Leighton Buzzard Railway News

So the last ticket has been sold in the old building at Pages Park, and the gutting of it has begun. Shop etc will be in a newly positioned portacabin whilst the brand new station building is constructed. Additionally , it looks like O&K Pedemoura (pictured bellow) will be ready for the start of the 2016 operating season, its first ever in preservation. The overhaul of Doll is advancing as well. Looks like 2016 will be an exciting year for the LBR!

 

I'm looking forward to visiting in May - part of the Colonel Stephens Society AGM weekend. I know that the LBR wasn't part of the Colonel Stephens empire, but the ethos was similar.

John

 

and thats not even half of it...

 

Page's Park is being transformed.
This is the old station building in October 2015, before we emptied it over Christmas and it was demolished in early January.

 

By the 13th March, the foundations for the new station building were complete.

 

By the 20th March (i.e. 7 days later!) great progress had been made with the erection of the factory made 'station kit'.

 

Pedemoura entered service today, hauling her first ever
fare paying passengers.
Originally imported from Portugal in 1972, she was purchased (in a dismantled condition) from the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway in 2005.



Meanwhile the builders have handed over the new station building, fitting out is underway and if all goes well, it should be in use next weekend.

 

Am in the area & hoping to visit next week, anyone know what is running? Hoping for Pedemoura or P.C Allen!

 

Bagnall 0-4-0ST Woto has arrived for the summer. First running is planned to be this Sunday, staying until Mid-September.

 

Well it's been five years, time for a new post.

Firstly, the railway has announced it will be returning from the 22nd of May, and running a two train service that weekend. Tickets are now on sale!

Secondly, a major eatherworks project is underway. A new housing estate on the Vandyke Road has necessitated a new road crossing the line, and with it now being nearly impossible to get permission fot a new level crossing in the UK, and there no space for the road to rise bridge the line, the developer is currently building a diversionary route to bring the railway in from the road, and then down under it! Quite an amazing infrastructure project: https://www.leightonbuzzardonline.c...as-link-road-construction-work-starts-3234313

On the one hand I think it is a shame to lose more of the countryside romp, but on the other the reason I fell in love with the line in the 90s was how different it felt to the Welsh NG lines, where you wound your way round the houses instead of the great vistas of Snowdonia.

 

I don't suppose you know which locos are likely to be in use? on the 22nd.

 

Nothing located concerning loco rosters, but have a look down the Faceache page (no sign-in). Progress on the carriage front, plus there's a choice announcement (dated the 1st of last month) which I missed at the time .... dammit.
https://m.facebook.com/Buzzrail/

 

The operational steam locos at Page's Park are Doll, 778 and Pedemoura, so the locos on the 22nd will be two of these.
Sezela No.4 and Peter Pan will also be used at times during the year.
Overhaul of Gertrude to progressing but still at bit to do, Pixie's overhaul continues but greatly delayed by COVID.
Elf, P.C. Allen and Rishra are now out of boiler ticket and await overhaul.

 

Thank-you, I thought it would be between those 3 but wondered if Sezela No.4 could come into the reckoning because it is in ticket.

 

Thank you for the update! Keep them coming please.

Yes it’s great to know that a pragmatic solution has been arrived at with the diversion. Who knows, with all that construction material and plant and equipment in use, the railway might be able to persuade a kindly construction company to help out elsewhere along the line. I work in the utility industry and in my experience most contractors are pretty amenable if there’s the chance to work on an unusual project with good publicity opportunities!

 

778 and Pedemoura were in use today.

 

Leighton Buzzard Light Railway Deviation under construction by Mwmbwls, on Flickr

Leighton Buzzard Light Railway September 2021 by Mwmbwls, on Flickr

The Deviation Tunnel is proceeding.

 

How is this going to compare length wise to other narrow gauge tunnels?

 

The 'tunnel' is really a bridge and will be about 40 metres long. It is constructed and will been operated as an overbridge. If it were a real tunnel, it would have to comply to even more regulations.
Track laying is due to start very shortly, so the line can be brought into use, as soon as the LBNGR operating season ends, as the land currently used by the railway is urgently required for the new road layout.

 

Below from an LBNGR email today.

Tickets for the first train still available
Want to be one of the first passengers to travel on our new diverted route under the newly installed bridge? We still have tickets left for the 1030 departure on Sunday 13 March - only 2 weeks to go!

The departure is, subject to availability, planned to include a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the bridge itself.

Make your visit a Double Celebration
March 13th sees the first public trains through the
new Tunnel'. It is also the 100th Anniversary
Celebration of Kerr Stuart, Peter Pan, delivered new
from the factory on 8th March 1922.
Peter Pan will be hauling one special train departing
Page's Park at 13.30. Seats are limited and will be
sold on a first come first served basis.

It's not just the new bridge...
Saturday 30 April sees public trains operate on the new extension to Munday's Hill for the first time. Seats are available at 1230 and 1430 on the first day.