Beaconsfield (BCF)

Beaconsfield is a stop on the Chiltern Main Line between High Wycombe and Seer Green & Jordans. Beaconsfield has also appeared in the TV crime series Midsomer Murders a number of times as the railway station in Midsomer's county town!

Chiltern 165 018 departs

Information
Type: National Rail (Chiltern Main Line)
Station code: BCF
Opened: 1906
Platforms: 2

The station was openly jointly by the Great Western Railway and Great Central Railway in 1906. The station was located a short distance (about a twenty minute walk) from the old town and helped spark the development of a new town. The line underwent a long decline throughout the twentieth century. Originally four lines went through Beaconsfield but the two central fast lines were removed in 1974. The station had a goods yard, including a cattle dock, but it was closed in 1964 [1].

However, in latter years Beaconsfield has benefited from the upgrades to the Chiltern Main Line. Line speeds though the station have been increased though the station has not had some of the upgrades afforded to stations elsewhere. There is no step-free access between the two platforms available without leaving the station and crossing over to the other side via a road bridge that spans the lines.

 
The able-bodied can cross using a footbridge though it is quite a long one due to the fact there used to be four tracks here. The station has had improved car parking facilities and ticket barriers. The station is managed by Chiltern Railways.
View down the platform

One of the station entrances


A Chiltern service arrives at the station

View down the platform, the long footbridge is apparent

Station frontage, the main entrance



Bekonscot

Close to Beaconsfield station is Bekonscot model village, the oldest such tourist attraction in the world. Bekonscot has been creating a model replica of the country for nearly one hundred years. Bekonscot has it's own narrow gauge railway and an extensive mini-world of buildings ranging from castles to shops, schools to cable cars.

Bekonscot

[1] Vic Mitchell & Keith Smith, Paddington to Princes Risborough (Middleton Press, 2002) Fig. 89