When I read the article on the local branch line I was reminded of an evening in the late fifties when I had a most unusual journey on it.
In those days when I had a meeting in London, I would break my journey at Wellingborough on the way back to Glasgow (near which I lived and still do) and go to visit my father (Cecil Pack) who lived with my sister (Betty Beaumont) in Higham Ferrers. I would then travel on the last train in the evening to Wellingborough and catch the night sleeper to the North.
On one occasion, I arrived at Higham Ferrers station to be told by the station master that the train to Wellingborough would be running late and the return train would not be in time for the connection. When I told him that I had a sleeper ticket to Glasgow, he rang down to Wellingborough to let them know and to ask them to hold the train, which they said they would do. He than rang Rushden Station and asked if they had any passengers for the last train. They had none. When the train finally arrived I climbed on board and was taken non-stop to Wellingborough.
At Wellingborough, the guard of the sleeper waiting at platform one called out "Have you a passenger for us?" "Yes" was the reply. I went hurriedly over the bridge to the waiting train, so all was well in the end. People were sticking their heads out of the carriage windows asking why the train was being held up for so long in Wellingborough Station. I was very grateful for this excellent example of British Rail service. Has any other reader had such an experience?
