Sandy in Bedforshire is where, for a short distance, the former L&NWR Bedford to Cambridge 'Varsity' route (closed in 1968) and the GNR lines that are now part of the ECML run in parallel for about half a mile but do not connect. Both companies had separate but adjacent stations with a shared island platform, this is now merged into one station. On May Day 1937, GNR-designed Gresley 'O2' 2-8-0 No. 3494 is striding northwards away from Sandy with a mixed freight. This view shows the ex-LNWR Cambridge to Bedford single line and a parallel siding climbing away on the far left. 3494 was built at Doncaster in Dec. 1923 and would be withdrawn in Sept, 1963 as BR No. 63939.

© Les Hanson-David Hanson Archive