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The Boston parcels train with 31190 (long since withdrawn) as pictured

prior to departure from Boston in 1976. The train operated from

Peterborough via Sleaford and reversed at Boston, then proceeded via

Sleaford and Peterborough to London King's Cross. This historic view

of Boston shows the former footbridge complete with asbestos roof and

the two "middle roads", by then, long disused. Another view below

shows 31173 at the head of the train on another occasion.

A fascinating relic from the Boston parcels was this label found

discarded on the Boston "down"platform. This would have been

attached to the side of the carriage which helpfully is shown on the

label as 86702, a General Utility Van. The date is show as August 1st,

1978. An interesting aside is that the reverse has a handwritten list

of crossing and signalbox requirements on the Boston to Skegness

line (most of which since closed and automated) listing items such as

polish, meth's and toilet rolls !

From May 14th, 1979 it terminated at Peterborough instead of King's Cross. The schedules for the last year of the through working to the Capital from the timetables dated May 8th 1978 to May 13th, 1979, are shown below, the service operating Mondays to Fridays :

Down Working (D385)	4D28	Up Working (D385)	4A04
PETERBOROUGH PARCELS TERMINAL dep	14 12	BOSTON dep	1730
Werrington Junction	14 20	Swineshead	3½
SPALDING arr	14Y36	Heckington	(2½)
SPALDING dep	14Y51	SLEAFORD arr	17RR59
SLEAFORD arr	15RR15	SLEAFORD dep	18RR09
SLEAFORD dep	15RR25	SPALDING arr	18Y33
Hubberts Bridge	(4½)	SPALDING dep	18Y58
BOSTON arr	15 54	Werrington Junction	19Y16
		PETERBOROUGH PARCELS TERMINAL arr	19Y25
		PETERBOROUGH PARCELS TERMINAL dep	20Y00
		PETERBOROUGH WEST YARD arr	20Y05
		PETERBOROUGH WEST YARD dep	20Y45
		PETERBOROUGH STATION	20x55
		HUNTINGDON arr	21 13½
		HUNTINGDON dep	21 23½
		Sandy	21 37
			(2)
		HITCHIN arr	21Z56
		HITCHIN dep	22Z11
		Woolmer Green	22 22
		Potters Bar	22 30½
			(2)
		Wood Green	22 37½
		Holloway	22x43
		KINGS CROSS F.T. arr	22 48

NOTES:

RR : Stops for reversing movements or running round.

x : Point at which (a) trains run from one running line to another or (b) cross on a single line

Y : Runs to and from terminals/yards as determined by traffic demands

Z : Hitchin Yard

*3½* : Extra time for pathing requirements

(2) : Indicates the number of minutes allowed for temporary speed restrictions and other engineering work

The Supplement No.4 to the "Working Timetables of Mandatory Train

Services between Lincolnshire and Humberside" dated Janury 5th,

1981, also shows the once regular attachment of short vans to dmu's.

An example of this is illustrated below as a Peterborough North to

Grimsby Town service arrives at Firsby.

During period when the East Lncolsnhire Main Line was open, there

was a train which left Peterborough (North) at around 0307 Mo-Sa

and arrived in Grimsby Town at 0555. This train conveyed news,

parcels and mail but also passengers, as it provided an early morning

connection from Kings X at 0117. It ran as IL02 and was routed via

Spalding and Louth. Round about 1968 when the E.Lincs. was closed

at night after 10pm, it was routed via Spalding, Sleaford and Lincoln.

This train was then not advertised and so it would be a matter of luck

if there were coaches available, even though it ran as 1D09. In the

reverse direction was the 2000 Mo-Sa from Grimsby Town to

Peterborough (North). This ran as 2C57 and carried passengers, mail

and parcels, arriving in Peterborough at 2235. This train was powered

by a B1 and above is a photo from June 1964 showing 61185

approaching Peaks Tunnel on what is now the Peaks Parkway. With

dieselisation, Brush Type 2s provided the motive power and later in the

60s when the train left some 10mins. later from Grimsby, it was double

headed with Brush 2s. With E.Lincs. closure it was routed via Lincoln

and Newark.

(Photo and text : John Jennison)