Requiem to a Railway

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David N Robinson's article, first published in the June 1971 issue of Lincolnshire Life, laments the closing of railways in East Lincolnshire a few months earlier. Please click on any image for a larger version.

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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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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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Then & Now: Sleaford Junction Signalbox, Boston

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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
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