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. In June 1936 a freight has been held on the ex-GNR lines with the crew and guard obviously taking a break! On the 'Varsity Line' above, ex-LNWR Whale 'Precursor' 4-4-0 No. 25319 'Bucephalus' drifts down into Sandy with a Bedford to Cambridge train. 25319 was built at Crewe in Apr. 1906 as L&NWR No. 990 and was withdrawn in December 1940.

© Les Hanson-David Hanson Archive