Leighton Buzzard Light Railway 19th century sand was carried by horse carts from quarries south of the town to be shipped on the Dunstable-Leighton Buzzard railway. The carts damaged roads and resulted in claims for compensation against the quarry owners from Bedfordshire County Council. At the end of the century steam wagons were introduced which increased the damage to roads. The outbreak of the First World War cut off supplies of foundry sand from Belgium. Sand was needed for ammunition factories and new sources were sought. Leighton Buzzard sands proved well suited and production increased. After 1919 the quarry companies were told they could
Leighton Buzzard since undergone restoration. The town is also known for the Leighton Buzzard Light Railway, a narrow gauge heritage railway. The town has a combined library and theatre (called the Library Theatre) where both live events and film screenings are regularly held. Stockgrove Country Park is in nearby Heath and Reach. After the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834 Leighton Buzzard became the centre of a poor law union that consisted of 15 surrounding parishes with the union workhouse (still standing) being sited in Grovebury Road. A network of historic tunnels exists under the High Street; these are believed to date from