Bygone Railways of East Lincolnshire

Tulip Parade Day at Spalding on 5th May 1984, sees the Stourton Saloon stabled at one of the sidings. This Class 100 Gloucester RC&W unit was constructed in 1957/8 and allocated to the Scottish Region to work Edinburgh suburban services. DMBS 51122 and DTCL 56300 were converted to Departmental use in 1977 and renumbered, respectively, 975644 and 975637. They appear in their BR blue livery, and around two years later were repainted into a predominantly light blue livery. They were scrapped by Mayer Newman, Snailwell, in August 1990.

Summer 1982, a Class 114 diesel multiple unit with E56003 leading, is seen at the sidings near Boston station with the Tower of St Botolph's church dominating the background. This will have waited for the 2D10 0740 to Doncaster to depart and clear the platform  before forming the 2D63 0810 service to Grantham. The Yellow Line beneath the roof shows that First Class accommodation was still available even on local services although would be withdrawn by May the following year and  accommodation downgraded for use by Second Class ticket holders.  Passengers from Skegness, myself included, had travelled by a connecting bus service (ex 0625) as this was an era when the line between Boston and Skegness had no early morning/late evening trains as an ecomomy measure introduced on 3rd October 1977; a situation that would continue until the introduction of the 15th May 1989 timetable. 56013 was new in December 1956 (as 54013), and was withdrawn in March 1989, and scrapp...

Yesterday marked 50th anniversary of the closure of the branch line to Horncastle. Opened on 11th August 1855 between Kirkstead (subsequently renamed Woodhall Junction), with one intermediate station at Woodhall Spa. Passenger trains ceased on 13th September 1954 after which the line continued to be served by goods trains only until 5th April 1971. The following cuttings are from 1978 issues of the Horncastle News , and their look back into earlier issues covering the opening of the line.

The following illustrated article was first published in the October 1980 issue of the Lincolnshire Life  magazine. Willoughby station, August 1970 Somersault signal (GNR) at Willoughby. Milk churns by Willoughby signal box. Mablethorpe station, August 1970 Firsby Station Tumby Woodside station

An illustrated article about the closure of railways in East Lincolnshire first published in the November 1970 issue of the Lincolnshire Life  magazine. Looking south from Firsby as a diesel multiple unit with van arrives on a train for Grimsby Town. Mr. C. Butler of Boston has worked 47 years on the railway. He knew the line from Bardney to Louth which was one of the first to be closed. A collection of hand lamps that have been in use at Woodhall Junction. This decorative and rare piece of cast iron is to be seen at Woodhall Junction - a Victorian Gentleman's wash-house.  Burgh-le-Marsh station boasts a replica of the windmill which is such a noted landmark across the marsh on the Skegness road. Many of the lamp standards on Woodhall Junction station still bear the initials G.N.R. for this line between Boston to Lincoln was originally on the main London to Ed...

The following observations from our area were recorded in various railway journals. A notable arrival at Immingham depot on June 10 was A4 No. 60022. The purpose of its visit was apparent two days later when it took over at Grimsby Town a private excursion, titled "The Lincolnshire Poacher", from Alford to Edinburgh. The A4 did not pursue its usual path to the north for the train was routed via the Leeds - Carlisle and Waverly routes, pausing at Hellifield, Appleby and Hawick for the Pacific to take water. (Trains Illustrated, August 1960) The first 2-10-0s noted at Skegness were on May 30 and 31, when Nos. 92188 and 92202 respectively appeared to move coaches from their winter store there. Amongs Whit Sunday excursions to this resort was one from King's Cross hauled throughout by Brush Type 2 diesel No. D5615, also making the debut of its type at Skegness. (Trains Illustrated, August 1960) The "Britannia" Pacifics at Immingham are now being employed...