London And North Western Railway 1846-1923
Stations and Crossings
The line had 7 level crossings and one station between Leighton Buzzard and Dunstable
Stanbridgeford station was opened to passengers in 1849 and was fully operational in 1860 with a station house next to the crossing. This station was 4 1/2 miles from Leighton Buzzard and served the villages of Stanbridge, Totternhoe, and Tilsworth, the original station building is still in existance today as a private residence. There was also a level crossing here with hand-operated gates. There was also a small siding for the lime and chalk works.
Stanbridgeford station and crossing
Stanbridge Mead Crossing and gatekeepers house
This was 1/4 mile closer to Leighton Buzzard than Stanbridgeford station. It had a gatekeeper's house and for most of the time the gates were closed against the traffic because the keeper received no warning of approaching trains.
Billington Road crossing with gatekeeper's house
This level crossing was on the outskirts of Leighton Buzzard and had a gatekeeper's house, small lever frame and a shed.
Grovebury Crossing
This crossing had a goods shed and a signal box which was a fine example of an L&NWR one.
Ledburn crossing
This was a very basic crossing but it had a signal box. In 1868 the gatekeeper was Daniel Carpenter
Wing crossing with the crossing keeper standing outside his half timbered house.
The signal box at this crossing was the last one before the main line and controlled the busy crossing over the A418 road.
The final crossing was at Leighton but it was closed in 1858.

Click the colour photo (left) to see a movie (file size 2Mb).
Locomotive sheds and Relocation of Workshops
Leighton Buzzard had a small locomotive shed which was a servicing point for various types of engines that saw service on the branch line.
Leighton Buzzard Shed
In 1886 the L&NWR decided to centralise all the local workshop requirements at Bletchley; removing the carpenters shop and other smaller services meant that 40 families had to leave Leighton/Linslade and relocate. This caused bitterness amongst local tradesmen. Staple goods traffic on the line tended to be lime from Forders at Totternoe to Leighton Buzzard, coal to the Dunstable Gas works, sand from Grovebury Sidings and a great deal of Agricultural produce and flowers and fruit loaded at Stanbridgeford from Wallace's at Eaton Bray.