Then & Now: Broadfield Lane, Boston

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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.


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Remains of the Mablethorpe - Louth Railway

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The single track branch railway from Louth was the first to reach Mablethorpe, opened on the 17th October 1877 by the Louth & East Coast Railway Company. Diverging south of Louth on the main East Lincolnshire Railway at Mablethorpe Junction,  there were intermediate stations at Grimoldby, Saltfleetby, and Theddlethope. Further south, the Sutton & Willoughby Railway Company opened their line from Willougby on the East Lincolnshire Line to Sutton-on-Sea on 4th October 1866. This was subsequently extended to join the L&EC Railway's line at Mablethorpe on 14th September 1888. Thus forming the complete loop as illustrated in the British Rail map above. The course of the Mablethorpe to Louth section is shown, when open, from the One Inch Ordnance Survey Map extracts below. This early view looks North from Mablethorpe (LEYTR Collection). A later view of Mablethorpe also looking North (LEYTR Collection) A c
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Kirkstead / Woodhall Junction Station

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Kirkstead was one of the intermediate stations on the Great Northern Railway Loop Line between Boston and Lincoln. It was opened to both Passengers and Goods on 17th October 1848. At the time this was the main railway route to the North until the opening of the "Towns Line" through Grantham some four years later. Just to the south of the station, a branch line to Horncastle diverged from the main line, opening on 11th August 1855. As the junction faced away from the station, it meant trains would have to reverse a short distance, before accessing the branch.  Further south, the "New Line" from Bellwater Junction was opened to Coningsby Junction on 1st July 1913. From the 10th July 1922, the London & North Eastern Railway renamed the station Woodhall Junction. For one year only, in 1935, it was also one of three locations in Lincolnshire to be allocated a Camping Carriage. Just north of the station, the opposite bank of the River Witham could be reached by a ferr
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Havenhouse - as seen on TV

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It may not have many trains stopping there now, yet Havenhouse has a claim to fame in making appearances in the third series of the BBC Drama series, Nanny. Filmed in 1982, it was broadcast to the Nation the following year. The opening shots show passengers leaving the station. A steam train can be heard departing - not seen as it was added by the BBC Sound Effects department. The Up Platform shelter can be seen in the background. Note the white markings. The episode was set in November 1940 and the markings would have provided guidance to the locations of doors and exits during wartime blackouts. The actress Wendy Craig played the main character. Here we see her leaving the station. The signs on the wall were props, probably replicas. Wendy is picked up at the station. Through the windscreen we can see the tree lined approach road to Havenhouse. Wendy Craig and other cast members on the "up" platform.
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