Latest news

Going out in style! 740’s final train in Leighton Buzzard Railway service, on 5th July, was this double-header with fellow Indian veteran No 778. The pair hauled six coaches--the maximum that will fit into the platforms--and are seen here attacking the climb out of Page’s Park.

FAREWELL TO 740

The Leighton Buzzard Railway’s long association with ex-Matheran Light Railway No 740 came to an end on Saturday 5th July, when a special operating day was arranged to give it one last chance to show its capabilities on gradients as steep as 1 in 25 (4%). It hauled five coaches throughout the day, compared with the normal maximum of four, and for the grand finale a six-coach set was assembled, double-headed with Baldwin No 778.

Later in the year, 740 will be returned to its owners, Railworld, Peterborough, from whom it had been on a long-term loan agreement, which has now expired. It is understood to be intended for operation on a new 2ft gauge line being planned there.

Meanwhile, another big engine, “Elf”, is due back in September from a major overhaul, which has been financed entirely from the proceeds of the passenger trains. It should be in regular service for the 2009 season.

6th July 2008

JOINT COMMITTEE CUTS HOUSEBUILDING NUMBERS

At its meeting on 30th June, the Luton & South Bedfordshire Joint Committee approved a recommendation that a maximum of 2500 new homes should be built on the eastern side of Leighton Buzzard over the coming years. This compares with the 4400 being proposed in a planning application currently being considered by South Bedfordshire District Council.

Logic would suggest that, as less land will be required for development, it is the area surrounding the northern part of the Leighton Buzzard Railway that should remain under Green Belt protection. We are still awaiting that assurance.

A further round of public consultation is planned, with final decisions in the first half of 2009. Meanwhile, the East of England Regional Assembly has written formally to the District Council, requiring them to complete the Green Belt review process, before making any decisions on individual applications.

13th July 2008

STATION PROJECT DELAY FEATURED ON NATIONAL RADIO

The Chairman of the Leighton Buzzard Railway, Mervyn Leah, was invited to appear on the BBC Radio 4 consumer programme, “You And Yours”, on 23rd June, as part of investigation the broadcasters are carrying out into the workings of Section 106 agreements.

These are the documents signed by developers and local authorities, detailing the community gains that will be provided, in return for the award of planning permission for major projects.

The Railway featured in one such agreement, following the planning consent awarded in 2002, for what is now the Sandhills Estate, built on a filled-in sand quarry alongside Page’s Park station.

This should have provided interim community rooms for the residents of the estate, as they were moving into their new properties, combined with a replacement for the Railway’s life-expired station buildings.

The intention was then for larger community facilities to be provided elsewhere, at a later stage of the estate’s development, leaving the Page’s Park building for the sole use of the Railway, many of whose members are also local residents.

The reasons this did not happen—and still shows no sign of happening six years on—were discussed in the interview. Mr Leah expressed particular disappointment that there had not been a regular review of the workings of the agreement, and that there seemed to be no provision for corrective action, in cases where a Planning Committee decision was very obviously not being put into effect.
23rd June 2008

TWINNED WITH THE WORLD’S BIGGEST RAILWAY!
A high-level delegation from Indian Railways visited the Leighton Buzzard Railway on Monday 5th May, to sign a twinning agreement. This covers technical, operational and marketing activities, as applied to narrow-gauge railways.

In the immediate future, IR have been offered advice on the restoration of steam locomotive No 738, so that it can run once again on the Matheran Light Railway, near Mumbai. Sister loco No 740 was until recently operational at Leighton Buzzard. Our expertise in air-braking systems on narrow-gauge trains is also proving useful. The visiting party was led by Mrs Sowmya Raghavan, General Manager of the Central Railway division.
6th July 2008

40TH ANNIVERSARY SUCCESS

The 40th anniversary of the start of regular passenger services on the Leighton Buzzard Railway, in 1968, was celebrated in style over the weekend of 28th-29th June.

On the Saturday, a reception and special train were laid on for Councillors and other local dignatories, some of whom had never visited the Railway before, while others were familiar faces. The highlight of the reception was the signing of the long awaited new lease for part of the Page’s Park station site.

The exact 40th anniversary, on the Sunday, saw a record turnout for the Vintage Vehicles Rally--a far cry from the rain-affected event last year--and “Chaloner reliving its 1968 role as the first steam engine to work on the line for 47 years. As special commemorative headboard was carried throughout the day.

13th July 2008

THANKS, YOUNG FARMERS!

Our thanks are due to Leighton Buzzard Young Farmers, for their recent evening litter-pick on our tracks. The stuff seems to come back straight away, even when we are not running trains (strange, that!), so other offers are always welcome.

23rd July 2008