Tramway Crossing

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During its brief existence, from 1884 the Alford & Sutton Tramway followed the course of what is now the A1111 road. The construction of the Sutton & Willoughby Railway saw the two routes meet close to Sutton-on-Sea, the railway crossing it on Alford Road. At this point a signalbox was constructed and a Crossing Keepers house on the other side of the railway. The opening of the railway on 4th October 1886, resulted in the decline of the tramway which ceased three years later. Nevertheless, the Box would retain the name "Tramway Crossing". It is illustrated below when operational (Photo: LEYTR Collection).

The final trains to pass ran on the 3rd October 1970, after which the branch line from Willoughby to Mablethorpe closed. The top section of the Box found further use serving as a shed for several years. My 1980 view sees it moved further up the course of the railway from its original position. The Crossing Keepers house being seen in the distance.
A more recent Googe Street View image shows the Crossing Keeper's house still extant. The view from trackbed, the Box would have been where the bush on the left can be seen.
Further views of the Box when in the field.

A Google Street View image taken from the former trackbed at a similar position to the above photo. A housing development has now encroached onto part of the field.
c. 1990, the box was removed, relocated, and restored at the former Legbourne Road station which, at the time, was a Railway Museum.

Although the Museum closed in 1998, the Box still remains as seen in this photo taken on 4th October 2020.

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