Remains of the East Lincolnshire Main Line (Burgh-le-Marsh to Firsby)

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BURGH-LE-MARSH STATION

Opened to Passengers: 3rd September 1848
Opened to Goods; 3rd September 1848
Closed to Passengers: 5th October 1970
Closed to Goods: 2nd May 1966
Notes: Opened as "Burgh" and was renamed " Burgh-le-Marsh" from 1st July 1923. Until the opening of the railway to Skegness in 1873, was the railhead for the town and linked by horse drawn omnibus. In the 1960's it would also become the railhead for Skegness when winter Sunday train services were withdrawn and replaced by a Lincolnshire Road Car bus service to/from Burgh-le-Marsh, which lasted until the closure of the Station. 

Photographs of Burgh-le-Marsh in the steam era (LEYTR COLLECTION)
An extract from the 1923 ABC Guide.
Extract from the 1861 Bradshaw's Handbook.

An extract from an early Ordnance Survey Map showing the layout of the Station.
The Station in the final months before permanent closure (Photo: D. Robinson/Lincolnshire Life).
The once well kept gardens won the Station many prizes over the years  as illustrated in this article from a 1966 newspaper.
The model of the Town's windmill was a feature on the platform, illustrated below (LEYTR Collection).
More information about Burgh-le-Marsh Station can be seen here.

From around 1989 until 1997 the Goods Shed was used as a Railway Museum. A couple of items from there are illustrated below.
Article from a local Newspaper on the sad end to the Museum. Please click on the image to see a larger version.
The Goods Shed on 5th October 2020.
A couple of views of views showing the Goods Shed in the background during the steam era (LEYTR Collection).
An aerial view showing the Station Area (Google Earth).

My 1987 view of the Goods Shed taken on a walk of the trackbed from Firsby. Looking at the aerial view above, this now appears to be very overgrown and some buildings have also been constucted in the vicinity.
A little further south along the trackbed looking in the direction of Burgh-le-Marsh station, the Goods Shed visible in the distance. Britannia 70038 "Robin Hood" passes on a Cleethorpes to King's Cross express. Entering service at Stratford on 29th January 1953, it was transferred to Immingham from 28th October 1961, thence to Carlisle Upperby on 7th December 1963. It was withdrawn from Carlisle Kingmoor on 12th August 1967 and cut up in December the same year (LEYTR Collection).
My 1987 photo from approximately the same position.
More photos from the trackbed in 1987 gradually working South on the edge of the Gunby Estate and looking in the direction of Burgh-le-Marsh.

Still in 1987, now looking South from the trackbed. The Crossing House at North Road can be see in the distace and further down the line, the Mill Lane Crossing House.
NORTH ROAD LEVEL CROSSING, BRATOFT
In 1987 the a section of the trackbed from North Lane towards Burgh-le-Marsh was a public footpath. 
A contemporary view looking North towards Burgh-le-Marsh. The sign in the gate pictured above can just be seen albeit rather more weathered (Google Street View).
Looking South towards Firsby (Google Street View).
The Crossing House (Google Street View).
Site of the former Level Crossing looking West (Google Street View).
Site of the former Level Crossing looking East (Google Street View).
MILL LANE LEVEL CROSSING, BRATOFT

Looking North towards Burgh-le-Marsh (Google Street View).
The Crossing House appears to have undergone much extension / alteration (Google Street View).
The site of the former Level Crossing looking West (Google Street View).

The former Level Crossing looking East (Google Street View).

Returning to 1987, and just north of Firsby, a view along the trackbed towards Burgh-le-Marsh. Mill Lane Crossing House can be seen as can North Road in the distance.
FIRSBY STATION

Opened to Passengers: 3rd September 1848
Opened to Goods: 3rd September 1848
Closed to Passengers: 5th October 1970
Closed to Goods: 7th December 1964
Notes: Firsby was once an important Junction on the East Lincolnshire Main Line with connections for Skegness, Spilsby, and Lincoln (via the "New Line"). The once busy nature of the station is illustrated in another article in this Blog which can be viewed  here.

An extract from the July 1923 ABC Guide
Extract from Bradshaw's 1861 Handbook.
An annotated early Ordnance Survey Map showing the layout of railways around Firsby.
An extract from an early Ordnance Survey Map showing the layout of the Station.
BR Eastern Region totem which was photographed when on display at the former Legbourne Railway Museum.
More information about Firsby Station can be seen here.

The large Good Shed, photographed in 1987 and still exists today.
Also in 1987, the former Weigh Office which also still exists.
Approach road to the Station on 5th October 2020.
The exterior of the Station when open. All that now remains is the first section of the building (Photo: msl man).
The impressive portico entrance (Photo: Lincolnshire Life).
The last remaining section on 5th October 2020. 

View of the Station House in 1987.
A similar view on 5th October 2020
The once impressive interior of Firsby (Photo: Lincolnshire Life)

All that remained in 1987.
Platform side views of the Station House on 5th October 2020.
A pre-Closure view of the Station.
Another pre-Closure view taken from near to the Level Crossing (LEYTR Archive).
A comparison view to the above from 1987.
Contemporary view from approximately the same position as the above photos (Google Street View).
Looking West towards the former B1195/Station Road Level Crossing (Google Street View).
Looking East towards the former B1195/Station Road Level Crossing (Google Street View).
The Crossing House on 5th October 2020.
A short section of the platform near the Crossing House still remains on 5th October 2020, fifty years after closure.

A view from the Station looking South towards the Level Crossing (LEYTR Archive).
A comparison view taken on 5th October 2020, slightly further back and at a lower angle.
The trackbed looking South towards Boston from the site of the former Level Crossing on 5th October 2020.
This page is dedicated to the late John R. Thornley (1935-2016), who lived at the Station House for many years and who's father also worked at Firsby.

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