LEIGHTON BUZZARD TO DUNSTABLE (LNWR)
14th April 2006

The LNWR opened this branch in 1848 mainly to link Dunstable with the their main line at Leighton Buzzard. There was one intermediate station at Stanbridgeford. For many years the L&NWR provided a weekdays only service of seven trains each way, some of which ran through to Luton. It was operated for a long period by Webb 0-6-2 and 2-4-2 tanks, replaced in the early 1950s by standard 2-6-2Ts. Passenger trains were withdrawn in 1962 and (apart from the first 1¼ miles retained for sand traffic until 1969) the line closed to all traffic in 1967.
Many thanks to Ralph Rawlinson for providing historical information.
Engineer's Line Reference: DBM

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The trackbed looking towards Wing Crossing from near Leighton Buzzard station. 5th March 2007. OS: SP910248
The trackbed looking towards Wing Crossing from near Leighton Buzzard station. 5th March 2007. OS: SP910248
The signal box from Wing Crossing which now controls operations at Whipsnade Central.
The signal box from Wing Crossing which now controls operations at Whipsnade Central.
 The trackbed between Wing Road and Mentmore Road has been filled in with new housing. This is the view looking towards Leighton Buzzard. 17th September 2006. OS: SP911244
The trackbed between Wing Road and Mentmore Road has been filled in with new housing. This is the view looking towards Leighton Buzzard. 17th September 2006. OS: SP911244
 The site of Ledburn Crossing over the Mentmore Road in Leighton Buzzard. The crossing house survives on the left. This view looks along the road alignment and the the railway crossed at right angles in front of the house. 14th April 2006. OS: SP912244
The site of Ledburn Crossing over the Mentmore Road in Leighton Buzzard. The crossing house survives on the left. This view looks along the road alignment and the the railway crossed at right angles in front of the house. 14th April 2006. OS: SP912244
Ledburn Crossing looking towards Leighton Buzzard with the crossing house on the right. (Photo courtesy of Geoff Worswick).
Ledburn Crossing looking towards Leighton Buzzard with the crossing house on the right. (Photo courtesy of Geoff Worswick).
 Looking back towards the junction from near bridge 2. Most of the trackbed west of here has been obliterated by housing development. 14th April 2006. OS: SP914243
Looking back towards the junction from near bridge 2. Most of the trackbed west of here has been obliterated by housing development. 14th April 2006. OS: SP914243
 Looking east from the same spot. 14th April 2006. OS: SP914243
Looking east from the same spot. 14th April 2006. OS: SP914243
 An unidentified item of trackside equipment. 14th April 2006. OS: SP914243
An unidentified item of trackside equipment. 14th April 2006. OS: SP914243
Looking west from bridge 2. 14th April 2006. OS: SP916243
Looking west from bridge 2. 14th April 2006. OS: SP916243
 Looking across the up span of bridge 2 over the Grand Union Canal. This has been converted for footpath use. 14th April 2006. OS: SP916243
Looking across the up span of bridge 2 over the Grand Union Canal. This has been converted for footpath use. 14th April 2006. OS: SP916243
 A similar view on 28th September 2008 and the public right of way has been moved onto the down side of the bridge. OS: SP916243
A similar view on 28th September 2008 and the public right of way has been moved onto the down side of the bridge. OS: SP916243
 The down span of bridge 2. 14th April 2006. OS: SP916243
The down span of bridge 2. 14th April 2006. OS: SP916243
The up span of bridge 2, painted but disused. 28th September 2008. OS: SP916243
The up span of bridge 2, painted but disused. 28th September 2008. OS: SP916243
 Bridge 2 seen from the canal. 14th April 2006. OS: SP916243
Bridge 2 seen from the canal. 14th April 2006. OS: SP916243
 Bridge 2 after restoration. 28th September 2008. OS: SP916243
Bridge 2 after restoration. 28th September 2008. OS: SP916243
 The second span of bridge 2 which crosses the river. 28th September 2008. OS: SP916243
The second span of bridge 2 which crosses the river. 28th September 2008. OS: SP916243
Canal boat rope marks in the iron reinforcement on bridge 2. 28th September 2008. OS: SP916243
Canal boat rope marks in the iron reinforcement on bridge 2. 28th September 2008. OS: SP916243
 Looking east from bridge 2. 14th April 2006. OS: SP916243
Looking east from bridge 2. 14th April 2006. OS: SP916243
 A similar view after improvement of the foot/cycle path. 28th September 2008. OS: SP916243
A similar view after improvement of the foot/cycle path. 28th September 2008. OS: SP916243
 The trackbed between bridge 2 and Grovebury Crossing looking towards the latter. 28th September 2008. OS: SP918242
The trackbed between bridge 2 and Grovebury Crossing looking towards the latter. 28th September 2008. OS: SP918242
Concrete cable ducting still in situ. 28th September 2008. OS: SP918242
Concrete cable ducting still in situ. 28th September 2008. OS: SP918242
 View west towards Leighton Buzzard fron the site of Grovebury Crossing. 28th September 2008. OS: SP921241
View west towards Leighton Buzzard fron the site of Grovebury Crossing. 28th September 2008. OS: SP921241
 Grovebury Crossing site looking in the Dunstable direction. 28th September 2008. OS: SP921241
Grovebury Crossing site looking in the Dunstable direction. 28th September 2008. OS: SP921241
 View towards Dunstable from Grovebury Crossing. 28th September 2008. OS: SP921241
View towards Dunstable from Grovebury Crossing. 28th September 2008. OS: SP921241
The site of the Billington Road level crossing looking towards Stanbridgeford. The house in the background is the old crossing house. 28th April 2006. OS: SP928239
The site of the Billington Road level crossing looking towards Stanbridgeford. The house in the background is the old crossing house. 28th April 2006. OS: SP928239
 Extract from the 1946 OS 1 inch map showing the course of the line through Leighton Buzzard.
Extract from the 1946 OS 1 inch map showing the course of the line through Leighton Buzzard.
 A few miles of trackbed between Leighton Buzzard and Stanbridgeford have been used for the A505. View looking towards Stanbridgeford. 27th April 2006. OS: SP943233
A few miles of trackbed between Leighton Buzzard and Stanbridgeford have been used for the A505. View looking towards Stanbridgeford. 27th April 2006. OS: SP943233
 Stanbridgeford. The station building still exists as a private house. 27th April 2006. OS: SP969230
Stanbridgeford. The station building still exists as a private house. 27th April 2006. OS: SP969230
Stanbridgeford. The site of the level crossing. 17th September 2006. OS: SP969230
Stanbridgeford. The site of the level crossing. 17th September 2006. OS: SP969230
 Stanbridgeford. Remains of the down platform. Part of the up platform also survives. 17th September 2006. OS: SP969230
Stanbridgeford. Remains of the down platform. Part of the up platform also survives. 17th September 2006. OS: SP969230
 Stanbridgeford. Station outbuilding, possibly a weighbridge hut. 27th April 2006. OS: SP969230
Stanbridgeford. Station outbuilding, possibly a weighbridge hut. 27th April 2006. OS: SP969230
 Stanbridgeford. Looking back towards the level crossing and station. 17th September 2006. OS: SP970229
Stanbridgeford. Looking back towards the level crossing and station. 17th September 2006. OS: SP970229
Looking towards Dunstable from the level crossing at Stanbridgeford. From here to the outskirts of Dunstable the line has been converted into a foot and cycle path, the
Looking towards Dunstable from the level crossing at Stanbridgeford. From here to the outskirts of Dunstable the line has been converted into a foot and cycle path, the "Sewell Greenway". 27th April 2006. OS: SP969229
 Looking towards Dunstable from a point about half way between Stanbridgeford and the A505. 17th September 2006. OS: SP972229
Looking towards Dunstable from a point about half way between Stanbridgeford and the A505. 17th September 2006. OS: SP972229
As the line approaches the A505 the path is diverted away from the trackbed in order to gain access to a new bridge over the road. 17th September 2006. OS: SP974229
As the line approaches the A505 the path is diverted away from the trackbed in order to gain access to a new bridge over the road. 17th September 2006. OS: SP974229
 Looking back towards Stanbridgeford from the A505 bridge. 17th September 2006. OS: SP976229
Looking back towards Stanbridgeford from the A505 bridge. 17th September 2006. OS: SP976229
Looking in the Leighton Buzzard direction from the A505 bridge showing where the road severs the trackbed. 17th September 2006. OS: SP976229
Looking in the Leighton Buzzard direction from the A505 bridge showing where the road severs the trackbed. 17th September 2006. OS: SP976229
 Lookig towards Dunstable from the A505 bridge. 17th September 2006. OS: SP976229
Lookig towards Dunstable from the A505 bridge. 17th September 2006. OS: SP976229
 Looking towards Stanbridgeford from the same spot. 17th September 2006. OS: SP977229
Looking towards Stanbridgeford from the same spot. 17th September 2006. OS: SP977229
 Looking towards Dunstable from the point where the path rejoins the trackbed. 17th September 2006. OS: SP977229
Looking towards Dunstable from the point where the path rejoins the trackbed. 17th September 2006. OS: SP977229
The trackbed now starts the 1 in 40 climb up Sewell Bank. 17th September 2006. SP985227
The trackbed now starts the 1 in 40 climb up Sewell Bank. 17th September 2006. SP985227
 Milepost 5 at the foot of Sewell Bank. 17th September 2006. SP985227
Milepost 5 at the foot of Sewell Bank. 17th September 2006. SP985227
 The trackbed between the A505 and Sewell, looking towards Dunstable. 17th September 2006. OS: SP986227
The trackbed between the A505 and Sewell, looking towards Dunstable. 17th September 2006. OS: SP986227
 As the line approaches Sewell it is on a substantial embankment. View looking towards Stanbridgeford. 17th September 2006. OS: SP987227
As the line approaches Sewell it is on a substantial embankment. View looking towards Stanbridgeford. 17th September 2006. OS: SP987227
Bridge under the embankment near Totternhoe Quarry. 17th September 2006. OS: SP988227
Bridge under the embankment near Totternhoe Quarry. 17th September 2006. OS: SP988227
 The opposite side of the same bridge. 17th September 2006. OS: SP988227
The opposite side of the same bridge. 17th September 2006. OS: SP988227
 View beneath the bridge. 17th September 2006. OS: SP988227
View beneath the bridge. 17th September 2006. OS: SP988227
 One of the loading platforms at Sewell Lime Works which closed in 1938 and was connected to the line by a long siding. 17th September 2006.
One of the loading platforms at Sewell Lime Works which closed in 1938 and was connected to the line by a long siding. 17th September 2006.
Looking towards Dunstable from the bridge at Sewell. 28th April 2006. OS: SP993227
Looking towards Dunstable from the bridge at Sewell. 28th April 2006. OS: SP993227
 The underbridge at Sewell has been rebuilt to accommodate the cycle path. The abutments show a mixture of original and modern brickwork. 28th April 2006. OS: SP993227
The underbridge at Sewell has been rebuilt to accommodate the cycle path. The abutments show a mixture of original and modern brickwork. 28th April 2006. OS: SP993227
 Looking towards Stanbridgeford with the bridge at Sewell in the centre of the pcture. 28th April 2006. OS: SP993227
Looking towards Stanbridgeford with the bridge at Sewell in the centre of the pcture. 28th April 2006. OS: SP993227
 Three quarter milepost just east of the bridge at Sewell. 28th April 2006. OS: SP994227
Three quarter milepost just east of the bridge at Sewell. 28th April 2006. OS: SP994227
Looking east up the 1 in 40 gradient through the cuttong that takes the line up the Chiltern escarpment. 28th April 2006. OS: SP995227
Looking east up the 1 in 40 gradient through the cuttong that takes the line up the Chiltern escarpment. 28th April 2006. OS: SP995227
 A fishplate in the cutting. 28th April 2006. OS: SP995227
A fishplate in the cutting. 28th April 2006. OS: SP995227
 Milepost 6 in the middle of the cutting at Sewell. 28th April 2006. OS: SP997227
Milepost 6 in the middle of the cutting at Sewell. 28th April 2006. OS: SP997227
 Looking down the cutting towards Sewell. 28th April 2006. OS: SP997227
Looking down the cutting towards Sewell. 28th April 2006. OS: SP997227
Looking up the gradient towards the summit. 28th April 2006. OS: SP999227
Looking up the gradient towards the summit. 28th April 2006. OS: SP999227
 Looking west along the approach to the 1 in 40 gradient. 28th April 2006. OS: TL001227
Looking west along the approach to the 1 in 40 gradient. 28th April 2006. OS: TL001227
 An unidentified relic, possibly an old signal post near the top of the cutting. 28th April 2006. OS: TL001227
An unidentified relic, possibly an old signal post near the top of the cutting. 28th April 2006. OS: TL001227
 Detail on the same relic. 28th April 2006. OS: TL001227
Detail on the same relic. 28th April 2006. OS: TL001227
The remains of a stencil speed board near the top of the cutting. 28th April 2006. OS: TL003227
The remains of a stencil speed board near the top of the cutting. 28th April 2006. OS: TL003227
 The trackbed looking west towards the cutting from the outskirts of Dunstable. 28th April 2006. OS: TL003227
The trackbed looking west towards the cutting from the outskirts of Dunstable. 28th April 2006. OS: TL003227
 The overgrown trackbed on the approach to Dunstable. 28th April 2006. OS: TL004227
The overgrown trackbed on the approach to Dunstable. 28th April 2006. OS: TL004227
 Plan of the line.
Plan of the line.
Mapping images used on this site produced from the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map service. Images reproduced with kind permission of Ordnance Survey and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland.
© 1998-2009 Roger Marks - All copyrights rest with the Author
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