London (PTI): The British Queen took a day off to enjoy an incognito ride in a miniature steam railway. The Queen wore a raincoat, headscarf and glasses as she took the one-and-a-half mile trip around the grounds of a stately home in Hampshire's New Forest this weekend.

She enjoyed the 20-minute journey, at one point riding on the footplate of the locomotive, through the estate of her friend Leopold de Rothschild who drove the small engine which she had earlier named in a private ceremony.

Four years ago, the Queen nipped away to enjoy a trip on another of Rothschild's other small engines, Rosemary. "Members of the public were around at the time but it seems they didn't bat an eyelid at the Queen. It was a private visit, she came with very few people and she was dressed very anonymously -- she's travelling incognito.

"There's no doubt the Queen thoroughly enjoyed herself. We have three small steam trains here and she loves riding on them when she gets a chance," the British media quoted Exbury Gardens Spokeswoman Annie Bullen as saying. Added Rothschild: "Her Majesty very kindly agreed to make a private visit to Exbury to help us celebrate the launch of our marvellous new engine Mariloo.

"She not only gave Mariloo her blessing but also a new tree, which will stand as a tribute to her and the beauty of this garden for generations to come. The tree she planted is known as handkerchief tree because of its large white bracts."