Leighton Buzzard Railway

16 April 2006

On the afternoon of Easter Sunday, we made a visit to the Leighton Buzzard Railway. Our locomotive for the 1450 departure to Stonehenge Works is 0-6-0T "Doll".

Henry and "Doll". Dating from 1919, the locomotive was built for the ironstone quarries at Sydenham in Oxfordshire.

"Doll" runs round to couple up to our carriages. After 1925 when the Sydenham quarries closed, "Doll" worked at Bilston steelworks near Wolverhampton until 1959, and has been at Leighton Buzzard since 1969.

Doll ready to depart for Stonehenge Works

The line has seen a lot of residential development around it, and on several level crossings, we are flagged across. On others, there is just a lot of whistling.

Lucy and Henry safely arrived at Stonehenge Works

Re-coaling "Doll"

Henry in control!

On the return journey, travelling parallel to the road

Crossing a level crossing again, with two flagmen seeing us safely across

Passing the 1540 from Page's Park, hauled by No. 740, which was built for the Matheran Light Railway in Maharastra, India.

Although the line now runs through a lot of housing, it was a very enjoyable ride, and well worth a visit.