Remains of the East Lincolnshire Main Line (Louth, Stewton Lane to Alford)

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A look along the course of the East Lincolnshire Main Line between Louth and Alford using a combination of contemporary images from Google Street View, and some from my archives.

An extract from a well-worn Bradshaw's 1950 map showing the railways in the area.
Gradient Profile of the Northern Section.of the East Lincolnshire Main Line (from "British Main Line Gradient Profiles").

STEWTON LANE LEVEL CROSSING

An extract from the Ordnance Survey 1: 25,000 map (1957) which shows the position of the Level Crossing on the East Lincolnshire Main Line.

My photo from Stewton Lane Crossing looking south in 1984. The former Mablethorpe branch diverged a short distance from here.
A more recent image of the same location (Google Street View).
B1200 LEVEL CROSSING

Site of Level Crossing looking West (Google Street View).
Site of Level Crossing looking East (Google Street View).
Trackbed looking South towards Alford (Google Street View).
Trackbed looking North towards Louth (Google Street View).
Crossing House (Google Street View).
A surprising survivor is this Hut once used by Permanent Way staff (Google Street View).
LEGBOURNE ROAD STATION

Opened to Passengers: 3rd September 1848
Opened to Goods: 3rd September 1848
Closed to Passengers: 7th December 1953
Closed to Goods: 15th June 1964
Notes: Originally named "LEGBOURNE", changed to "LEGBOURNE ROAD" from May 1880.

Extract from the July 1923 ABC Guide.
Extract from an c.1888 Ordnance Survey Map
For a few years, until 1998, a Railway Museum occupied part of the building. My 1997 photographs show some of the many exhibits, most of which were auctioned when the Museum Closed.
View looking West towards the Station and site of the level crossing.
Two more recent views of the station taken on 5th October 2020.
The Signalbox was relocated here and was Tramway Crossing on the Willoughby - Sutton-on-Sea line. You can read more about it in this blog here.
Trackbed looking towards Alford (Google Street View).
Trackbed looking towards Louth (Google Street View). 
MILL LANE LEVEL CROSSING, LEGBOURNE

Looking North along trackbed towards Louth (Google Street View).
Looking South along trackbed towards Alford, now built on (Google Street View).
Looking West towards crossing (Google Street View).
Looking East towards crossing (Google Street View).
Extract from Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 map 1950 showing the area.
WOOD LANE LEVEL CROSSING, LEGBOURNE

Trackbed Looking North (Google Street View).
Trackbed looking South (Google Street View).
RAILWAY STATION, AUTHORPE

Opened to Passengers: 3rd September 1848
Opened to Goods: 3rd September 1848
Closed to Passengers: 11th September 1961
Closed to Goods: 30th March 1964

Extract from the July 1923 ABC Guide.

Train Services (Weekdays Only) 12th June - 10th September 1961

0626 Peterborough North
0844 Grimsby Town
1019 Grimsby Town
1221 Grimsby Town (Mondays to Fridays)
1310 Grimsby Town (Saturdays Only)
1543 Boston (Mondays to Fridays)
1548 Peterborough North (Saturdays Only)
1616 Peterborough North (Mondays to Fridays)
1618 Peterborough North (Saturdays Only)
1737 Peterborough North (Saturdays Only)
1741 Peterborough North (Mondays to Fridays)

Sundays

1057 King's Cross
1609 Grimsby Town

Extract from an c.1888 Ordnance Survey Map.
Looking East towards the Station and site of Level Crossing (Google Street View).
The Station House (Google Street View).
Trackbed looking North (Google Street View).
Trackbed looking South (Google Street View)
ABY FOR CLATHORPE STATION

Opened to Passengers: 3rd September 1848
Opened to Goods: 3rd September 1848
Closed to Passengers: 11th September 1961
Closed to Goods: 11th September 1961
Notes: Originally named "CLAYTHORPE". Renamed "ABY FOR CLAYTHORPE" from 1st November 1885. 

Extract from Bradshaw's Handbook 1861.
Extract from the July 1923 ABC Guide.
Train Services (Weekdays) 12th June - 10th September 1961

0630 Peterborough North
0859 Boston (Mondays to Fridays)
0900 Peterborough North (Saturdays Only)
0840 Grimsby Town
1015 Grimsby Town
1217 Grimsby Town (Mondays to Fridays)
1307 Grimsby Town (Saturday)
1546 Boston (Mondays to Fridays)
1551 Peterborough North (Saturdays Only)
1619 Peterborough North (Mondays to Fridays)
1622 Peterborough North (Saturdays Only)
1711 Grimsby Town (Mondays to Fridays)
1722 Grimsby Town (Saturdays Only)
1740 Peterborough North (Saturdays Only)

Sundays

1101 King's Cross
1605 Grimsby Town

Extracts from a c.1988 Ordnance Survey Map.
The station house as it was during my visit in the mid-1980's.
Later view of the Station House (Google Street View)
Goods Shed still extant (Google Street View).
Tracbed looking towards Louth (Google Street View).
Trackbed looking towards Alford (Google Street View)
Aerial view. Trackbed can be clearly discerned along the middle of the photo (Google Earth).
Bridge carrying line over Road as it was when I visited in the mid-1980's.
More recent view of the same bridge, again looking East (Google Street View).
Bridge looking West (Google Street View).
GREENFIELD LANE LEVEL CROSSING

Crossing House and site of level crossing looking east (Google Street View).
Crossing House and level crossing looking West (Google Street View).
Trackbed looking towards Louth (Google Street View).
Trackbed looking towards Alford (Google Street View).
OFF TOTHBY LANE

The tracbed of the railway crosses where the line of bushes are; left towards Alford; right towards Louth (Google Street View).
Aerial view of the same location, the trackbed again clearly discerbable in the middle of the photo (Google Earth).
ALFORD TOWN

Extract from Bradshaw's 1861 Handbook.
The aerial view shows the course of the railway and where it has been built on. The site of the station on the bottom of the photo (Google Earth).
Looking North from the site of Station Road level crossing. The trackbed has now been built on. The line if trees in the background above the roof mark where the railway once was (Google Street View) 
Looking towards Alford Town station from the site of Station Road level crossing (Google Street View).
An Ordnance Survey map showing Alford Town station.

Exterior of Alford Town station taken on 5th October 2020, 50 years to the day it, and the railway to Firsby and to Louth, permanently closed to all traffic. 
Trackbed from the Station looking North towards Louth.
Trackbed from the former Station platform looking South towards Firsby.
Aerial view of Alford Station. The original part of the building can be seen on the right. The tracbed is now covered with industrial units and a Car Park (Google Earth).
Timetable for the East Lincolnshire line from the British Rai book dated from. 15th September 1952.

For the next stage of the route from Well High Lane Level Crossing to Burgh-le-Marsh, please CLICK HERE

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