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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 18 July 2023
A glance at the railway map of the United Kingdom for, say, 1910 would show so many routes that a student of railway history could be forgiven for thinking that every proposed line had succeeded. Actually many more lines were planned than those disclosed on a map - for example in Bedfordshire nine (including the Sandy & Potton) were constructed and nearly thirty failed. Several of the proposed lines have been mentioned earlier when describing the background history of successful lines, and further details can be found in my typescript account: Railways of Bedfordshire Planned but not Built at the Bedfordshire County Record Office.
When a railway was proposed, landowners, business men and financiers would meet and decide to issue a prospectus. This, when circulated, should bring in enough support for a company to be formed, and for engineers to be instructed to plot the route. Competent lawyers had the Bill drafted, and when this was submitted to Westminster, copies of the plans and books of reference would be deposited with the various Clerks of the Peace. In the case of unsuccessful lines, the promoters might get as far as having a Bill presented, or only as far as depositing plans. Others less fortunate would fall by the wayside. One company which did not even get as far as publishing plans was the Boston Bedford and London Railway. This was as early as 1836 and the following letter dated 16th August is from Thomas Bennett, the Steward at Woburn, to W. G. Adam, Agent-in-Chief of the Duke of Bedford at the London Estate Office.
‘The Duke gave me a prospectus of the Boston, Bedford and London Railway which had been sent to His Grace, requesting his support, and the Duke desires me to enquire about it. I have, and do not think there is any chance of its being carried into effect, but it has made the Bedford people on the alert, and a Cross Line from Cambridge via St. Neots, Bedford and Newport Pagnell to join the Birmingham, is started, and I think this is likely to answer all the purposes Bedford and the adjoining country may want in that way.
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