Over the years, the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway has seen a number of exGreat Western locomotives hired in to work their steam services. For the 2024 season, GWR 4500 Class 262T No.4555 was kindly provided to the line courtesy of the Dartmouth Steam Railway. A popular little engine, the 'Small Prairie' has recently undergone a transformation from its previous Great Western livery, into British Railways Lined Green. Interestingly, it turns out it was actually one of a number of Small Prairies that never received this livery during its BR service, remaining in BR Unlined Black (with early crest) until the end of its working life in November 1963. I had always just assumed all Small Prairies were repainted into lined green at some stage in their latter days. Authentic or not, though, it looks the business!

A trip to Chinnor with the camera was definitely required to capture a few scenes of 4555 working up and down the quaint little branch line set in the Chiltern countryside. An initial visit was made on the Sunday of the Easter weekend, then another on the following Sunday to grab a few more shots.

Going in chronological order then, we start off on the first Sunday at Horsenden Lane, where the line crosses the Phoenix Trail. The trail which starts in Princes Risborough and finishes in Thame utilises the trackbed of the former Princes Risborough to Oxford line to the immediate north of the crossing. Having been dropped off on the first train of the day to Princes Risborough, the crossing keepers open the gates in readiness for 4555's arrival. Once over the crossing, 4555 stops to allow the gates to be closed and the crossing keepers to climb back onboard the train. With the "right away" given, 4555 scuttles off with a whistle and a waddle back to Chinnor. The next port of call was to the field opposite the cricket ground in Bledlow, where the Prairie is seen making the cautious approach over the 10mph restriction in place on West Lane Bridge, before opening back up and continuing on its way. A small cameo scene next, as 4555 is captured from the roadside heading over Wainhill Crossing, with a Princes Risborough bound service. Moving further west, just short of Chinnor, we're now set up on the footpath between Wainhill and Keens Lane. The line is on a short climb here initially at 1 in 109, before steepening to 1 in 68 which 4555 tackles with ease on its 4 coach load, wrapping up the day's filming for the first visit.

Skipping forward a week then, our next shot opens up just west of Horsenden Lane in blustery conditions, with upwards of 40mph gusts being the order of the day. Fighting against the wind, we see 4555 making a steady approach as it gets away from the stop at Horsenden Lane, followed by a shot of it rolling past on the approach to Wainhill Crossing. With a bit more cover from the wind at our next location, we see 4555 gently accelerating away from the slack over West Lane Bridge again, this time heading for Princes Risborough. The penultimate shot sees us perched up on a hill, just off the Icknield Way, overlooking the line between Bledlow and Wainhill. The final shot of the day was over at Keens Lane Crossing, a mere 400 metres from Chinnor Station. With the sun out and wind still fierce, 4555 is seen on the last train of the day, tackling the 1 in 68 up to the crossing after making a standing start at Wainhill, having stopped to collect the crossing keepers.

All in all, a very pleasant couple of days filming on "The Icknield Line", as it's nicknamed.

Timestamps:

00:00 Horsenden Lane (31st)
03:30 Bledlow (31st)
05:03 Wainhill Crossing (31st)
06:19 Chinnor Bank (31st)
08:38 Horsenden (7th)
10:08 Wainhill (7th)
11:17 Bledlow (7th)
12:24 Icknield Way (7th)
14:46 Keens Lane Crossing (7th)

Filmed on Sunday 31st March & Sunday 7th April 2024, using a Panasonic HCX1500 with an AudioTechnica BP4025 microphone.

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