Ok, so not everyone is captivated by smelly old steam engines. However, on this well run bright sunny day fifty mile Tulip rally there was plenty more to amuse. Around thirty gleaming MGFs & TFs and their crews signed on, received instructions, chatted a while and set off for the Quainton private railway collection, deep in the heart of Buckinghamshire’s gorgeous countryside. On the way passing through quaint hamlets, thatched pubs and forest glades. In fact, some of the best scenery England has to offer and all in that clear blue sky that says all is right with the world... Magic.

As luck would have it, the same route as a couple of hundred touring cyclists heaving up the many hills of the area but oh so fortunately, going the other way. Had they not been, it would have added another hour to the journey and been hazard fraught.

Quainton has only a short quarter mile steaming track but is surrounded by many interesting exhibits such as the absolutely huge South African engine retired as recently as 1972. There are a couple of Metropolitan line tube carriages complete with that familiar blue striped upholstery that was used on all early tubes. Then the demonstration engine pulling three old corridor carriages with a Well engine, meaning it carried water in a large tank between its wheels. There is also a very impressive garden railway lay out running several large gauge sets including spectacular American heavy goods with its Diesel engine emitting genuine sounds and that familiar mournful whistle. The ride-on steam hauled miniature rail layout kept young and old delighted and add to that several dozen miniature steam  traction engines and you had the makings of a very full afternoon with many photo opportunities.

At the far side of Quainton are the work shops and four iconic World War Two Nissan huts and the Museum with precious old carriages and engines from the 1870’s plus lots of memorabilia. An hour is needed to do this area alone justice. The café, gift shop and rest rooms are now housed in what was the old Oxford Rewely Road station built in 1851. It is a lovely piece of Victorian building art with its light airy glass panelled roof not unlike a miniature St Pancras and housed beneath are the Royal coach of 1851 and the impressive 1943 ‘Ike, Churchill, meeting carriage complete with Granny’s type gas stove. Running around on the platform were several Tamiya radio controlled articulated lorries, now they are impressive and they too sound like the real thing, air brake hiss, engine rumble and gear changes, wow.

This was another successful, highly enjoyable event with a vote of thanks to the organisers. The run raised funds for the Stoke Mandeville Spinal Injuries unit.

Dave Walker