"The Birch and the Elder still follow the Track"

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Oh! Mr. Porter, what shall I do?

I want to go to Birmingham , and they're taking me on to Crewe,

Send me back to London, as quickly as you can,

Oh! Mr. Porter, what a silly girl I am.

This songs dates back to 1893. It is similar to two other songs that Marie Lloyd sang...both about country girls visiting London and their experiences.

"I've never lost my last train yet" and "What did she know about railways?" This last one including that line....."She'd never had her ticket punched before".

Way back in Victorian days, the line from London (Paddington) to Birmingham actually came across the Thames here at Bourne End, and then on to Aylesbury, Oxford and Birmingham.

People used to joke about the initials GWR (Great Western Railway) actually stood for "Great Way Round", as many of these early lines did not and could not take the shortest route.

In 1969 through services to Aylesbury ceased and in 1970 the Bourne End stretch was finally closed.

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Here it is today. A delightful and peaceful walk from Bourne End to Wooburn Green. After the closure, many places on the line were built over, but this little bit here has now been designated a public footpath.

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Apart from all the native flowers we get lots of yellow Rapeseed and this delightful blue Linseed flower.

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Who'd have though that trains to Birmingham once thundered along this now leafy lane?

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