Semaphores and specials at Moreton-in-Marsh

There are a number of places across the UK railway network that I never tire of re-visiting, and one of these is Moreton-in-Marsh on the delightful Cotswold Line from Worcester to Oxford, where there is an irresistible combination of semaphore signalling and Donnington Brewery beers to savour. 

My excuse for a trio of summer time visits was the chance to photograph a Network Rail test train making its monthly visit to the Cotswold Line on 8 July 2026, then a charter special, the “Avon Gorgeous”, passing through Moreton on 1 August with its working from Crewe to Bristol via Oxford and finally some interesting empty stock workings on 3 August.

First up on 8 July were Colas Rail HST power cars 43277/303 with Network Rail test trains 1Q22 from Derby RTC to Bristol Kingsland Road, which I photographed from a foot crossing of the line that is half a mile south of the station and signal box and as seen above.

This foot crossing is an easy 10-minute walk from the railway station and passing the attractive St David’s church before taking a path the runs alongside the railway to the crossing, at the end of a refuge siding on the down side of the line, with good views of the southernmost semaphore signals. 

For anyone tempted to visit this charming Cotswold town and in need of a hydration break I can highly recommend the Black Bear Inn in the Hgh Street and only a three minute walk from the station, where I enjoyed excellent pints of Donnington Brewery BB (3.6%/£4.80) on my recent visits. 

Another fine vantage point from which to appreciate the Moreton semaphores is the A44 London Road over-bridge just south of the station, from where it is possible to see three of the semaphores looking towards the station and, looking south the remaining four semaphores arms.

As seen in the signal box diagram, which I photographed while working on rail replacement duties in August 2024, the three main down semaphores are MM2 (outer home), MM3 (home) and MM5 (starter) while in the up direction are MM37 (starter) and MM36 (section). The two others are MM10 controlling exit from the down refuge siding and MM27 signalling an up train exiting down platform 1.

Signal MM27 no longer sees any regular use as the weekday “Parliamentary” service calling at the Oxfordshire halts now runs through to Evesham, but it was being pulled off on the morning of Monday, 3 August. as seen below.

This was to signal a series of four empty stock workings running at hourly intervals from Oxford that were terminating in platform 1 before returning south to form special extra services from Charlbury to pick up passengers who had attended the weekend’s Wilderness Festival.

Moreton-in-Marsh station is developing into a major transport hub, with the recently-enhanced Pulham’s 801 bus service now worked by large double decker vehicles and providing an hourly link between the station, Chipping Norton, Bourton-on-the-Water and Cheltenham Spa, as seen below.

Those who enjoy their bus travel may also be tempted by the seasonal weekend service operated by locally-based Trooper’s Lodge Motor Services and using heritage vehicles on a service (11) that provides a link from the station to two other delightful Cotswold towns, Chipping Campden and Stow-on-the-Wold.

Anyone interested in keeping up with developments along the delightful Cotswold Line should consider joining the Cotswold Line Promotion Group (www.clpg.online) which I have been a member of for more than 40 years. 

It can be credited with securing the once closure threatened route, and successfully campaigning for its transformation, re-doubling and a best-ever timetable that now sees hourly services between Worcester and London Paddington seven days a week.

CLPG founder Oliver Lovell not only spearheaded a remarkable renaissance for the line, but left a legacy that helped fund a waiting room on the up platform at Moreton, as well as another on the northbound platform at Appleby station on the Settle-Carlisle line, and is commemorated on GWR IET 800028, where his name is shared with that of former BR Chairman Sir Peter Parker, another keen supporter of the Cotswold Line.