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. The ex-LNW 'Varsity Line' is seen to good advantage in this May Day 1937 view. Ex-LNWR Whale 'Precursor ' 4-4-0 No. 25245 'Antaeus' slows on the downhill approach to Sandy Station with a 3-coach Bedford to Cambridge train. 25245 was built at Crewe in Apr. 1906 as L&NWR No. 561 and was withdrawn in Mar. 1941.

© Les Hanson-David Hanson Archive