The Golden Mile – Bletchley to Bedford Line

The golden mile

Farewell to Semaphore Signalling on the
Marston Vale line

After 150 years of traditional signalling along the Bletchley to Bedford route,
all was to change in 2004 with the introduction of modern electronic systems and
crossing gates. This film is a journey aboard one of the last services before the
upgrade was put in place showing all the old mechanical signalling and hand-controlled
level crossing gates before new barriers were put in place. We hear stories from signallers
of the past and show the interiors of some signal boxes before they were demolished
virtually overnight. The final train to use the old signalling equipment is also viewed and
a last visit to the inside of Fenny Stratford signal box that night.
The film was made in conjunction with the operator Silverlink and is introduced by one of their managers.
A bonus film is added from the 1996 celebration of the 150th anniversary when steam hauled services were

operated for local people and enthusiasts. These services were hauled by the Severn Valley Railway’s BR Standard
Class 4 tank No. 80079.
Approximately 1 hour 36 minutes duration