About us

Welcome aboard the Leighton Buzzard Railway, a truly special survivor from a bygone era! We’re proud to be one of the last remaining 2-foot (610mm) gauge industrial light railways built in Britain, and the only one created using surplus equipment straight from the battlefields of the First World War.

Since opening our doors in 1919 to haul local sand, our wheels have never stopped turning! We’ve operated without a single break for over a century, introducing steam-hauled passenger journeys in 1968. Today, we’re home to one of England’s largest and most significant collections of narrow-gauge locomotives and carriages. Both our collection and the railway itself are proudly recognised as an Accredited Museum by Arts Council England.

In typical light-railway fashion, the line features sharp curves, steep gradients - up to 1:25 (4%) - numerous level crossings of roads and paths, and a long stretch of roadside running, as it follows the local geography, rather than imposing itself on it. There is always something new around the next corner, including one of Britain's biggest onshore wind turbines!