Day of the diesels in Leighton
With its collection of rare steam locomotives from all over the world, the last thing you might expect the Leighton Buzzard Railway to do is leave them in the shed and bring out the diesels. But that is what is planned next Sunday (September 30).
And it’s not as crazy as it might seem. As railway spokesman Mervyn Leah explained: “The original sand-quarry owners of the line sold off their steam engines as early as 1921, so petrol and diesel locos have played a large part in the railway’s history.”
So locomotives that some will still remember hauling sand trains along Vandyke Road, will be in rare passenger-train action instead. They will be helped by some of the line’s military railway collection, including one loco named RAF Stanbridge, after a soon-to-be-closed neighbour.
And the last train of the day is scheduled for the first public outing of the line’s recently restored electric locomotive, also ex-RAF. This historic run will leave Page’s Park at 3.40pm.
Meanwhile, in the park itself, there will be an all-day petrol-heads’ paradise, with what promises to be a spectacular rally of motor-cycles, and anything else that can run on a motor-cycle licence. Public entry will be free, as will the live music.
> Yes, it’s that time of year already! Advance booking for the Leighton Buzzard Railway’s popular Santa Special trains open on Monday, October 1.
Full details of when trains are running, what it costs, and much more, can be found online at www.buzzrail.co.uk/christmas.html.
For those who prefer to book by phone call 0844 77 1000. Tickets can also be bought at Page’s Park station, when the booking office is open for train services.
To help with tight family budgets, there will be big discounts on tickets booked online or by phone, before December 1. These will not apply to bookings made in person at the station.
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Weather for Leighton Buzzard
Sunday 19 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 11 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: North
