Next Stop Midsomer Junction!

HOPEFULLY there’ll be no murders in Chinnor to trouble Inspector Barnaby next month, as a new Midsomer Tour package begins.

Neil Didgeon a.k.a. Inspector Barnaby

A guided walking tour of the internationally loved, TV series, Midsomer Murders locations in Thame will be followed by a steam trip on the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway (C&PRR). The rail journey will include cream tea in the afternoon tea car. The new combined Midsomer tour starts on Sunday, September 17, with further tours on Sunday, October 7 and the following Sunday, October 14.

Thame is one of the most frequently used filming locations in the popular ITV series, Midsomer Murders, in which it either as ‘Causton’ or as one of the fictional villages in Midsomer County. The Midsomer guided walking tours of Thame have grown in popularity, following their highly successful début last year. For the new Sunday afternoon tour, those taking the tour will be led by trained tour guides around many of the 20-plus filming locations in Thame town centre, including the Town Hall, Thame Museum, The Swan and the Spread Eagle Hotel.

After the walking tour, the murderous adventure continues from Chinnor Railway Station – the station that became ‘Holm Lane Junction’ in the Death in a Chocolate Box episode, when the station signs were changed, buffers were installed, and the station platform and train were drenched, to create the Midsomer illusion.

Taking a reserved seat in the afternoon tea car, Midsomer Murders fans will pass over the level crossing at Wainhill, featured in the episode, The Made to Measure Murders and during the journey will be served cream tea with locally baked scones, cream, butter and jam. The round trip lasts about 55 minutes.

Ray Gomm, special events manager at C&PRR, said: “‘We are absolutely delighted to be joining forces with Thame Midsomer Tours to provide a new Midsomer adventure, enhancing the experience that people have when they visit Midsomer County, and highlighting C&PRR as a unique Midsomer filming location.”

Tony Long, coordinator for Thame Midsomer Tours said: “Just like C&PRR, the Midsomer Tours are conducted by volunteers. The more people coming on these new tours, the more funds can be generated, both to help maintain the railway and help Midsomer Tours donate to charitable causes locally. Last year we donated over £700 to the Mayor of Thame’s Charities and Thame Museum. The guides themselves don’t take any income from the tours.”

Rumsey’s Barnaby Buns

Becky Reid is Market Town Coordinator at Thame Town Council. She commented: “Midsomer Murders is watched by 6.5 million people in the UK and millions more worldwide. It’s one of the UK’s biggest TV exports, and when people see it on TV, they want to come and visit the beautiful towns and villages of Midsomer. While here, they spend money in our restaurants, pubs, hotels, shops – and now railways! – which is good for our local economy.” She continued: “In Thame, it has also inspired specially created Midsomer products such as the popular Barnaby Buns and the newly launched Midsomer chocolate lollipops, both available from Rumsey’s Chocolaterie in Thame, itself a Midsomer filming location.”

For full details and to book places on the tour in advance, visit: https://www.chinnorrailway.co.uk/product.php/204/midsomer-adventure-cream-teas

Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway in the news

THE Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway (C&PRR), which is 100% operated by volunteers, has been in the news recently. On Wednesday, August 15, a newly created platform, Platform 4, was opened at Chiltern Railways’Princes Risborough station, and C&PRR became the nearest main-line connected heritage railway to London, boasting a cross-platform interchange facility. The steam railway is now less than 25 miles and 40 minutes from London’s Marylebone station.