66176 brings 4V64, the 13:24 Calvert – Tytherington empties through Quainton Road on a blisteringly hot and sultry afternoon
This was once part of the Great Central mainline into London Marylebone, but this section is currently operated as a long siding to access the refuse dump site and HS2 engineering base at Calvert
The route of HS2 is a few hundred yards to the left of here and will converge with this line 300-400 yards beyond the road bridge continuing north along the formation of the Great Central.
This line should be moved to run alongside HS2 to near the former junction at Claydon where it will join the upgraded East-West rail link from Oxford – Milton Keynes to allow a passenger service from Aylesbury – Bletchley/Milton – Keynes to be introduced (at least that was the plan – whether it happens……)
NOTE – services to/from Calvert ceased a few weeks later as all the infrastructure there was ripped out as part of HS2 construction. Rails have now been lifted back from Calvert to the end of the platforms in this shot
