2 Foot gauge Baldwin 778 on shed at Pages Park, with Hunslet No.303 behind. Leighton Buzzard Railway. 03 05 2019
The Leighton Buzzard Light Railway was opened in 1919, using surplus war equipment. It was used to transport sand from 6 quarries, over a distance of up to 4 miles, to the mainline railway, for onward distribution.
Initially, the line used 2 steam locos, but these did not perform well on the tight curves used on the line. In 1921, steam was replaced by several diesel locomotives, built by the Motor Rail company.
The last sand train ran in 1969 and since then, has been purely a heritage line since. Some of the internal lines in the quarries continued in use until as late as 1981.
2 Foot gauge Baldwin 778 on shed at Pages Park, with Hunslet No.303 behind. Leighton Buzzard Railway. 03 05 2019
The Leighton Buzzard Light Railway was opened in 1919, using surplus war equipment. It was used to transport sand from 6 quarries, over a distance of up to 4 miles, to the mainline railway, for onward distribution.
Initially, the line used 2 steam locos, but these did not perform well on the tight curves used on the line. In 1921, steam was replaced by several diesel locomotives, built by the Motor Rail company.
The last sand train ran in 1969 and since then, has been purely a heritage line since. Some of the internal lines in the quarries continued in use until as late as 1981.