Stanbridgeford railway station
Encyclopedia
Stanbridgeford railway station on the London and North Western Railway
's branch line to Dunstable
served the Bedfordshire
villages of Stanbridge
, Totternhoe
, Eaton Bray and Tilsworth
from 1849 to 1964. Once popular with visitors to the nearby Totternhoe Knolls
and ramblers, the station closed against a background of falling passenger numbers and declining freight returns. The station building has survived into private ownership, but a section of the alignment to the east and west of the site has been taken into the A505
Leighton Southern Bypass. National Cycle Network
route 6 runs to the east over the bypass as far as the outskirts of Dunstable.
and eventually Luton
with the London and Birmingham
's main line
. The proposals were devised by George
and Robert Stephenson
. The line opened for freight on 29 May 1848 and to passengers on 1 June. Stanbridgeford was the only intermediate station between Leighton Buzzard and Dunstable and opened to passengers in October 1849, more than a year after the line's opening. The station did not however appear in public timetables until October 1860, the point at which two facing platforms made of old stone sleepers
were provided. The opening of the station to goods traffic followed on 3 October 1860. The nearest settlement to the station was Stanbridge
(then known as Stanbridgeford), although it was within reach of the villages of Totternhoe
, Eaton Bray and Tilsworth
. It became popular with visitors to the nearby Totternhoe Knolls
, especially with Leighton Buzzard residents who took in great numbers to the countryside, so much so that in 1919 when 700 people arrived to take the train back from Stanbridgeford, the stationmaster had to call for extra coaches from Leighton Buzzard.
The station was situated to the west of a level crossing
across Station Road. The station building house was adjacent to the crossing on the down side and wooden passenger waiting shelters were provided on each platform. An eight-lever LNWR ground frame controlled the points, signals and level crossing. Just to the east of Stanbridgeford lay a siding
serving the Tottenhoe Lime & Stone Company Quarries. Increased traffic led to new sidings and a crossover being installed in 1916; the connection was controlled by a signal box
containing a seven-lever ground frame. Passenger traffic over the Dunstable branch in its later years was not great except on market days, and Stanbridgeford was closed to passengers in 1962 and to goods in 1964. Tracklifting from Stanbridgeford to Billington Road began in February 1970 and the line as far as Leighton Buzzard had been entirely lifted by February 1971. Prior to tracklifting, an episode of The Avengers
was filmed at the station in October 1968.
Leighton Southern Bypass opened and reused a section of the railway alignment from a point to the west of the former station to a point to the north-west of Billington
. The line to the east is also severed by the road. The signal box which controlled access to Tottenhoe Lime siding was moved in January 1969 to the Leighton Buzzard Light Railway
. What remains of the line to the east has become part of the 3.5 km (2.2 mi) Sewell
greenaway
as far as French's Avenue in Dunstable. The route is part of National Cycle Network
route 6 and includes a bridge over the A505.
London and North Western Railway
The London and North Western Railway was a British railway company between 1846 and 1922. It was created by the merger of three companies – the Grand Junction Railway, the London and Birmingham Railway and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway...
's branch line to Dunstable
Dunstable Branch Lines
The Dunstable Branch Lines were railway branch lines that joined the English town of Dunstable to the main lines at Leighton Buzzard and Welwyn. The two lines were under separate ownership, and they joined just east of the Dunstable North station....
served the Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
villages of Stanbridge
Stanbridge, Bedfordshire
Stanbridge is a village and civil parish in Bedfordshire which lies east of Leighton Buzzard. It also borders the Bedfordshire villages of Hockliffe, Eggington, Tilsworth, Totternhoe and Billington...
, Totternhoe
Totternhoe
Totternhoe is a village and civil parish in the Manshead hundred of the county of Bedfordshire, England.-Overview:Totternhoe is an ancient village in southern Bedfordshire, near Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard. Totternhoe Knolls has been a fort for many peoples including Romans and Normans...
, Eaton Bray and Tilsworth
Tilsworth
Tilsworth is a small village and civil parish in Bedfordshire. It lies to the north west of Dunstable, and the Roman Watling Street forms the north east boundary of the parish of 1200 acres . The village lies on the gault clay, where springs well up just south of a gentle gravelly ridge...
from 1849 to 1964. Once popular with visitors to the nearby Totternhoe Knolls
Totternhoe Knolls
Totternhoe Knolls is a chalk hill, located north-west of Totternhoe village in the county of Bedfordshire, with the remains of a medieval castle. It is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, as an example of chalk grassland....
and ramblers, the station closed against a background of falling passenger numbers and declining freight returns. The station building has survived into private ownership, but a section of the alignment to the east and west of the site has been taken into the A505
A505 road
The A505 is an A-class road in the United Kingdom. It follows part of the route of the Icknield Way and the corresponding Icknield Way Path.-Bedfordshire:...
Leighton Southern Bypass. National Cycle Network
National Cycle Network
The National Cycle Network is a network of cycle routes in the United Kingdom.The National Cycle Network was created by the charity Sustrans , and aided by a £42.5 million National Lottery grant. In 2005 it was used for over 230 million trips.Many routes hope to minimise contact with motor...
route 6 runs to the east over the bypass as far as the outskirts of Dunstable.
History
The passing of the Dunstable & London & Birmingham Railway Act on 30 June 1845 authorised the construction of a short branch line from to connect DunstableDunstable
Dunstable is a market town and civil parish located in Bedfordshire, England. It lies on the eastward tail spurs of the Chiltern Hills, 30 miles north of London. These geographical features form several steep chalk escarpments most noticeable when approaching Dunstable from the north.-Etymology:In...
and eventually Luton
Luton
Luton is a large town and unitary authority of Bedfordshire, England, 30 miles north of London. Luton and its near neighbours, Dunstable and Houghton Regis, form the Luton/Dunstable Urban Area with a population of about 250,000....
with the London and Birmingham
London and Birmingham Railway
The London and Birmingham Railway was an early railway company in the United Kingdom from 1833 to 1846, when it became part of the London and North Western Railway ....
's main line
West Coast Main Line
The West Coast Main Line is the busiest mixed-traffic railway route in Britain, being the country's most important rail backbone in terms of population served. Fast, long-distance inter-city passenger services are provided between London, the West Midlands, the North West, North Wales and the...
. The proposals were devised by George
George Stephenson
George Stephenson was an English civil engineer and mechanical engineer who built the first public railway line in the world to use steam locomotives...
and Robert Stephenson
Robert Stephenson
Robert Stephenson FRS was an English civil engineer. He was the only son of George Stephenson, the famed locomotive builder and railway engineer; many of the achievements popularly credited to his father were actually the joint efforts of father and son.-Early life :He was born on the 16th of...
. The line opened for freight on 29 May 1848 and to passengers on 1 June. Stanbridgeford was the only intermediate station between Leighton Buzzard and Dunstable and opened to passengers in October 1849, more than a year after the line's opening. The station did not however appear in public timetables until October 1860, the point at which two facing platforms made of old stone sleepers
Railroad tie
A railroad tie/railway tie , or railway sleeper is a rectangular item used to support the rails in railroad tracks...
were provided. The opening of the station to goods traffic followed on 3 October 1860. The nearest settlement to the station was Stanbridge
Stanbridge, Bedfordshire
Stanbridge is a village and civil parish in Bedfordshire which lies east of Leighton Buzzard. It also borders the Bedfordshire villages of Hockliffe, Eggington, Tilsworth, Totternhoe and Billington...
(then known as Stanbridgeford), although it was within reach of the villages of Totternhoe
Totternhoe
Totternhoe is a village and civil parish in the Manshead hundred of the county of Bedfordshire, England.-Overview:Totternhoe is an ancient village in southern Bedfordshire, near Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard. Totternhoe Knolls has been a fort for many peoples including Romans and Normans...
, Eaton Bray and Tilsworth
Tilsworth
Tilsworth is a small village and civil parish in Bedfordshire. It lies to the north west of Dunstable, and the Roman Watling Street forms the north east boundary of the parish of 1200 acres . The village lies on the gault clay, where springs well up just south of a gentle gravelly ridge...
. It became popular with visitors to the nearby Totternhoe Knolls
Totternhoe Knolls
Totternhoe Knolls is a chalk hill, located north-west of Totternhoe village in the county of Bedfordshire, with the remains of a medieval castle. It is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, as an example of chalk grassland....
, especially with Leighton Buzzard residents who took in great numbers to the countryside, so much so that in 1919 when 700 people arrived to take the train back from Stanbridgeford, the stationmaster had to call for extra coaches from Leighton Buzzard.
The station was situated to the west of a level crossing
Level crossing
A level crossing occurs where a railway line is intersected by a road or path onone level, without recourse to a bridge or tunnel. It is a type of at-grade intersection. The term also applies when a light rail line with separate right-of-way or reserved track crosses a road in the same fashion...
across Station Road. The station building house was adjacent to the crossing on the down side and wooden passenger waiting shelters were provided on each platform. An eight-lever LNWR ground frame controlled the points, signals and level crossing. Just to the east of Stanbridgeford lay a siding
Rail siding
A siding, in rail terminology, is a low-speed track section distinct from a running line or through route such as a main line or branch line or spur. It may connect to through track or to other sidings at either end...
serving the Tottenhoe Lime & Stone Company Quarries. Increased traffic led to new sidings and a crossover being installed in 1916; the connection was controlled by a signal box
Signal box
On a rail transport system, signalling control is the process by which control is exercised over train movements by way of railway signals and block systems to ensure that trains operate safely, over the correct route and to the proper timetable...
containing a seven-lever ground frame. Passenger traffic over the Dunstable branch in its later years was not great except on market days, and Stanbridgeford was closed to passengers in 1962 and to goods in 1964. Tracklifting from Stanbridgeford to Billington Road began in February 1970 and the line as far as Leighton Buzzard had been entirely lifted by February 1971. Prior to tracklifting, an episode of The Avengers
The Avengers (TV series)
The Avengers is a spy-fi British television series set in the 1960s Britain. The Avengers initially focused on Dr. David Keel and his assistant John Steed . Hendry left after the first series and Steed became the main character, partnered with a succession of assistants...
was filmed at the station in October 1968.
Present day
The station building, now known as Stanbridgeford House, has survived as a private residence and the platform area has been incorporated into the garden. In 1991, the A505A505 road
The A505 is an A-class road in the United Kingdom. It follows part of the route of the Icknield Way and the corresponding Icknield Way Path.-Bedfordshire:...
Leighton Southern Bypass opened and reused a section of the railway alignment from a point to the west of the former station to a point to the north-west of Billington
Billington, Bedfordshire
Billington is a civil parish in Bedfordshire about three miles south of Leighton Buzzard. There are two settlements: Little Billington and one that is now called Great Billington . Its name is recorded in 1196 as Billendon and may come from Anglo-Saxon language Billan dūn = "hill of a man named...
. The line to the east is also severed by the road. The signal box which controlled access to Tottenhoe Lime siding was moved in January 1969 to the Leighton Buzzard Light Railway
Leighton Buzzard Light Railway
The Leighton Buzzard Light Railway is a narrow gauge light railway in Leighton Buzzard in Bedfordshire, England. It operates on a gauge, and is just under long. The line was built after the First World War to serve sand quarries north of the town...
. What remains of the line to the east has become part of the 3.5 km (2.2 mi) Sewell
Sewell, Bedfordshire
Sewell is a hamlet located in the Central Bedfordshire district of Bedfordshire, England.Sewell is a small rural settlement, though it is located near to the town of Dunstable . The settlement forms part of the Houghton Regis civil parish....
greenaway
Greenway (landscape)
A greenway is a long, narrow piece of land, often used for recreation and pedestrian and bicycle user traffic, and sometimes for streetcar, light rail or retail uses.- Terminology :...
as far as French's Avenue in Dunstable. The route is part of National Cycle Network
National Cycle Network
The National Cycle Network is a network of cycle routes in the United Kingdom.The National Cycle Network was created by the charity Sustrans , and aided by a £42.5 million National Lottery grant. In 2005 it was used for over 230 million trips.Many routes hope to minimise contact with motor...
route 6 and includes a bridge over the A505.