A DAY IN BED (S)

 I left you at Harlington in the last post. We now head for the railway station there, on the Midland Main Line. East Midlands Trains go flying through.....

......while Thameslink runs the local trains.

Next stop northwards is Flitwick. Here are two views of the station in Midland Railway days.

Fliwick was home to two bus companies, Buffalo Travel and Shorey's Coaches.

The next station along the line was Ampthill, long closed, as it was a long way from the small town of that name. The old station yard was once occupied by Prince of Wales Coaches.

And so to Ampthill itself, where we find a Greene King pub called, surprisingly, the Engine & Tender.

For beer lovers, a beeline is usually made to the Albion.

Just over the road is the Old Sun, also worth visiting.

Next up is the Ossary Arms. Despite it being a Greene King house, Whatpub reckons it has no real ale now.

Therefore, we move on, eastwards to Maulden and the George, from where I'll say, "Goodnight".

SOW & PIGS.....GONE!

 In the last post, I promised you more of Leighton Buzzard, so here are the bus operators, Arriva, Centrebus and Grant Palmer.

A short walk takes us to Pages Park, starting point of the Leighton Buzzard Narrow Gauge Railway. 

But before looking at the trains, there's a display of old road vehicles in the park.

The railway was built to convey sand from the quarries surrounding the town to the standard gauge railway network. Diesels such as there were standard motive power.

Various steam locos are used today to convey the passengers.

As we set off, past the loco shed, there's another diesel to see.

At Leedon Loop, we pass the train coming the other way.

The present terminus of the line is at Stonehenge Works, where 'Doll; runs round.

More old Simplex diesels on display/in use here.

An extension  beyond Stonehenge is planned and moves are afoot to divert part of the line for yet another housing estate. Meanwhile, a demonstration of earth moving equipment takes place.

A few miles to the east is the village of Tebworth, where we have our first pint of this posting. The Queen's Head provides it.

Just a couple of miles away is a large village called Toddington, which has a village green.....

.....and St. George's Parish Church.

But we're looking for beer. I'm not certain whether this Marston's pub is still in business.

 

The Sow and Pigs was a great pub, but sadly it closed. You can read all about it here.

So we must carry on to Harlington where the Carpenters Arms is well and truly open.

We conclude at the Old Sun.

Harlington is on the railway, so that gives us plenty of scope for the next post.

A COCK ON THE ROOF & A PUB FULL OF DOGS

 A few miles to the east of Quainton is the village of Whitchurch, where there's a decent Fuller's pub, the White Swan. It has a website for you to find out more.

East South East now, if that's not too technical for you, we come to Wingrave and the Rose & Crown, which also has a website.

To the North East is the village of Wing, close to the county boundary. The pub here has certainly got one of the country's most prominent signs!

Over into Bedfordshire now and we find the ex LNWR West Coast Main Line at Linslade Tunnels.

Nearby is the Grand Union Canal and the lock at Old Leighton, with its adjacent pub, the Globe Inn.

We now follow the canal for about a mile in a southerly direction, into Linslade, where Leighton Buzzard station is located. But first we look at Leighton Lock.

Ok, to the railway station, where we find a variety of traffic.

Close to the station is the Buckingham Arms.

Not far away, two other decent pubs, technically in Linslade. First, the Hare Inn.

Then comes the White Horse, a classic back street boozer with B&B.

Into Leighton Buzzard town centre. It's a lovely old market town, though the outskirts are continually being expanded with housing estates. Here are a couple of recent views.

There's time for a pint now. First stop, the Wetherspoons, The Swan Hotel.

The Red Lion is next. It's a friendly place. Something tells me that they like dogs.

Here are two of the Red Lion dogs. (BTW, there's also a cat).

Three more good pubs now, the Sun, the Black Lion and the Golden Bell.

Only two more pubs to do in Leighton Buzzard. First, the Wheatsheaf.

Finally, we arrive at the town's superb micropub, the Bald Buzzard.

That seems like a good place to finish. In the next post, we'll ride a narrow gauge railway.