| FAREWELL TO ST.
MARK'S (2) The Boxes, Lines & Crossings |
| A reminder of those lovely times (well it was for we rail enthusiasts !) when some of the Newark Northgate - Cleethorpes runs were locomotive hauled as is illustrated by this Cleethorpes bound class 31 passing the Station box in 1995. At the time the 0730, 0938, 1335, 1505 and 1903 from Cleethorpes and the 0950, 1150, 1600, 1808, and 2149 were all diagrammed to be hauled by Immingham based class 31s - those were the days ! |  |
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In the evening, a dmu crossed the bridge over the River Witham as it approaches St. Marks station. |
| On a Sunday in 1985, the Cleethorpes to King's Cross HST passes under Pelham Bridge over the now lifted metals to St. Marks station. After St Marks closed, a section was left from Pelham Box (just behind the bridge) to serve the coal depot on the right. Sadly, this has also been closed and lifted. |  |
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A little further east from the previous photograph and taken from Pelham Bridge, this 1980 photograph shows a class 47 hauling the empty tanks from Rectory Junction to Lindsey Oil Refinery over the former St. Marks route onto the Grimsby line at Pelham Junction, the signalbox for which can just be seen on the right. |
| Although not appreciated by motorists, there were once two level crossings on Lincoln's High Street. The one we feature here is the now defunct one which carried trains from Lincoln Grimsby, Immingham and Cleethorpes. |  |
| The unusual hexagonal box on High Street still stands and is currently used as a kiosk. |  |
| Looking east from St. Mark station, the rails are still in place across the busy High Street. An excavator stands on the trackbed in the early stages of construction of the Lincoln Magistrates Court which now occupies the site. |  |
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A few images ago we saw a 125 traversing the line to St. Marks. It is hard to believe that these two sidings were once the main line. Unfortunately, they too have now been lifted. |
| A nice view of Lincoln Station signal box and the bridge over the River Witham and the famous cathedral in the distance - the fact the central tower of this magnificent building has disappeared is an illusion (my application to the Magic Circle is in the post as I write this !). Rest assured - it still stands ! |  |
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A short distance west from St. Marks, the Line crossed Beevor Road and West box was located at this level crossing. |
| Beevor Street level crossing and the West box. |  |
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A view looking towards St. Marks from Beevor Street level crossing. |
| A view looking west from Beevor Street level crossing. |  |
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This photograph, taken shortly after track lifting, shows West Box still in situ with the cathedral in the background on the left. |
| Our final view is taken through the cab of a "Swindon" dmu as it approaches Lincoln. The new chord providing a link to Central station curces away to the left whilst the trackbed of the former route to St. Marks can be seen straight ahead. |  |
| A
similar view to the previous one, this time taken from
the rear of a dmu. (Photo : N. Drewry) |
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| The day after closure of St. Marks and no time was wasted in removing signals. |
| Further information and pictures of St. Marks can be found at: |
