FAREWELL TO ST. MARK'S (1)

The Station

 

 

A chalk notice marks the end of an era for Lincoln St. Marks station.

This historic location was not only on the first railway in Lincoln, but indeed the first in Lincolnshire and was opened to passengers by the Midland Railway on August 4th, 1846.

The station was known as Lincoln Midland until September 25th, 1950, when it was renamed Lincoln St. Marks.

As the notice illustrates, the station closed after the last train on May 11th, 1985, when all services were diverted to Central Station by means of a new stretch of line west of the city. A platform ticket purchased on the last day of service is illustrated below.

 

A ticket issued on the last day of St. Marks is on the left along with some BR publicity.

 

A station sign and light from St Marks

 

A road sign on High Street points would be travellers in the right direction.

 

A view of St. Marks from the High Street level crossing looking west. At one time a roof spanned the entire station but this was removed in 1957. The Lincoln Station signal box can be seen in the distance.

 

A view of platform one looking east. Note the Royal Mail tractor unit a reminder of times when much mail and parcels were carried by rail.

 
Access between the platforms was by a crossing this crossing

 

No mistaking where you were at St. Marks !

 

A view looking west along platform two.

 

A view from platform two looking east towards High Street.

 

In spring 1978 a class 47 arrived at St. Marks hauling a rake of mk2 air conditioned carriages forming the 1250 ex Cleethorpes to King's Cross service.

 

 

A class 114 unit awaits departure forNewark Northgate.

 

A 114 crosses the busy High Street before entering St.Marks station.

 

A three car "Swindon" set arrives at St. Marks in 1995. These dmu's were frequently seen at this location. Such a pity one was not preserved. Further details about them and other dmu's can be found at The Railcar Association's website.

 

On the very last day of services a "rattler"(aka class 105 Cravens set) departs for St. Marks for Newark Northgate - those of us who rode on them will remember the familiar rattling of windows and bodywork of these units -

 

A somewhat unorthodox view of a dmu on platform one taken from a shelter on platform 2 !

 

A class 114 dmu stands on platform 1 before departing to Cleethorpes. Beside it a Swindon set is stabled on the midle road whilst a carriage off the erstwhile Lincoln - Derby parcels train is stabled on the next road.

 

Four contrasting views of St. Marks taken from (almost) the same position and aptly illustrating the fate of many derelict stations.

 

Two contrasting views of platform one looking west.
A similar view taken after track lifting.

 

Tracklifting work underway as this view of platform one illustrates.

 

Following track lifting, archaeologists can be seen on the left working on the site previously occupied by a monastry.

 

The following photographs of St. Marks and vicinity were all taken following closure. The timetable poster for the last year of services (14.05.94 - 12.05.95) remained on display long after the station shut - a hastily written note scrawled above it gives directions to Central station. The poster itself give times from "St arks on Monday to Saturdays and on undys" !

 

Two views of the up platform after closure and track lifting. The one one the right taken after the removal of the rather ugly canopy.

 

(Top Left) St. Marks station front in a very poor state of repair. (Top Right) The station building was incorporated into a shopping centre and received substantial refurbishing - a very fine job they did too ! It now incorporates an Argos store. On the left, next to the car park and on the site of the trackbed is a "mock" signal box - thankfully most of the buildings around St. Marks were built to blend in with the station - Debenhams excepted - yuk !

 

Shortly after the new shopping complex opened, the original station sign is included on the side of the "mock" signalbox.

 

 

Further information and pictures of St. Marks can be found at:

Mikes Railway Web

Midland Microcosm

 

 

 

Part Two
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