An evocative view of the half-demolished and now derelict Bedford

Midland station. The photograph is framed by the arch of Ford End Road bridge that spanned the lines south of the station. Through the remains of the wrought iron roof work of the former station, the new (and present day) station can be seen complete with the ugly new footbridge spanning the recently aligned MML tracks. The new station had opened some ten months prior to this image being taken. Notice the British Rail Commer PB van to the left, there were thousands of these vans back in the 1970s and 1980s. Today, it's white Transits with Network Rail emblazoned on the sides. This image can be replicated today with the same archway framing the top, but the view would be of a huge carpark serving the many commuters using the station.