However, whilst backing the scheme the railway had to make a profit, and so it took a number of detours and added both mainline and branch line traffic to increase its domestic earnings.

[1] During World War II, a standard steel-framed with corrugated iron-panel covered ash shelter was erected:[1] this was dismantled in early GWS days.

After World War II, the site remained virtually unchanged during the nationalised ownership of British Railways (BR), but for taking on the new code of 81E.

But this was subject to a six-month termination clause which could force the GWS to quit the site, and which could be operated at any point in time by lease-holder Network Rail (NR).

In an attempt to secure a long-term future for the society, in 2002 the GWS opened negotiations with NR to either purchase the site or extend the lease.

In a letter dated May 2007, NR informed the GWS that they were prepared to sell the site subject to Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) approval.

[2] As of 6 October 2011[update] Richard Croucher (Chairman of the Great Western Society) signed a new 50-year lease with Network Rail, therefore preserving the site for at least another 50 years.

[3] The Railway Centre has been used as a period film set and has featured in productions including Anna Karenina, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, and The Elephant Man.

Public access is on foot from a subway at Didcot Parkway station, which links the centre by rail to London and much of southern and central England.