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. This delightful photograph taken on May Day 1937, captures an obviously ex-works veteran. 4100 is an ex-GNR Ivatt 'J3' 0-6-0 and is heading south for London with a rake of loaded 'user' coal wagons. It was built by DUbs & Co. in Mar. 1898 as GNR No. 1100 and was withdrawn in June 1952, still carrying its 1946 LNER number of 4117.

© Les Hanson-David Hanson Archive