When trains ran to Spilsby

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An article by K.A. Frost first published in the June 1971 issue of Lincolnshire Life, details the history of the Firsby - Spilsby branch.

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Tattershall

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Tattershall was located on the Great Northern line between Boston and Lincoln. It was closed to all traffic on 17th June 1963 along with the section between Boston and Coningsby Junction. It remains the sole surviving station building on that section as those at Dogdyke and Langrick having long since been demolished. It was in a very derelict state for over two decades, and my pictures illustrate it during its restoration in the mid-1980's, and later, the building finally restored. It now is home to an Art Gallery. This illustration from June 1981 shows the poor state the station was in (Photo: BPR). A further illustration from April of the following year (Photo: A. Lewis). Further information about the station can be  seen here.
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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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Then & Now: Spalding Sidings

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My photos from the early to mid-1980's illustrate the rather unsual layout at Spalding also having sidings at the front of the station.  The first of these shows one of the sidings in use. The station can be seen in the distance on the left. Behind the train can be seen the roof of the large goods shed. The modern day comparison (Google Street View) shows the scene much altered. The main A151 runs in front of the station now, and much of the site occupied by the sidings is now part of a supermarket car park. The goods shed is also no more. An early map shows the position of the former sidings. Another early view with a class 08 shunter at the head of an engineering train. During the Annual Tulip Parade, Spalding was visited by many excursion trains. Space being limited, on this occasion, one of the sidings was used to park a class 114 diesel multiple unit. The area was also used as an impromptu Coach Park, hence the unusual sight of a...
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