IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Hurst Grove, BEDFORD, MK40 4DP

One of four photos taken on the same day showing different operators' trains at the same station. This is a Freightliner service, which can be seen snaking across from the 'down' to the 'up' line outside the station to pause for a crew change. It was headed by no. 66623 "Bill Bolsover" - named on 16 November 2007 "in recognition of his long standing contribution to the construction materials industry and Aggregate Industries".

This is the mainline station, trains between London and Sheffield often stop here, and it is also the starting point for some Capital Connect services.

The view south from the station's glazed footbridge.

EMU class 377/5 number 377520 waits on a down platform while a classmate waits on a London-bound service. Both units are in First Capital Connect livery.

View northward, towards Leicester and the North; ex-Midland London - Leeds main line. The Manchester Central - St Pancras express is on the Avoiding-line which skirted Bedford Midland Road station on its west side. The station, visible behind the carriage sidings, was badly damaged by a lone enemy bomber on 23/7/42 and was rebuilt in 10/68 on a site slightly further north, the avoiding line being dispensed with. The Locomotive is a BR/Sulzer Type 4 'Peak' 2,300 hp 1-Co-Co-1, No. D135 (later Class 45 No. 45.149: after withdrawal in 9/87 it was not broken up, but was sold to Peter Waterman, restored and is now (2011) on the Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Railway..

View northward, towards Wellingborough, Leicester etc.: ex-Midland Main Line from St Pancras. (This is the original station, prior to its rebuilding a few hundred yards to the north). The locomotive is BR Standard 4MT 4-6-0 No. 75055 (built 1/57, withdrawn 6/67), which took this 'Northern & Eastern' Tour on its last leg to St Pancras. We had started from Liverpool Street and ran via Stratford to Bishop's Stortford, across to Witham, then Marks Tey, Halstead, Haverhill and Cambridge, then across to Bedford (St Johns and Midland Road); finally the run up to St Pancras was interrupted at Harpenden by a trip to Heath Park (Hemel Hempstead) and back - altogether 10½ hours.

The introduction of these lightweight railbuses did not save the line from Bedford to Hitchin, which closed and is now dismantled.

In June 1978, work was already advanced on the present railway station. The old railway station still had a very Victorian atmosphere. A class 45 loco crosses Midland Road junction, now history.