A Surreal Incident

From your intrepid reporter:

A couple of weeks ago, the Brooklands Museum at Weybridge had a themed day on Classic Cars. One of the vehicles present was a steam-powered traction engine. Not my idea of a classic car, but never mind. After lunch the traction engine trundled off, passing the Concorde. As it drew level with the Concorde nose, it stopped. Eventually there was a great flurry of smoke and on it went again. Unfortunately it had stopped level with an open nose doorway and the prevailing wind was from the traction engine towards the Concorde. Cue the sudden sound of a fire alarm, the museum’s fire engine and ambulance come along with blue lights flashing (yes they really do have emergency services) and firemen rush up the steps into the Concorde. In the meantime, the occupants had exited down steps at the rear of the aircraft. It seems no harm was done and after a few minutes normality was restored, the traction engine having made a smart exit.

If it had been a more public incident, you can just imagine the newspaper headline – “Traction Engine sets fire to Concorde!”.

Incidentally, while I was there, I had the opportunity to go onboard the Varsity. I was quite impressed by the relative simplicity of the cockpit for the size of aircraft.