Stixwould to Southrey

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The former Great Northern "Loop Line" between Boston and Lincoln was, for a brief period, part of the Company's main route between London and the North. The section is now, for its most part, converted to a foot/cycle path. We look at part of the route between Stixwould and Southrey following a recent walk along this.

Both stations and the line were opened on 17th October 1848. an extract from the Bradshaw's Guide for 1st March 1850 is shown below.
Srixwould station was located some distance from the centre of the village as illustrated by the signpost.
Even in 1923, the population was hardly large, as can be seen from the ABC Guide for July of that year.
The station house still remains, now operating as a retreat. There has been some extension to the house which now adjoins the signalbox.
The platforms are still extant, as is the station name board. The pictures look in the direction of Lincoln.

Looking towards Boston, a photo of the line when open and a present day view.
An extract from the Ordnance Survey One Inch = 1 Mile map from 1954. Both stations, the being open, and both ferry.services are operational. 
The passenger and vehicle ferry at Stixwould took crossed the River Witham up until withdrawal in 1970. The first picture shows it when in operation. A modern day view shows no trace of it having ever existed. An information board on the path provides a further insight.
The railway was on an embankment between the River Witham on the west side and Engine Drain on the east. The following shows views along the present footpath looking in the direction of Southrey.
The station house also survives at Southrey, as do the platforms and station name board. Unfortunately, unlike Stixwould, the signalbox does not.

A photo of the station when open and a present day comparison view.
An information board gives details of the former station.
Extract from the 1923 ABC Guide.
Another survivor is the remains of this old railway gate.
Like Stixwould, a passenger and vehicle ferry. It crossed the Witham until 1965 (as shown after withdrawal on the first picture). Present day views look from the point where the ferry crossed towards Boston and towards Lincoln.
The nearby Railway Hotel (now The Riverside Inn) is another survivor.
A view along the former line towards Bardney.
The trains to Boston ceased with the closure of part of the Loop Line between Coningsby Junction and Boston on 17th June 1963, leaving trains operating along the "New Line" between Lincoln - Firsby/Skegness. Southrey lost its goods facilities from 1st October 1955, followed by Stixwould on 17th June 1963. Both stations lost their passenger services when the "New Line" was closed on 5th October 1970. Freight trains continued to operate along the route to Woodhall Junction to access the Horncastle branch, until these too were withdrawn, on 5th April 1971.

Further information about Stixwould can be seen here, and Southrey here.

Below: Extracts from early large scale Ordnance Survey maps showing the track layout at Stixwould and Southrey.
The final passenger timetable from 4th May 1970. The last passenger trains called at Stixwould and Southrey on Saturday 3rd October 1970, there being no Sunday train service by this time.

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