A Virtual Tour

of

East Lincolnshire Railways

Bardney to Louth (via Mablethorpe)

We are grateful to LJ for providing the following stills from some early cine film of East Lincolnshire railways. Unfortunately the quality is not brilliant but hopefully this will not spoil your enjoyment of these rare colour pictures.

Departing from Bardney we look back towards the station and the platform from which Louth branch trains departed. The station buildings were removed some years ago and currently await re-assembly on the Nene Valley Railway.

Stixwould was one of a number of small halts on the branch which, although serving a small population, due to the close proximity of the River Witham which the line followed, were popular with fishermen.

Arriving at Woodhall Junction. Until September 12th, 1954, when the branch was closed to passengers, it was possible to connect here with trains to Horncastle. At the time this photograph was taken the branch was still open to freight traffic.

A class 114 dmu at Woodhall Junction.

The same dmu heads off to Firsby.

Coningsby Junction box. Diverging towards the right can be seen the trackbed of the former route to Boston which was closed on June 17th, 1963.

Coningsby, the first station on the "New Line".

Coningsby box.

Looking back towards Coningsby box and the station in the distance.

The next station was Tumby Woodside. Looking towards Bellwater we see the signalbox and the blue enamel station on the right.

Still in green livery, a Firsby-bound dmu arrives at Tumby Woodside.

Arriving at New Bolingbroke.

New Bolingbroke box and a Great Northern somersault signal.

Stickney station.

Approaching Midville Station.

Looking back towards Midville Station.

Approaching Bellwater Junction, the point where the "New Line" joined with the East Lincolnshire Main Line. Note the GNR somersault signal in the foreground.

Bellwater Junction signalbox which is still operational today.

Approaching Firsby South.

Firsby South box. The East Lincolnshire Main Line continues directly ahead whilst the avoiding line to join the Skegness branch can be seen diverging towards the right.

The opening of the Firsby South Curve in 1881 enabled trains heading between Skegness and destinations south and west to avoid having to reverse at Firsby. A Skegness to the Midlands-bound class 47 is seen on the curve as it joins the main line.

Continuing north along the East Lincolnshire line, we near Firsby. On the right can be seen the Skegness branch.

Approaching Firsby station.

Entering Firsby station alongside platform 1 as the train passes over the level crossing.

A Skegness-bound dmu stands on Platform 1 at Firsby.

Another view of Firsby from the south with a class 105 "Cravens" dmu in platform 1 and a crowd gathering on platform 3 for a connecting dmu to Skegness. Note the complex layout of the crossing gates.

A class 31 heads south through Firsby on a through train from Mablethorpe.

A class 114 arrives on platform 1 beneath the impressive roof.

A view of a 114 dmu from the footbridge.

Looking back down platform 1 as our dmu pulls away.

Firsby North box.

The next station on the East Lincolnshire line was Burgh-le-Marsh.

A view of the signalbox and very neat platform at Burgh-le-Marsh.

Looking back towards Burgh-le-Marsh and the level crowwing which carries the main Skegness - Lincoln road. The buildings and signalbox still survive today. Just visible in the background is the goods shed which used to house a railway museum a few years ago.

Proceeding north and the train approaches Orby crossing box.

Approaching Willoughby station. A section of the footbridge survives at a fishing centre near Burgh-le-Marsh.

Willoughby was the junction for the branch to Mablethorpe. As the train pulls into the station, a dmu can be seen waiting in the bay platform on a connecting service to Mablethorpe.

Viewed from the footbridge are two class 25's hauling a passenger train south along the East Lincolnshire line.

Two 114 dmu's meet at Willoughby.

We leave the East Lincolnshire line for a brief trip down the Mablethorpe branch. Here we have a view of the bay platform prior to departure.

The train pulls out of WIlloughby.

Willoughby Junction box.

Just beyond Willoughby Junction box we continue along the Mablethorpe branch leaving the East Lincolnshire line which can be seen diverging to the left. Note the GNR somersault signal just ahead.

A view from the other side of the train as it heads towards the cooast.

The first station along the branch was Mumby Road, a location some distance away from the village of Mumby and, for that matter, any other settlement ! Its only significance being that it provided a passing loop along this predominantly single track branch.

Looking east from Mumby Road can be seen the station house and road bridge, both of whiich still survive today.

A view looking back towards Mumby Road station.

Arriving at Sutton-on-Sea.

A view of Sutton-on-Sea showing a class 114 dmu departing for Mablethorpe.

At Mablethorpe a class 31 arrives with a through train.

At Mablethorpe loking north, the 31 shown in the previous view has been detatched from the train. The line originally continued beyond here to Louth. This section of the route closed on December 5th, 1960. Another GNR somersault signal can be clearly seen.

Mablethorpe signalbox.

A view of Mablethorpe from the footbridge.

Returning to Willoughby we continue our journey along the East Lincolnshire line. Willoughby Junction box can be seen as can the branch to Mablethorpe diverging to the right.

Looking back towards Willoughby station.

Approaching Alford Town. The statiuon building still exists.

A view looking back towards Alford Town.

Aby was one of three intermediate stations between Alford and Louth all having closed some time before the axeing of the line itself. Aby (or Aby for Claythorpe to give it its full title) was closed to passengers on September 11th, 1961.

Authorpe was the following station. It closed on the same date as Aby.

Arriving at Louth and a view of "up" platform and the South Box.

Finally, we arrive at Louth. This view shows the "down" platform. Rather uniquely for Lincolnshire, access to the "up" platform was by means of a subway which can be seen just beyond the gent on the platform towards the left. Thankfully, the main station building survives although the environs are now unrecognisable from this scene.