Bygone Railways of East Lincolnshire

Yesterday, 20th December, marked the 40th anniversary of the very last passenger trains to travel the full route between Louth and Grimsby.  By then, this section of the East Lincolnshire Line had been relegated to freight only following the withdrawal of regular passenger services from 5th October 1970, and all traffic between Louth and Firsby. The trips (and some on previous occasions) were organised by the Grimsby - Louth Railway Preservation Society who had hoped to purchase the trackbed with the intention of eventually restoring services along the route. Sadly the trackbed was hastily sold off and redeveloped. The Peakes Parkway/A16 now occupies it at the Grimsby end, and along with other redevelopments, so there is no chance now that Louth will ever be connected to the National Rail Network. Fortunately a small section has been preserved by the  Lincolnshire Wolds Railway. My photo below shows one of the trains at Grimsby Town after arrival from Louth. The very last t

The very tall signalbox at Sleaford Junction towered above the properties on King Street. It controlled the locomotive and goods yard and the junction where the line from Sleaford joined the East Lincolnshire Main Line. Opened by the Great Northern Railway in 1875, it was lengthened in 1897. With the reduction of sidings in the goods yard, the 40 levers were reduced to 30 in 1972. Eventually the Box was closed completely on 19th May 1974, being replaced by a ground frame as the number of siding had been reduced yet again as the amount of goods traffic had diminished. The structure remained in place until its demolition in 1980. My photo shows it a few months before it was denolished and minus its name board (wonder if that still exists in somebody's collection?). A contrasting modern day Google Street View image is shown beneath, the location of the Box being at the end of King Street. A map of the area. Note the footbridge close by which once gave access to

Built by the Great Northern Railway in 1892, the Signalbox was located North of Boston station. My photo below, shows it when open in 1984 and the contemporary Google Street View. The Box was closed in November 1985 when the gates were replaced by barriers controlled by West Street signalbox. My view from December of that year shows it in the process of being dismantled. The modern day Google Street View image of the same location is shown beneath. Some more views of the Box below.

A view of Boston Station on 14th August 1954. Boston was then on the Main Line beween Grimsby and Peterborough, and with direct routes to Sleaford and Lincoln. There were two daily through trains to and from King's Cross. Looking north, the canopies over the platforms were removed six years later. Both the "middle roads" were in place for freight trains (Photo: D. Thompson). A 1968 view from the footbridge looking North. On the left is a King's Cross to Cleethorpes train, on the right Class 114 diesel unit on a Grimsby Town to Peterborough North sevice towing a van full of parcels (Photo: Mowat Collection). My exterior shot of the station in the late 1970's. No mistaking the location in this 1975 photo. A 1975 view of the station from the North end. There were 3 platforms, number 3 being a north facing bay on the right of the first photo. They were often used for stabling the 03 shunters as seen in the second photo.

My monochrome photograph shows the fully operational Great Northern level crossing box at Broadfield Lane in Boston around 1980. This was taken out of use and removed c.1985, about the same time as Grand Sluice Signalbox and crossing were also replaced by Barriers controlled from West Street. The contrasting modern day scene (Google Street View) is far less pleasing to the eyes.

Tattershall was located on the Great Northern line between Boston and Lincoln. It was closed to all traffic on 17th June 1963 along with the section between Boston and Coningsby Junction. It remains the sole surviving station building on that section as those at Dogdyke and Langrick having long since been demolished. It was in a very derelict state for over two decades, and my pictures illustrate it during its restoration in the mid-1980's, and later, the building finally restored. It now is home to an Art Gallery. This illustration from June 1981 shows the poor state the station was in (Photo: BPR). A further illustration from April of the following year (Photo: A. Lewis). Further information about the station can be  seen here.

Immigham was a single platform station and a rather modest structure compared to others in the area. Until their withdrawal from 17th June 1963, when the branch from Goxhill closed, it was served by trains from New Holland Pier. Workmen's Trains from Cleethorpes (via Ulceby), continued until 6th September 1969. The building, since demolished, was still extant during my visit in autumn 1980. A class 114 dmu from New Holland stands in the platform in 1960 (Photo: G.Kelsey). 1960/1 Timetable leaflet. The final timetable for trains over the Goxhill - Immingham branch (10th September 1962 - 16th June 1963).

Bardney, on the Great Northern Railway Boston to Lincoln line was also a junction for Louth, until that line closed to passengers on 5th November 1951, and to goods, when the branch was truncated to end at Wraby, on 1st December 1960. Bardney lost its remaining passenger service on 5th October 1970. By this time the line, after Boston services ceased from 17th June 1963, was effectively worked as an extension of the former "New Line" with services between Lincoln and Skegness/Firsby/Tumby Woodside. The following photos were taken in autumn 1980, when the line was still open for freight bringing coal to the nearby British Sugar Corporation factory. This traffic ceased the following year. The once extensive sidings at the neighbouring British Sugar factory. I pre-arranged a visit to the BSC factory to photograph their own diesel shunter hard at work. Ruston & Hornsby 32794 was built in 1954