Bygone Railways of East Lincolnshire

Woodhall Spa was the only intermediate station on the branch line between Kirkstead (Woodhall Junction) and Horncastle. It was opened to passengers on 11th August 1855, and to goods on 4th April 1887. It closed to passengers along with Horncastle on 13th September 1954, and to goods on 27th April 1964. Goods trains continued to pass through to reach Horncastle until 5th April 1971, when the line was closed completely. The passenger timetable for the line from Bradshaw's Guide (3rd May - 13th June 1954) is shown below. My visit today enabled a look at what remains. The most obvious clue being one of the street names. Sadly, the station itself has long since been demolished, as illustrated in a local newspaper. Two early postcards show the station when open. The site is now occupied by a car park although the shops on the right remain. These, and the postcards, look in the direction of Horncastle.

Although the extracts below are from a map that accompanied the March 1850 Bradshaw's Guide, it's clearly a few years earlier. The solid lines indicate completed railways, broken lines proposed routes and railways under construction.  This preceeds the opening of the "Towns Route" (the present East Coast Main Line). The Great Northern's Loop line through Boston and Lincoln was then part of the main East Coast route between London snd the North.  King's Cross had not been built yet, so passengers would reach Lincolnshire from either Fenchurch Street and travel via Ely and Peterborough, or from Euston Square (nowadays Euston Station), via Northampton and Peterborough. The East Lincolnshire Line is extant, alouth the branches to Spilsby, Skegness, and Mablethorpe had yet to be constructed. It's main function at the time was to provide a direct route to Hull via the ferry at New Holland. Lincoln was linked with Newark, Sheffield, and Grimsby. Scunthorpe and Gr

Following closure of the East Lincolnshire Line, Mablethorpe branch, and the New Line, Skegness effectively found itself at the end the line with services to from Grantham. The through holiday trains had ceased by then and there was no winter Sunday service from Skegness. Regarding the latter, passengers would have to use the Lincolnshire Road Car bus service 57 and walk from Boston Market Place to the Railway Station. Note that there were several services operating between Boston and Lincoln, a legacy from when the direct Loop Line was parially closed in 1963. Also of interest is the high level of service once enjoyed by Havenhouse and Thorpe Culvert.

Timetables for the East Lincolnshire and Loop Line March 1st 1850.

Visited today, the 50th anniversary of the last trains to call at this once busy junction. Crossing house and what appears to be remains of a platform. Course of the East Lincolnshire Line looking towards Boston. The only remaining section of the Station still standing, once owned by Late John Thornley. More information about the station can be  seen here.

Visited today, 50 years to the day the last ever trains would call there. With many thanks to the owner of the premises for allowing me to look around. Looking along the course of the line towards Willoughby. My 1976 photo (my late Mother posed on platform), and an approximate comparison shot today. For a few years, up to 1996, a Railway Museum was housed in the former Goods Shed. A 1970 aricle from the Skegness Standard. More information about the station can be  seen here.