Photo:
J R Fairman - Ready for Departure, Quainton Road

On 23rd March the Midland coach was moved from Quainton which had been its home for exactly three and a half years. It had not had a happy time at our depot and little work had been done to restore it or keep the weather out.

The reasons for this are not a part of the story of the carriage at this time but we should not let its departure pass without a few words and a picture. The Edwardian appearance of the brake composite corridor bogie carriage was often of interest to visitors but the shabby appearance and the peeling dull red paint was no advertisement and it had not been possible to allow anybody to see its interior layout.

When it arrived at Quainton Road on 23rd September, 1970, it was owned by Mr T. Schofield and it moved from Aylesbury accompanied by the Gresley Third Brake, the Buffet Car and the LNWR Diner. A month previously, it had left Watford Carriage Depot on 29th August, to join the other vehicles on that massive movement to our site which took place over two days, the 22nd and 23rd.

The external appearance of the carriage is distinguished by a handsome clerestory along the length of the roof which has the characteristically curved profile of Clayton's design. It also has the rectangular form of panelling, windows and drop lights of that designer. In fact, it needed only a little imagination to visualise the coach running on a Scotch express from St. Pancras headed by a Midland 'Spinner' and this feeling was heightened when stepping into the first class compartments. Internally it had retained much of the elaborate decor and furnishing of the early years of the century. The 'Lincrusta' was intact, the elaborate panelling was still in place and the sepia prints of holiday resorts served by the LMS were in their frames over the comfortable seats. Some compartments had been gutted and the toilet had been converted into a photographic dark room and fitted out with cupboard and a sink. This little room had also been redecorated by painting it matt black.

We trust the coach will receive the attention it deserves at its new home with the Midland Railway Co. Ltd.'s project at Swanwick Junction on the Ambergate to Pye Bridge line in Derbyshire.[Note 1]

Notes:
[1] - Still at the Midland Railway Centre, Swanwick in the Matthew Kirtley Museum; now owned by the Midland Railway Trust.

Notes:
The text in this Quainton Railway Society publication was written in 1974 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:
The Midland Railway Carriage - Quainton News No. 20 - Summer 1974