"I feel I must write to thank you for the tremendously interesting and exciting morning you gave to the 200 children from this school and also for the trouble which your members took to explain everything the children saw to them. Both teachers and children were most impressed."

That is an excerpt from a letter sent by the headmaster of a school which sent a party of children to our Schools Steaming. Over 600 children visited us over the two days, 28th & 29th June. They were shown round the site in parties of about 15 by members and had a trip along the siding in open wagons behind 7715. They were told how a steam engine works and - a sign of these gas- and oil-fired central heating times - some even had to be told what coal was! An extra attraction on the Tuesday was Coventry in steam for an insurance test.

Arrangements went smoothly under the direction of Roddy Rodwell even to the extent of coping with a party who turned up on Tuesday without prior notice when we already had over 300 children present. The Sales and Refreshment Departments both reported excellent business.

We have already been asked if we will be doing the same next year - we are - so how about a few more members offering to help. The proposed dates are 27th & 28th June but we may have to extend into a third day as 400 children seems to be about our limit for one session.

Finally we must offer our grateful thanks to all those members who acted as guides, train crews, refreshment staff and anyone else who helped in any way to make these school visits such a success.

Notes:
The text in this Quainton Railway Society publication was written in 1976 and so does not reflect events in the 39+ 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:
Schools Steaming 1976 - Quainton News No. 29 - Autumn 1976