Photo:
E R Uphill - Open Day, Quainton Road

This month we have chosen a picture which seems to show the true spirit of one of our Open Days. It was taken on the Spring Bank Holiday in 1972 by Reg Uphill, the boss(?) of our famous and successful 'husband and wife' publicity team. They have given the photograph the title 'Staff Exchange' but for the benefit of the uninitiated in the craft of single line working on a railway it should be explained that the loop shaped object carried by the locomotive crew is the 'Staff' and this is to be handed to the signalman who can be seen waiting just under the signal arm. Our signalling department will go into full details of these and other mysteries of their trade if you ask them. The engine on the train is our treasured Beattie 2-4-0WT built in 1874. At present the Beattie is undergoing an overhaul to prepare for its Centenary celebrations next year. Of this special feature there will be much more news later on.

In the station is a firm favourite among locomotive enthusiasts who visit the depot. Our GWR Pannier tank, 7715, is waiting at the platform with the second train comprising the third of our three passenger carrying open wagons, (the Beattie has the other two), and the stalwart Great Northern Railway six wheeler completes the ensemble.

Notes:
The text in this Quainton Railway Society publication was written in 1973 and so does not reflect events in the 40+ years since publication. The text and photographs are repeated verbatim from the original publication, with only a few minor grammar changes but some clarifying notes are added if deemed necessary. The photos from the original publication are provided as scans in this internet version of this long out of print publication.

Reference:
Our Ambassadors at Aylesbury - Quainton News No. 18 - December 1973