Oxford University Railway Society's crest is fixed to the smokebox door of No 1447
WE CAN’T imagine it happening these days – health and safety officials would blow the whistle.
But in May 1959, British Railways’ Western Region handed over control of a branch line to students!
Members of the Oxford University Railway Society were responsible for running trains between Radley and Abingdon for a whole afternoon.
Two of them are seen fixing their crest to the smoke box of the locomotive of the Abingdon Flier, ex-GWR tank engine No 1447.
Whether full-time railwaymen were on hand in case of emergency was not made clear.
The Oxford Mail reported: “During the runs, there was more whistle blowing and detonators going off than had been heard for many a long day.”
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