The GNRS Summer Day Out 2024 was held at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre at the start of July. It may seem an unlikely venue for the Great Northern Railway Society to meet, as it was never on, or near a GNR line. However, apart from being a good heritage site, there was method to our apparent madness.
Quainton Road has a beautifully restored GNR 3rd Class Brake carriage and are 2/3s+ on their way to completing another GNR 3rd Class Carriage to add to their collection running on the line. But the main reason that made the trip as special was the very recent arrival of the D245 Project’s Howlden carriage that Paul Craig had been heading up. Having started fundraising at the beginning of this year, sufficient funds had been raised by late June for the carriage to be moved from the north down to dry storage in the carriage repair shop at Quainton Road.
A small group of members gathered in the impressive museum visitor centre forum which is the moved and rebuilt Oxford Station where we were met by GNRS member, Tony Lyster, and then we were given an exclusive and fascinating tour of the carriage restoration shed to see the two carriages at close up and able to see a before and in progress look at how they bring a near pile of firewood into a beautiful coach again. It was possible to see the untouched original alongside the nearing completion of restoration and to see how skilled these guys are.
Following an extended visit to the carriages, there was time to ride in the beautiful, fully restored 3rd Class Brake carriage and to be hauled by one of the BRC’s steam locos as well as to visit the other parts of the museum and the very good bookshop. A big ‘thank you’ to Tony Lyster,who is also a member of the BRC team. His knowledge was invaluable, the whole museum staff and restoration team were so welcoming and friendly which certainly made it a day to remember for all those who were able to brave the roads around Silverstone on British Grand Prix weekend.
If you have not yet visited Quainton Road, it is definitely worth a visit. If you get in touch with Paul, he may well be able to update you on the progress of the project. It is possible that known supporters of the project will be afforded discounted access to the museum and it may, on occasion, be possible to visit the carriage work in progress if enough notice is given.However, no promises on this can be made.
