60 members attended Adrian Shooter's wonderful 2ft gauge railway in Oxfordshire on the afternoon of the 26 Jun. It is based on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) and home to his DHR 'B' class steam loco No19, two replica DHR coaches and other railway items. On this occasion, Adrian had invited Corpet Works No439 'Minas de Aller' from the Statfold Barn Railway to run a second mixed train with the replica Maharaja of Gwalior Saloon. Due to the gradients in places, a Motor Rail 4-wheel diesel (21619/Major Gerald Scott) was tucked inside to provide additional traction for the Corpet.

Members of the Narrow Gauge Railway Society were also invited guests to the railway this day.

After a welcome and safety brief from the volunteers, services commenced with the Class 'B' using the platform at Rinkingpong Road station and, after completing 5 or 6 circuits of the main running line, returned to the platform completing the 'garden circle'. This was interspersed every so often with the Corpet loading passengers on the adjacent track and then completing a similar 5 or 6 circuits of the main running line before returning to the platform, thus completing the 'paddock circle'.

Service continued all afternoon until the Corpet succumbed to a broken firebar which put it out of action and blocked the 'Paddock' line through the station, including the scissors crossing which many members hoped for connecting the two circuits. However, it was not to be, but we did manage, by arrangement, to also sample the Hunslet 'Col Frederick Wylie' on the final run of the day once the Class 'B' had returned to the shed for disposal. The Coaling Road and Workshop Road have been lifted.

Many thanks to Adrian Shooter for inviting us to his private railway, plus all of his volunteers who ran it on the day. Pleasingly, our visit resulted in £1,200 being donated to charities of Adrian's choice. Thanks also to Peter Scott for the use of his map and Gary Lonsdale for the stock list. The Fixtures Secretary would also like to thank Martyn Brailsford for arranging and leading this fixture.