Ticket collection
Post nationalisation tickets
Although new stocks of ticket were printed with British Railways (W) (Western Region), there were many of the old Great Western Railway tickets left to be used up. Such examples were to surface for several years, especially those for little used journeys.
1st November 1948 - Culham to Didcot
The return portion of a Great Western Railway Third Class Monthly Return from Culham to Didcot which cost just 10½p. This ticket was issued towards the end of the first year of operation of the nationalised railways and must be just one of a great many GWR tickets still being used up.
3rd November 1951 - Culham to Oxford
The return portion of a British Railways (W) Third Class Cheap Day Return from Culham to Oxford.
4th November 1951 - Paddington to Culham
As this ticket dates from early BR days it is an example of old stock being used up. This is the outward portion of a Third Class monthly ticket from Paddington to Culham via Didcot which had cost 15/6 (about 76p).
19th May 1952 - Culham to any station not exceeding 10 miles
This British Railways Western Region ticket was issued at Culham for an accompanied bicycle and is hand stamped with RETURN. The destination station is not specified, but the journey is limited not more than 10 miles from Culham.
30th July 1952 - Paddington to Culham
This Third Class single ticket for travel from Paddington to Culham via Didcot is an example of remaining Great Western Railway stock being used up. Interestingly, the price has been manually amended from 11/6 to 8/4, being the same as that printed on the British Railways (W) ticket for the same journey issued in December 1953 seen below.
25th May 1953 - Culham to any station not exceeding 10 miles
Another British Railways Western Region ticket issued at Culham for an accompanied bicycle, hand stamped with RETURN, and limited to not more than 10 miles from Culham. It is interesting to compare the serial number of this ticket with the one on the same class of ticket which is dated 19th May 1952. This shows that 359 of these tickets had been sold at Culham in almost exactly one year, an average of almost one every day.
22nd December 1953 - Paddington to Culham
A British Railways Western Region Third Class single ticket for travel from Paddington to Culham via Reading.
28th September 1958 - Culham to Abingdon
This Privilege Third Class single ticket was for travel from Culham to Abingdon, a journey which would have involved changing trains at Radley, and cost just 3d, or three pence. It is marked 'British Transport Commission' on the back with the (W) on the front denoting Western Region. We are not sure what the upside down 'WW' stamp meant, possibly denoting that it was a Workman's ticket, but the red 'P' reinforced that this was a privilege rate ticket.
4th October 1958 - Culham to Abingdon
This Privilege Second Class single ticket for travel from Culham to Abingdon has the 'WW' stamp now correctly oriented. Whilst having a serial number just one higher than the similar ticket from a few days earlier this one is marked 2nd, but the journey cost the same at 3d.
29th May 1959 - Culham to Didcot
Costing just 11 pence, this First Class single ticket is one more example of old GWR stock being used up at Culham.
14th May 1960 - Culham to Birmingham
Yet more old GWR stock being used up at Culham. This hand written ticket is for Third Class travel to Birmingham via Banbury at the Priviledge price of 3/9½d.
22nd May 1962 - Culham to Appleford Halt
Costing just 3 pence for a 2nd Single to the next stop up the line, this ticket to Appleford Halt is marked 'British Transport Commission' on the back with the (W) on the front denoting Western Region. This body operated from 1st January 1948 to the end of 1962. It was created by the post-war Labour government as part of its nationalisation programme to oversee railways, canals and road freight transport in Great Britain.
The different classes of ticket became a bit confusing as many railway companies had effectively phased out Second Class, retaining just First and Third class. However, on 3rd June 1956 British Railways stopped using the designation of Third class, having just First and Second class tickets. Effectively Third became Second as it took quite some time for the number 3 to be changed on coaching stock, if at all. Today we know only of First and Standard classes on the railways in Britain.
Undated (pre 1963) - Oxford to Culham
A 2nd Class 'British Transport Commission' cheap day return ticket for travel between Oxford and Culham. An undated ticket which must date from between 1948 and 1962, but possibly actually sold long after.
Undated (pre 1963) - Appleford Halt to Culham
A 2nd Class 'British Transport Commission' ordinary return ticket for the very short journey between the two stops at Appleford Halt and Culham costing 4/2. Considering the single fare between these two points was just 3d in the May of 1962, this does seem rather expensive, even though the ticket was valid for 3 months. Although undated, this ticket must date from between 1948 and 1962, but it may have been sold long after.
10th June 1963 - Abingdon to Culham
A 2nd Class 'British Transport Commission' single ticket for travel between Abingdon and Culham, a journey which would have involved changing trains at Radley and cost just 10 pence. Abingdon station closed for passenger traffic on the 9th September 1963, so this could have been one of the last tickets issued for this particular journey.
Undated (post 1963) - Paddington to Culham
A 2nd Class 'British Railways Board' ordinary return ticket for travel between Paddington and Culham costing 31/-. Although this ticket is undated it must be post 1963 as that is when the British Railways Board came into being.
Undated (post 1963) - Paddington to Culham
A 1st Class 'British Railways Board' single ticket for travel between Paddington and Culham costing 23/3. Although this ticket is undated it must be post 1963 as that is when the British Railways Board came into being.
Undated (post 1963) - Paddington to Culham
A 2nd Class 'British Railways Board' cheap day return ticket for travel between Paddington and Culham. Although this ticket is undated it must be post 1963 as that is when the British Railways Board came into being.
23rd January 1967 - Didcot to Culham
Costing 1/2, this 2nd Class 'British Railway Board' single was for the short journey from Didcot to Culham passing just the one intermediate stop at Appleford on the way.
29th November 1971 - Oxford to Culham
This 2nd Class 'British Railway Board' ordinary return between Oxford and Culham cost 31p. It is an example of a ticket which was printed on demand and, rather than being torn into two halves, this vertical format ticket served for both the outward and return journey. It has been punched, not very accurately, to show that it had been used on the outward trip, and should have had the 'R' punched on the return. Unlike earlier tickets which had terms and conditions printed on the back, this type of ticket had a plain back and instead carried the message on the front 'For conditions enquire Ticket Office'.
