A JOLLY DAY OUT ON A REAL TRAIN
[even if it was narrow gauge!]
The Railway Modellers group of Aston Clinton u3a organised an outing to the Leighton Buzzard narrow gauge railway on 29 May 2025.
Nine of our ten group members formed the party together with some wives and friends, 15 of us in all! We were booked on the 10.30 am departure return trip from Pages Park station. Arriving back at midday we took lunch in the station cafe before making our separate ways home.
The Leighton Buzzard Railway is one of the last survivors of many 2 foot (610mm) gauge light railways built in Britain for industrial use. It is believed to be the only remaining line which owed its existence to the ready availability of war surplus materials and equipment after the First World War where it had been used for battlefield supply lines.
During the first world war the supply of sand that previously had come from the continent of Europe as ship’s ballast was halted. The small quarries at Leighton Buzzard were brought into full production with sand being transported away in heavy steam driven road lorries. These lorries caused considerable damage to the local village roads but this was repaired at the expense of the War Department. With the end of hostilities, the WD withdrew from liability for repairing the roads. Thus was the decision made to lay a railway line from the quarries to the nearby Grand Union canal and the LMS railway for onward distribution of sand to customers.
Opened by Leighton Buzzard Light Railway Ltd [a joint venture by a consortium of quarry owners] in 1919 to transport sand only, and uniquely operated since then without a break. It has carried a steam-hauled passenger train service since 1968. It is now home to one of the largest and most important collections of narrow-gauge stock in England. Both the collection and the railway itself are covered by an Accredited Museum designation, awarded by Arts Council England.
In typical light-railway fashion, the line features sharp curves, steep gradients - up to 1 in 25 (4%) - numerous level crossings of roads and paths, and a long stretch of roadside running, as it follows the local geography, rather than imposing itself on it. There is always something new around the next corner, including Britain's biggest onshore wind turbine!
Today's Leighton Buzzard Railway offers an 85-minute round trip from Pages Park to Stonehenge Works, which is in the Bedfordshire countryside to the north of the town. The current track is just under 3 miles (4.8km) long. The original line continued for another 0.75 mile (1 km) to Double Arches, and restoration of this section is part of a plan for the future.
The railway is managed and operated by the volunteer members of the Leighton Buzzard Narrow Gauge Railway Society, which is a non-profit organisation with charitable status.
You can click on any image to see it full screen.
