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, pioneer LNER Gresley 'A4' No. 2509 'Silver Link' heads the up 'Flying Scotsman' smokily speeding past Gresley 'K3' No. 229. 'Silver Link' was built at Doncaster and No. 229 at Darlington in Sept 1935 and Oct. 1925 respectively. Their withdrawals came in Dec. 1962 (2509 as BR 60014) and May 1962 (229 as BR 61868).

© Les Hanson-David Hanson Archive