Page's Park officially opened

The Leighton Buzzard Railway’s new station building at Page’s Park, the line’s southern terminus, was officially opened on October 29 by Alan Moore CBE.



The Leighton Buzzard Railway’s largest and smallest locomotives were on display at Page’s Park station for the building’s official opening on October 29. Standing at the platforms are DeWinton 0-4-0VBT Chaloner and Orenstein & Koppel 0-6-0WT Pedemoura.


The new building, which first opened to the public on July 29, replaces a life-expired temporary structure that had been in use since 1976. It is three times bigger than the structure it takes over from, and includes facilities for use by the local community.

Over £250,000 of the final £357,491 cost for the new building was raised from within the railway’s own 430 members and supporters.

LBR Society Vice President and enthusiastic supporter of the Museum Gateway Project, Alan Moore CBE, cut the ribbon and unveiled the commemorative plaque, officially marking the opening of the railway’s new facilities.

Also in attendance were local MP Andrew Selous, who laid the building’s ceremonial first brick on February 20, local councillors, society members and officers from the Heritage Railway Association.

Speaking at the opening, Leighton Buzzard Railway Chairman Terry Bendall said: “We are all delighted to have our new station at last. It would not have been possible without some very generous contributions, notably from members, and we hope that we have given the town a railway station to be proud of. Thank you to everyone who has made this day possible.

“As an industrial line serving the sand quarries the original Leighton Buzzard Railway had no need of passenger facilities, so in building the new station we have not had to recreate something or build a traditional railway station.

“We have however taken some design cues from the style of the other railway in town, the former London & North Western Railway. What we have here is, we hope, a building that will meet the needs of our passengers and the local community alike.”

Continue reading...

 

Another press report (with more photos) can be found at http://www.leightonbuzzardonline.co.uk/news/new-350k-station-provides-platform-for-success-1-7654052.