Leighton Buzzard Light Railway
A volunteer-run 2-foot gauge heritage railway and Accredited Museum in Bedfordshire, with steam trains, an engine shed tour and a collection of narrow-gauge locomotives.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Leighton Buzzard and the villages around it sit on thick seams of very pure sand. When the First World War cut off cheap imports and raised demand, new quarries opened north of the town, and sand was at first moved to the main railway by road, which badly damaged the roads. After the war the quarry owners had to pay for any further damage, so they formed Leighton Buzzard Light Railway Ltd. The line, built largely from surplus War Department Light Railways equipment to a gauge of 2 feet (610 mm), ran from Billington Road to Double Arches and was in service by the end of 1919.
The first steam locomotives were replaced in 1921 by armoured petrol Simplex locomotives, which probably made it one of the first railways in Britain to rely entirely on internal-combustion power. Traffic peaked in the late 1940s and early 1950s, when about twenty trainloads of sand left each day, but road competition then took most of the trade. Through trains to Billington Road ended in 1969, and the last quarry branch closed in 1981.
In 1967 a group of enthusiasts obtained permission to run passenger trains, and the first special ran on 3 March 1968. They formed what became the Leighton Buzzard Narrow Gauge Railway Society, and regular steam-hauled services began in June 1968. Today the society's volunteers run trains over a three-mile line from Page's Park station, and look after one of the largest collections of narrow-gauge locomotives and carriages in England. The railway and its collection are recognised as an Accredited Museum by Arts Council England.
Highlights
- Steam-hauled trains on a three-mile 2-foot gauge line
- Built in 1919 largely from First World War surplus equipment
- Free guided tour of the engine shed on operating days
- One of England's largest narrow-gauge collections
- Stonehenge Works station with craft shop and miniature railway
- Accredited Museum run entirely by volunteers
Permanent exhibition
- Engine Shed Show – A free guided tour of the engine shed at Page's Park with historic photographs, stories and the locomotives resting between journeys.
- Operated by
- Leighton Buzzard Narrow Gauge Railway Society Ltd
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £12.70 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | £9free up to age 1 · Child ticket for ages 2 to 17; children under 2 travel free. |
| Seniors | £11.30Ages 60 and over. |
| Visitors with disabilities | –companion free · Wheelchair users pay the standard fare and one carer travels free. |
| Groups (4+ people) | –10 per cent discount for groups of 4 or more paying passengers on timetabled trains in the main season (March to November), for up to 30 people. |
| Second return journey on the same day | –50 per cent off, only at the booking office on showing the original ticket. |
| Footplate Experience | £85 |
The prices are return fares from Page's Park for the main season (March to November), without Gift Aid; with Gift Aid they are £14.00 for adults, £12.50 for seniors and £10.00 for children. Special fares apply in December for the Santa Specials. Dogs travel free. Day-rover tickets are not offered, only returns.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The station building at Page's Park is accessible and has ramp access to most facilities, including toilets in the buffet and main buildings. Two coaches are adapted to carry wheelchairs, but space is limited, so advance booking online is strongly advised. Priority parking is outside the station. Leaflets are available in large print on request in advance, and volunteer staff will read out or write down information. Assistance dogs and other well-behaved dogs are welcome on the trains.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Time needed | approx. 1.5 hrs |
|---|---|
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 1 |
- Baby changing facilities
Children under 2 travel free. Baby changing facilities are in the accessible toilet at Page's Park and in the ladies' toilets at Stonehenge Works, and high chairs are available in the café. Pushchairs must be folded and kept in the guard's van during the journey, or can be stored securely at Page's Park.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Narrow Gauge Railway (bus stop, line L1)
Leighton Buzzard railway station is about 2 miles away, a 30-minute walk through the town. The L1 bus runs about hourly from Leighton Buzzard station and the town centre along Billington Road to the Narrow Gauge Railway stop outside Page's Park. Bus X2 (hourly daily) and X3 (hourly Monday to Saturday) from Milton Keynes, Dunstable and Luton stop in the town, 10 to 20 minutes' walk away.
By car
Free parking
Free all-weather car and coach parking at the entrance, with priority spaces for visitors with mobility needs.
- Accessible parking
The station is on the east side of Billington Road, beside Page's Park, on the south side of Leighton Buzzard. It is about 15 minutes' drive from junction 11A of the M1 via the A5 and A505. Cycle stands are provided, and National Cycle Route 6 passes through the town.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
- Wi-Fi
Free Wi-Fi is available in the station building at Page's Park. The Curiositea café at Page's Park serves hot and cold food and drinks, and the craft shop at Stonehenge Works sells handcrafted products and light refreshments. There is a souvenir shop at Page's Park.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
A function room can be booked through the contact form, and trains can be chartered.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | The standard train journey, including 25 minutes at Stonehenge Works for the craft shop and the Stonehenge Trail, takes about 90 minutes. A free guided tour of the engine shed runs on every operating day from 10:45 to 16:10, and on selected days passengers with a main-line ticket can ride the 7.25-inch gauge miniature railway at Stonehenge Works for free. Many services depend on volunteer availability. Smoking is not allowed on the trains or in the buildings. Tickets for a specific train can be booked online, and school visits can be arranged. |
