The Beeches Light Railway

[Andere Richtingen]

As promised, here are a few pictures taken earlier today at the Beeches Light Railway in Oxfordshire. It's a privately-owned narrow gauge railway which runs in a figure-8 loop around its owner's front and back gardens. The owner, Adrian Shooter, formerly chairman of Chiltern Railways, occasionally opens his gates to specialist groups with an interest in transport and/or steam railways and holds a running day. The locomotive was originally built in 1878 for the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway in India, although its tender and the coaches are modern replicas. The sun shone most of the day and it was a really super day out.

This is the main station building,a copy of the original Rinkingpong Road station ....


....complete with dual language name boards


At the kick-off, Adrian assembled all the guests to outline the day's timetable. As soon as he finished talking, there was a scramble for places in the train for the first ride of the day:


This odd looking beast is a modern replica of a vehicle which was once used for rail track inspections in the US. It's a Model T Ford on a railway bogie and was kept busy giving rides today.


And here's the little train in action:


Finally, for anybody who likes steam train sound effects, there's a brief video clip - my first ever attempt to use the 'movie' setting on my camera! I haven't worked out how to get it on to the forum, so here's a link to my album:
https://picasaweb.google.com/114551534402773637291/21June201402?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCKqV--DL0aLN_QE&feat=directlink

[dejavou]

Very good ...... some garden

[Lacemaker]

Lovely photos Andere.

[Vince]

Really lovely photo's in an area I hadn't been aware of, despite spending a lot of time in Oxfordshire.
Many Thanks

[Monsy]

I used to work in the Bear Hotel, Woodstock, but the nearest I got to exploring my surroundings was going to Blenheim Palace a few times.

Very good photos Missus!

[Andere Richtingen]

I used to work in the Bear Hotel, Woodstock, but the nearest I got to exploring my surroundings was going to Blenheim Palace a few times.

Very good photos Missus!

Thank you kindly, Vince & Monsy
Well, it takes time to explore Blenheim Palace, as I recall. A friend and I went on a guided tour of the building a few years back and by the halfway point had started to wish we'd brought along some Kendal Mint-cake or something to replenish our energy. Then they let us loose in the grounds and we nearly missed the coach to come home, having got completely lost. The driver was trying to phone my mobile to see why we hadn't come back to the bus but there was no signal under the trees so I never got the call. We lurched out of the woods like Dr Livingstone stumbling out of the bush and went haring off to the coach park just in time to avoid being left behind.

[Penny]

Just found these. Fantastic. Penny

[vannin]

Great photos Andere. The weather comes across very favourably too!

Viv

[Andere Richtingen]

Great photos Andere. The weather comes across very favourably too!

Viv

I've been to the Beeches twice now and both times, we got lucky with the weather and I wished I had a sari and a sunshade!

[dita]

Loved your little video Andere, your pics are a 'WoW' too. Thanks.