looking in the opposite direction from the same spot. As far as Waddesdon Road the branch ran along the roadside. 6th May 1996. OS: SP733186
Looking in the opposite direction from the same spot. As far as Waddesdon Road the branch ran along the roadside. 6th May 1996. OS: SP733186
About halfway between the two stations the road goes round a bend and the trackbed leaves the roadside briefly to cut the corner. 15th March 2006. OS: SP728181
About halfway between the two stations the road goes round a bend and the trackbed leaves the roadside briefly to cut the corner. 15th March 2006. OS: SP728181
 Looking towards Quainton at the point where the trackbed veers away from the roadside. 15th March 2006. OS: SP728181
Looking towards Quainton at the point where the trackbed veers away from the roadside. 15th March 2006. OS: SP728181
 Waddesdon Road looking towards Quainton Road. Immediately behind the photographer is the Akeman Street level crossing. (Photo courtesy of the London Transport Archive). OS: SP726175
Waddesdon Road looking towards Quainton Road. Immediately behind the photographer is the Akeman Street level crossing. (Photo courtesy of the London Transport Archive). OS: SP726175
 Waddesdon Road. The station site looking towards Quainton Road from the site of the level crossing over Akeman Street. 12th March 2004. OS: SP726175
Waddesdon Road. The station site looking towards Quainton Road from the site of the level crossing over Akeman Street. 12th March 2004. OS: SP726175
Waddesdon Road. The station site looking towards Westcott and the former Akeman Street level crossing. 12th March 2004. OS: SP726175
Waddesdon Road. The station site looking towards Westcott and the former Akeman Street level crossing. 12th March 2004. OS: SP726175
 Just beyond the A41 level crossing the trackbed passes through a farmyard. It had been made into a concrete farm track over this length. July 1996. OS: SP725174
Just beyond the A41 level crossing the trackbed passes through a farmyard. It had been made into a concrete farm track over this length. July 1996. OS: SP725174
 Looking back towards Waddesdon Road. July 1996. OS: SP725174
Looking back towards Waddesdon Road. July 1996. OS: SP725174
 Trackbed halfway between Waddesdon Road and Westcott looking towards the latter. July 1996. OS: SP724172
Trackbed halfway between Waddesdon Road and Westcott looking towards the latter. July 1996. OS: SP724172
Looking back towards Waddesdon Road, part way between there and Westcott. 1997. OS: SP724172
Looking back towards Waddesdon Road, part way between there and Westcott. 1997. OS: SP724172
 Looking back towards Waddesdon Road from near Westcott. 1997. OS: SP721168
Looking back towards Waddesdon Road from near Westcott. 1997. OS: SP721168
 The final stretch before Westcott is now an open field but the trackbed shows up in the grass as a brown line. 1997. OS: SP721168
The final stretch before Westcott is now an open field but the trackbed shows up in the grass as a brown line. 1997. OS: SP721168
 Looking towards Waddesdon Road from near Westcott Station. 1997. OS: SP720168
Looking towards Waddesdon Road from near Westcott Station. 1997. OS: SP720168
The trackbed looking towards Waddesdon from the end of the site of Westcott station platform. 15th March 2006. OS: SP720168
The trackbed looking towards Waddesdon from the end of the site of Westcott station platform. 15th March 2006. OS: SP720168
 View looking towards Waddesdon from the platform at Westcott. (Picture courtesy of the London Transport Archive). OS: SP720167
View looking towards Waddesdon from the platform at Westcott. (Picture courtesy of the London Transport Archive). OS: SP720167
 The station building at Westcott from the rear. This is the only surviving one on the route. 15th March 2006. OS: SP720167
The station building at Westcott from the rear. This is the only surviving one on the route. 15th March 2006. OS: SP720167
 Westcott. The platform and station building. (Picture courtesy of the London Transport Archive). OS: SP720167
Westcott. The platform and station building. (Picture courtesy of the London Transport Archive). OS: SP720167
The platform site and the original station building, 17th August 2007. (Picture courtesy of Ian Lodwick).
The platform site and the original station building, 17th August 2007. (Picture courtesy of Ian Lodwick).
 The site of the level crossing at Westcott. The station building is on the left. The white building is the old station house, although the left hand gable is a modern extension built over the trackbed. The station site and house were bought by the former station master for £350 after the line closed. 15th March 2006. OS: SP720167
The site of the level crossing at Westcott. The station building is on the left. The white building is the old station house, although the left hand gable is a modern extension built over the trackbed. The station site and house were bought by the former station master for £350 after the line closed. 15th March 2006. OS: SP720167
 Looking towards Wotton from Westcott. This section of trackbed serves as an access road to Westcott Venture Park. 15th March 2006. OS: SP720167
Looking towards Wotton from Westcott. This section of trackbed serves as an access road to Westcott Venture Park. 15th March 2006. OS: SP720167
 Looking back towards Westcott from the Venture Park access road. The station house can be seen in the distance. July 1996. OS: SP719167
Looking back towards Westcott from the Venture Park access road. The station house can be seen in the distance. July 1996. OS: SP719167
The trackbed between Westcott and Wotton. 27th May 1996. OS: SP699154
The trackbed between Westcott and Wotton. 27th May 1996. OS: SP699154
 Just before Wotton station we look back towards Westcott. 16th March 2006. OS: SP696154
Just before Wotton station we look back towards Westcott. 16th March 2006. OS: SP696154
 Looking towards the site of the bridge that carried the GCR over the branch at Wotton. The grassy bank on the left in the middle distance is the cut-back remains of the GCR embankment. 27th May 1996. OS: SP695154
Looking towards the site of the bridge that carried the GCR over the branch at Wotton. The grassy bank on the left in the middle distance is the cut-back remains of the GCR embankment. 27th May 1996. OS: SP695154
 Station house at Wotton. 16th March 2006. OS: SP695153
Station house at Wotton. 16th March 2006. OS: SP695153
Wotton station site seen from the approach road. (Picture courtesy of the London Transport Archive). OS: SP695154
Wotton station site seen from the approach road. (Picture courtesy of the London Transport Archive). OS: SP695154
 The same view of Wotton station on 16th March 2006. OS: SP695154
The same view of Wotton station on 16th March 2006. OS: SP695154
 Wotton station looking towards Wescott. (Picture courtesy of the London Transport Archive). OS: SP695154
Wotton station looking towards Wescott. (Picture courtesy of the London Transport Archive). OS: SP695154
 A similar view of Wotton station site. 16th March 2006. OS: SP695154
A similar view of Wotton station site. 16th March 2006. OS: SP695154
Wotton station site looking towards Wood Siding. 16th March 2006. OS: SP695154
Wotton station site looking towards Wood Siding. 16th March 2006. OS: SP695154
 Trackbed immediately beyond Wotton, looking towards Wood Siding. 16th March 2006. OS: SP694154
Trackbed immediately beyond Wotton, looking towards Wood Siding. 16th March 2006. OS: SP694154
 The trackbed between Wotton station and Wotton village is a public footpath. 16th March 2006. OS: SP693155
The trackbed between Wotton station and Wotton village is a public footpath. 16th March 2006. OS: SP693155
 This section of line retains an original railway fence utilising old sleepers for posts. 16th March 2006. OS: SP693155
This section of line retains an original railway fence utilising old sleepers for posts. 16th March 2006. OS: SP693155
Running across the centre of this picture is the disused embankment between Wotton and Wood Siding, near the level crossing at Thame Lodge. 15th March 2006. OS: SP682152
Running across the centre of this picture is the disused embankment between Wotton and Wood Siding, near the level crossing at Thame Lodge. 15th March 2006. OS: SP682152
 The line passes through woodland just before reaching Wood Siding. This is the view looking towards Wotton. 22nd March 2006. OS: SP675154
The line passes through woodland just before reaching Wood Siding. This is the view looking towards Wotton. 22nd March 2006. OS: SP675154
 The line approaching the level crossing at Wood Siding, looking in the Brill direction. (Picture courtesy of the London Transport Archive). OS: SP675154
The line approaching the level crossing at Wood Siding, looking in the Brill direction. (Picture courtesy of the London Transport Archive). OS: SP675154
 A similar view seen on 22nd March 2006. OS: SP675154
A similar view seen on 22nd March 2006. OS: SP675154
Surviving fence post. 22nd March 2006. OS: SP675154
Surviving fence post. 22nd March 2006. OS: SP675154
 Looking back towards Wotton from the level crossing at Wood Siding. 8th April 2006. OS: SP673154
Looking back towards Wotton from the level crossing at Wood Siding. 8th April 2006. OS: SP673154
 Fence post by the level crossing. 8th April 2006. OS: SP673154
Fence post by the level crossing. 8th April 2006. OS: SP673154
 Wood Siding. General view of the station sometime in the late 1920s or early 1930s. On the left is the bridge over the GWR line. (Picture courtesy of the London Transport Archive). OS: SP673154
Wood Siding. General view of the station sometime in the late 1920s or early 1930s. On the left is the bridge over the GWR line. (Picture courtesy of the London Transport Archive). OS: SP673154
Wood Siding. A similar view on 11th November 2001. The oak tree in the background is visible in the previous picture. OS: SP673154
Wood Siding. A similar view on 11th November 2001. The oak tree in the background is visible in the previous picture. OS: SP673154
 Wood Siding. The station site looking towards Brill from the site of the platform. 8th April 2006. OS: SP673154
Wood Siding. The station site looking towards Brill from the site of the platform. 8th April 2006. OS: SP673154
 Wood Siding. Metropolitan Railway no. 41 at the station with the girders of the GWR bridge visible behind the loco. OS: SP673154
Wood Siding. Metropolitan Railway no. 41 at the station with the girders of the GWR bridge visible behind the loco. OS: SP673154
 Wood Siding. A similar view to the previous picture taken on 16th December 2005. Just visible through the scrub are the abutments of the bridge over the GWR. OS: SP673154
Wood Siding. A similar view to the previous picture taken on 16th December 2005. Just visible through the scrub are the abutments of the bridge over the GWR. OS: SP673154
Wood Siding. The abutments of the bridge over the GWR. Half of the station was situated on the bridge. 11th November 2001. OS: SP673154
Wood Siding. The abutments of the bridge over the GWR. Half of the station was situated on the bridge. 11th November 2001. OS: SP673154
 Wood Siding. The bridge abutments before the double track was reinstated on the Chiltern Line. 27th May 1996. OS: SP673154
Wood Siding. The bridge abutments before the double track was reinstated on the Chiltern Line. 27th May 1996. OS: SP673154
 Wood Siding. The tramway and road bridges seen from the north. 16th December 2005. OS: SP673154
Wood Siding. The tramway and road bridges seen from the north. 16th December 2005. OS: SP673154
 Wood Siding. The site of the level crossing. 16th December 2005. OS: SP673154
Wood Siding. The site of the level crossing. 16th December 2005. OS: SP673154
Wood Siding. A simplified sketch showing the basic station layout.
Wood Siding. A simplified sketch showing the basic station layout.
 The trackbed beyond Wood Siding looking towards Brill. 27th May 1996. OS: SP672154
The trackbed beyond Wood Siding looking towards Brill. 27th May 1996. OS: SP672154
 The line continued through Rushbeds Wood on a low embankment. 8th April 2006. OS: SP668153
The line continued through Rushbeds Wood on a low embankment. 8th April 2006. OS: SP668153
 A fence post still standing in Rushbeds Wood. 8th April 2006. OS: SP669153
A fence post still standing in Rushbeds Wood. 8th April 2006. OS: SP669153
Culvert under the embankment. 8th April 2006. OS: SP669153
Culvert under the embankment. 8th April 2006. OS: SP669153
 Footpath crossing just before the cutting that forms the final stretch of line before the terminus. 22nd March 2006. OS: SP658153
Footpath crossing just before the cutting that forms the final stretch of line before the terminus. 22nd March 2006. OS: SP658153
The cutting before Brill station looking towards Wood Siding. 22nd March 2006. OS: SP658153
The cutting before Brill station looking towards Wood Siding. 22nd March 2006. OS: SP658153
Looking towards the terminus from the same spot. 22nd March 2006. OS: SP658153
Looking towards the terminus from the same spot. 22nd March 2006. OS: SP658153
Old sleeper used as a lineside fence post. 22nd March 2006. OS: SP658153
Old sleeper used as a lineside fence post. 22nd March 2006. OS: SP658153
 Brill. Circular brick structure next to the site of the engine shed. This is visible on plans of the station. 22nd March 2006. OS: SP657153
Brill. Circular brick structure next to the site of the engine shed. This is visible on plans of the station. 22nd March 2006. OS: SP657153
 Brill. The station site looking towards the buffer stops. 22nd March 2006. OS: SP657153
Brill. The station site looking towards the buffer stops. 22nd March 2006. OS: SP657153
 Brill. Typical timber fence on the edge of the station site. 22nd March 2006. OS: SP657153
Brill. Typical timber fence on the edge of the station site. 22nd March 2006. OS: SP657153
Brill. The station site seen from the entrance gates. 22nd March 2006. OS: SP656152
Brill. The station site seen from the entrance gates. 22nd March 2006. OS: SP656152
 Brill. The station building and platform with the engine shed in the background. 22nd March 2006. (Picture courtesy of the London Transport Archive). OS: SP656152
Brill. The station building and platform with the engine shed in the background. 22nd March 2006. (Picture courtesy of the London Transport Archive). OS: SP656152
 A train at Brill station. (Picture courtesy of the London Transport Archive). OS: SP656152
A train at Brill station. (Picture courtesy of the London Transport Archive). OS: SP656152
 Brill. The station entrance. 22nd March 2006. OS: SP656152
Brill. The station entrance. 22nd March 2006. OS: SP656152
Brill. The station entrance, probably in the 1920s. (Picture courtesy of the London Transport Archive). OS: SP656152
Brill. The station entrance, probably in the 1920s. (Picture courtesy of the London Transport Archive). OS: SP656152
 Brill. The station house. 22nd March 2006. OS: SP656152
Brill. The station house. 22nd March 2006. OS: SP656152
 Brill. Plate from the letter box at the entrance to the station, now preserved at Quainton.
Brill. Plate from the letter box at the entrance to the station, now preserved at Quainton.
 Section of original rail preserved at Quainton Road.
Section of original rail preserved at Quainton Road.
Aveling & Porter locomotive that once worked on the line. London Transport Museum, 18th August 2005.
Aveling & Porter locomotive that once worked on the line. London Transport Museum, 18th August 2005.
 A replica of an original Tramway coach at Quainton Road. 19th July 2008.
A replica of an original Tramway coach at Quainton Road. 19th July 2008.
 Plan of the branch.
Plan of the branch.
 Part of a Wotton Tramway freight register.
Part of a Wotton Tramway freight register.
Mapping images used on this site produced from the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map service. Images reproduced with kind permission of Ordnance Survey and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland.
© 1998-2009 - All copyrights rest with the Author
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