Along Closed Lines (Part Three)

Horncastle - Woodhall Junction - Louth

 

 

The 7½ mile Horncastle branch first opened on August 11th, 1855 and closed to passengers on September 13th, 1954. It remained open to goods until April 5th, 1971. The exterior of the Horncastle terminus is shown here in this 1980 view. Sadly the building was reduced to rubble five years later.

 

A general view of the station area. The station can be seen on the left as can the authentic railway gate. Whilst the station house has been demolished, the Malthouse on the right (once rail served) still survives.

 

A view of the main station building from the railway side. The fact that the site was owned by Bush Tyres is quite obvious from this view !

 

Another view of the Horncastle terminus, the trackbed surprisingly clear.

 

A view looking towards the terminus from the trackbed of the branch.

 

The first two miles of the branch ran parallel to the Horncastle Canal which is illustrated in this view looking towards Horncastle, the trackbed of the railway is visible on the left now occupied by a line of trees.

 

Much of the trackbed between Horncastle and Woodhall Spa is part of the long distance Viking Way public footpath. Some way south of the previous view are the remains of this linesman's shelter. The view looks towards Horncastle.

 

A view looking along the trackbed towards Horncastle and the bridge which carries the B1191 Woodhall Spa to Horncastle Road.

 

Nearing Woodhall Spa the tree lined embankment makes a particularly attractive walk.

 

This car park was once the location of Woodhall Spa railway station !

 

Over the road from the previous photograph is more substantial evidence of the existence of the former railway - the road sign displays "Station Road" and the trackbed looking towards Woodhall Junction can be clearly seen.

 

Proceeding towards Woodhall Junction is the crossing of the minor road to Kirktead Abbey. The crossing house is still very much in evidence in this view looking towards Horncastle.

 

A view showing the point where the Horncastle branch diverged from the GNR Boston - Lincoln loop line. The tower of Woodhall Junction station can just be seen beyond on the left whilst the branch to Horncastle heads off by the pole on the right.

 

Woodhall Junction as viewed from the trackbed looking north.

 

Woodhall Junction Station and platform.

 

An exterior view of Woodhall Junction.

 

A view of Woodhall Junction from the road bridge looking south along the trackbed. The fact that the "loop" ran along the bank of the River Witham is clearly illustrated here.

 

Bardney has not been included as it is featured elsewhere in this site. Please click on this link to be taken there.

 

 

Wragby lost its passenger service along with the rest of the line on November 5th, 1951 but remained open to freight until February 1st, 1960, when it became the terminus of the route from Bardney following the closure of the section between Wragby and December 1st, 1958. The station house is in an excellent condition and now serves as a private dwelling.

 

Another view of Wragby, this time from the railway side of the station. A section of the platform edging can just be seen below the bush on the right.

 

Another view of the 558 yard South Willingham tunnel.

(Slide scanned by P. Wright)

 

A view from the inside of the tunnel.

(Slide scanned by P. Wright)

 

There are only a few railway tunnels in Lincolnshire but the Louth to Bardney branch which crossed the Wolds had two. The longest of is the 971 yard Withcall Tunnel which caused much problems in its construction due to poor weather and water accumulating. The view on the right looks towards Bardney and shows the eastern portal.

© Photo kindly supplied by Nigel & Shirley Appleby . This must not be reproduced in any form without prior permission of the photographers.

 

A view of the western end of the Withcall tunnel. Note the chalk face exposed above the portal.

(Slide scanned by P. Wright)

 

The platform at Withcall still remains as is illustrated in this view. For a number of years the former wooden station building was used as a Methodist Chapel, but sadly has since been demolished.

© Photo kindly supplied by Nigel & Shirley Appleby . This must not be reproduced in any form without prior permission of the photographers.

 

The scenic nature of the Bardney branch is aptly illustrated by this view of the trackbed between Hallington and Withcall looking towards Bardney aptly demonstrates this.

 

The station house at Hallington still survives and there is a story of a ghost freight train which has been heard passing through it. It was closed to passengers on November 5th, 1951 and the station house has since been turned into a private dwelling.

We end the tour of disused lines here as this was the final station on the line before Louth.

 

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