Where it all began

Bedford Midland Road. In the late 1950's we used to sit at the north end of the station in order to see the fast lines as they bypassed the station platforms. In those days the slow lines were a constant stream of coal trains hauled by 8F and 9F freight locos - loaded to London and returning empties to the midland coalfields. Sadly the station and the most of the freight has disappeared. Passenger trains were usually in the hands of Black 5 and Jubilees.