The Buntingford Railway & Local History Society (BRLHS) “Farewell to the Bunt” exhibition attracted over 800 visitors to the Manor House, Buntingford in September.
The exhibition commemorated the 60th anniversary of the last goods train to run along the Buntingford Branch Line. Visitors young and old explored an evocative collection of rare artefacts, original station signs, photographs, historic documents, video, and a detailed N gauge model railway recreating part of the route. Many who once travelled the line shared their personal memories, while younger generations discovered the railway’s story for the first time.
Dean Weston, BRLHS spokesperson, said: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the response, and just how deeply the Buntingford Branch still resonates in local memory. What was once an ordinary rural railway has become an extraordinary thread connecting generations, with stories shared of school journeys, holiday trips and market days reminding us that history isn’t abstract, it’s
lived experience.
“What struck us was the mix of generations coming together – those who travelled the line in its working days standing side by side with children seeing it come alive through artefacts, photographs and models. That blend made the exhibition feel less like looking back at something lost, and more like keeping a living story alive for the future.”
The Buntingford Branch Line, affectionately known as The Bunt, opened in 1863 and once linked Buntingford with Westmill, Braughing, Standon, the Hadhams, Widford, and Wareside before terminating at St Margarets. Passenger services ended in November 1964, and the final goods train ran in September 1965.
For more information, visit: thebunt.co.uk
or contact the BRLHS at: buntingfordrailway@gmail.com
