23. Quainton Road Spring Steam Gala-06.05.13

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2013 > 23. Quainton Road Spring Steam Gala-06.05.13

A Bank Holiday visiting Waddesdon Manor enabled an additional visit to the nearby Buckinghamshire Railway Centre at Quainton Road. They had a gala day with return DMU trips through to Aylesbury. My wife, son and I had a lovely day helped by some super spring weather.

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Down platform, former Waddesdon Manor station (Closed 06.07.36) SP758180
This location is over thirty miles from London but is actually a disused underground station! Waddesdon Manor station was opened by the Metropolitan Railway on 01.01.1897 as part of a branch line that ran deep into rural Buckinghamshire. In 1897 the station was rebuilt to mainline standards with a large two-story station building built on the platform seen here. A substantial latticed footbridge linked this platform to the up one to the right that has now been removed. The station saw few passengers and was closed 06.07.36 but the line remained busy operated now by the GCR. Gradual rationalisation took place with the line now singled carrying regular freight to Calvert and other occasional charters. This location could well be changing again in the future with the possibility of HS2 passing this spot, but, I won't hold my breath!
Keywords: Down platform former Waddesdon Manor station Closed 06.07.36 SP758180

121034, CH 11.05 Quainton Road-Aylesbury (1T82), site of Waddesdon Manor station SP758180
For the purposes of the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre's May Bank Holiday gala Chiltern operated a timetabled shuttle service between Quainton Road and Aylesbury stations utilising one of the first generation Class 121 'bubble car' DMUs. 121034 passes the site of Waddesdon Manor station with the 11.05 Quainton Road to Aylesbury service. Curiously, the train has been designated as a Class 1 (Express Diesel car) - perhaps a timetabler appears to have a sense of humour!
Keywords: 121034 11.05 Quainton Road-Aylesbury 1T82 site of Waddesdon Manor station SP758180 Chiltern Railways Class 121

5080, static display, Oxford Rewley Road LMS station, Quainton Road
Built at Swindon in 1939 5080 carried the name 'Ogmore Castle' from new for just two years being renamed 'Defiant' after the WW2 aeroplane. Withdrawn in April 1963 it languished at Vic Berry's for eleven years. It was eventually purchased by the fledgling Birmingham Railway Museum Trust as a source of spares for 7029 'Clun Castle' in 1974. However, by 1985 plans changed and a restoration of the locomotive commenced. It returned to service in 1987 hauling charters and proving a draw when used on various heritage lines with its boiler certificate expiring in 1997. It was moved here to Quainton Road (The Buckinghamshire Railway Centre) in 2002 and some eleven years later here it is still looking very smart on permanent display undercover. The building that houses the Castle is the former Oxford Rewley Road station that was located adjacent to the present station in what is now the station car park.
Keywords: 5080 static display Oxford Rewley Road LMS station Quainton Road Castle 4-6-2 Defiant Ogmore Castle

699, demonstration freight, Quainton Road station
699 'Swanscombe' is believed to be the oldest surviving Andrew Barclay locomotive in the United Kingdom. It is seen here leading a demonstration freight at Quinton Road something that it has not done for four years due to extensive repairs following a failure in 2009. The locomotive was purchased by a Quainton Road Society (QRS) member in 1965 moving to the fledgling Buckinghamshire Railway Centre in 1969 and, after a full restoration, returned to steam in 1975 featuring in the children's TV programme Play School.
Keywords: 699 demonstration freight Quainton Road station Swanscombe

4 doll bracket signal (ex Kensal Green), Quainton Road station
This impressive four doll bracket signal at The Buckinghamshire Railway Centre's Quainton Road station is believed to be formally of Kensal Green. Unfortunately, I did not photograph the signalling in Kensal Green before it was wiped away so I have no photographs to compare it with.
Keywords: 4 doll bracket signal (ex Kensal Green), Quainton Road station

699, demonstration freight, passing Quainton Road signal box (ex Harlington, Mid. 1913)
As part of their Bank Holiday gala events, the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre at Quainton Road was operating a demonstration freight. Barclay 0-4-0ST 699 'Swanscombe' is seen hauling the freight wagons past the signal box with a selection of visitors observing from the platform where I am standing. Notice the jaunty angle of the lamp (and the fence for that matter) to the extreme left of the image, this has nothing to do with me tilting the camera or lens distortion!
Keywords: 699 demonstration freight Quainton Road signal box Harlington Midland 1913 Buckinghamshire Railway Centre Swanscombe

121034, CH 16.05 Quainton Road-Aylesbury (1T91), Quainton Road station
With events at the Bank Holiday gala held at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre's gala at Quainton Road event coming to a close, visitors are beginning to make their way home. Some will be travelling abroad Bubble Car 121034 that will work the 1T91 16.05 service to Aylesbury. From there they have the option of taking further service trains towards London picking up the tube from Amersham.
Keywords: 121034 16.05 Quainton Road-Aylesbury 1T91 Quainton Road Chiltern Bubble car

121034, CH 16.05 Quainton Road-Aylesbury (1T91), Quainton Road footbridge
Bubble car DMU 121034 leaves The Buckinghamshire Railway Centre's Quainton Road station with the 16.05 shuttle service to Aylesbury with the unusual reporting number (for such a lowly working) of 1T91. The railway centre's Spring Bank Holiday gala was coming to a close with enthusiasts and visitors heading home, with some enjoying a trip on a heritage DMU!
Keywords: 121034 16.05 Quainton Road-Aylesbury 1T91 Quainton Road footbridge Chiltern Bubble car

121034, CH 16.05 Quainton Road-Aylesbury (1T91), Quainton Road footbridge
Sometimes, the sun does come just right! With Chiltern's 121034 heading away from Quaiton Road for the short trip to Aylesbury the background is in shadow with the Bubbe Car nicely illuminated by the afternoon spring sunshine. The DMU is on what is in fact Network Rail metals with all the other lines visible being operated by The Buckinghamshire Railway Centre. The track it is running on extends northwestward behind me through Quainton Road station following the route of the former Great Central line to Claydon Junction where it joins with the east-west former Varsity Line. The track is used almost exclusively by trains taking spoil to the former quarries at Calvert and perhaps the odd and very rare charter.
Keywords: 121034 16.05 Quainton Road-Aylesbury 1T91 Quainton Road footbridge Chiltern Bubble Car DMU

D2298 & No. 1 (20067), stabled, Quainton Road Up yard
Two of The Buckinghamshire Railway Centre's resident shuters sit in the pleasant afternoon sunshine. Nearest to the camera is the former BR Class 14 now numbered D2298. It had a short working life with BR of just nine years before being purchased into preservation at the fledgling Derwent Valley Light Railway. In October 1982 it arrived at Quainton, having been purchased by a QRS member where it has been an active and resident member of the QRR fleet ever since. To the right is an unusually designed Fower shunter carrying the number one but is actually correctly numbered 20067 named 'Osram' as in the manufacturer of lighting consumables. It worked for the company at its North Wembley plant for many years before being used by GEC in their yards. Finally, after retirement in 1969, it moved to Quinton Road where it has resided since.
Keywords: D2298 No. 1 stabled Quainton Road Up yard BR Drewry 0-6-0 Class 14 Fowler 0-4-0 diesel shunter.

11. M51899, undergoing restoration, Quainton Road Up Yard
Derby built Class 115 51889 'Aylesbury College Silver Jubilee 1987' is seen in Quainton Road's up yard appearing to be undergoing restoration. This was the only Class 115 ever to be named with the plate now worn being a replica with the original version being presented to the college in March 1991. The complete three-car DMU set has been used extensively on the preserved line and is well known for operating the Quaintonian specials from Quainton Road to and from Aylesbury.
Keywords: M51899 undergoing restoration Quainton Road Up Yard Aylesbury College Silver Jubilee 1987 Class 115

53028, undergoing restoration, Quainton Road Up Yard
First used on the Hammersmith and City line this 1938-built O Class 53028 (this view showing the A end) continued in service until 1982 then working on the District line. After brief departmental use at West Ruislip it was bought by the Underground Railway Rolling Stock Trust and arrived at Quainton Road in 1984. When built it operated using an early form of regenerative braking. The Metadyne system was not particularly successful and after many modifications, it was removed with the car then changing its class from O to CO.
Keywords: 53028, undergoing restoration, Quainton Road Up Yard

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