70012 "John of Gaunt" at New Holland Pier in 1965 which had

hauled an excursiion from the Midlands via the East Lincolnshire

Line to Cleethorpes and then to Barton-on-Humber. Most of our

journey will take be over what are former Great Northern Railway

routes, this being the exception as it was on the Great Central

system. The construction of the Humber Bridge a few miles away

was to bring to an end the long era of the Humber Ferries and they

and Pier Station ceased on June 24th, 1981. The pier survives but

is currently in industrial use.

(Photo: J. Jennison)

New Holland Pier feature in the Dave's Railpic's of Lincolnshire

site, which has several views of trains, the pier and ferry

(Farringford) in 1980. Use the back button of your browser to

resume the tour on this site.

70012 "John of Gaunt" at New Holland Pier in 1965 which had

hauled an excursiion from the Midlands via the East Lincolnshire

Line to Cleethorpes and then to Barton-on-Humber. Most of our

journey will take be over what are former Great Northern Railway

routes, this being the exception as it was on the Great Central

system. The construction of the Humber Bridge a few miles away

was to bring to an end the long era of the Humber Ferries and they

and Pier Station ceased on June 24th, 1981. The pier survives but

is currently in industrial use.

Holland Town, 1975. The coal is, of course, destined for the Humber

ferry.

(Photo : John Law)

The remains of New Holland engine shed

An evening view looking towards the end of the pier.

(Slide scanned by P. Wright)

An evocative view of the signalbox at New Holland Pier shortly after closure.

(Slide scanned by P. Wright)

At Grimsby Town the through Cleethorpes to King's

Cross services had to reverse at Grimsby and D1502 (later to

become 47403) is seen backing on to the waiting carriages for the

journey south along the East Lincolnshire Main Line. 1B34,

according to a contemporary Working Timetable, was the Sunday

only 1045 ex-Cleethorpes to King's Cross run.

(Photo: N. Drewry)

King's Cross Relief on December 28th, 1964.

(Photo & Caption: J. Jennison)

Grimsby Town in June 1965. Grimsby pilot

B1 61385 awaits to haul the 1610 ex King's

Cross after arrivel (hauled by an English

Electric Type 3) tender first to Cleethorpes.

The diesel would then run on light to

Immingham shed (40B). Note the busy

gantry at Garden Street box. The picture is

a little overshadowed as I had to take it

through Garden Street car park fence !

(Photo & Caption: J. Jennison)

It was possible to avoid reversing at Grimsby

Town by using the 25 chain long goods line

between Holme Street and Goods Junctions.

The latter location features in the above

photograph with the Gasworks in the

background and Brush Type 3 at the head of

an excursion from Peterborugh North to

Cleethorpes on May 17th, 1964.

(Photo: J. Jennison)

A Sunday afternoon late 1975. A Brush Type 4 is at the

head of a long Grimsby - King's Cross passenger train

and is stabled on the goods only section of the Louth

branch outside Grimsby Town station. the Goods Junction

box can be seen in the upper right of the picture with the

Gas Works behind. By then the avoiding line was no

longer operational.

(Photo & Caption: J. Jennison)

Having left Grimsby Town we now head south

on the East Lincs. Line to Peaks Tunnel.

The above view, looking towards Grimsby,

shows the 1546 ex-Peterborough North to

Grimsby dmu approaching the tunnel on

December 27th, 1964. All this stretch has

now vanished into the Peaks Parkway.

(Photo: J. Jennison)

The Sunday morning Grimsby to King's Cross train, hauled by English

Electric Type 3, approaching Hainton Street (Welholme Road)

Crossing box in February 1964. This location is now occupied by the

Peakes Parkway.

(Photo & Caption: J. Jennison)

A copy of a handbill advertising an excursion from Cleethorpes to London for

the F.A. Cup Final on May 1st, 1965. A written note on it reveals that it was

formed of 12 carriages hauled by D1548 (later 47433).

(R.L. Waite Collection)

several dmu rail tours from Louth prior to its complete closure.

A class 114 set, which would bo doubt have operated over the

route when it was open to passengers, is seen at Waltham. The

station here closed to passengers on September 11th, 1961,

and when this photograph was taken in 1980, the line was goods

only and the former main line reduced to single track. The

removal of most signal boxes meant that train crew were required

to open and close the level crossing gates as can be seen in the

above view. Hard to imagine this was once a main line !

(Photo: LEYTR Collection)

of Holton-le-Clay. The station here closed to

passengers on July 4th, 1955, and was one of

eleven intermediate stations between Grimsby

and Louth, viz. Hainton Street Halt, Weelsby

Road Halt, Waltham, Holton Village Halt,

Holton-le-Clay,Grainsby Halt, North Thoresby,

Ludborough, Utterby Halt and Fotherby Halt.

English Electric Type 3 D6814 (which later

became 37114) hauling the 1055 Cleethorpes

to King's Cross on Sunday, January 30th, 1966.

Interestingly the locomotive is still in use (now

almost 40 years old) and has since been named

"City of Worcester". Ironically, it returned to

what is left of the East Lincolnshire line in 1998

when it was used on route learning duties along

the Skegness branch and is featured as such

on the Diesel Variety at Skegness feature in

this site !

(Photo: J. Jennison)

Class 20s could initially be regularly found hauling the weekdays

Grimsby - Louth goods after closure of the East Lincs. system.

Here, a shot taken in June 1971, shows the returning goods at

Grainsby Halt; now really labour intensive with all the crossing

gates.

(Photo & Caption: J. Jennison)

Brush Type 4 passes North Thoresby on the

1400 Peterborough to Grimsby. North Thoresby

was the only intermediate station between

Grimsby and Louth to remain open up to the

closure of the route.

(Photo: J. Jennison)

1350 Peterborough North to Grimsby Town

approaching.

(Photo: J. Jennison)

Louth North signalbox. On May 24th, 1964, B1

4-6-0 61223 passes the location on the 1400

Peterborough North to Grimsby. Although the

track has long since been lifted, the signalbox

remains in preservation.

(Photo: J. Jennison)

was the first section of the route to open on March 1st, 1848. Louth was also the junction for

a scenic branch to Bardney (closed to passengers on November 5th, 1951) and Mablethorpe.

Whilst the Grimsby - Firsby section of the ELR closed to passengers on October 5th, 1970,

the section between Louth and Grimsby remained open to freight until December 28th, 1980.

The pictures above are of the last passenger train to travel the full route of the ELR on a

Lincolnshire Standard Group special to King's Cross on May 4th, 1970.

(Photos: LEYTR Collection)

Grimsby - Louth Railway Preservation Society had organised a number

of dmu charters from Louth - the last one which ran to Grimsby on

December 20th, 1980, are illustrated below. A short section of the route

at Ludborough is now in operation as a preserved railway. Thankfully,

despite several attempts, the fine station building at Louth survived

demolition and is currently in residential use. The first excursion is

shown in the bottom photo.

More pictures of the Grimsby to Louth route pre-closure and the

preserved section of line at Ludborough, can be found at another site:

Dave's Railpics of Lincolnshire & UK Heritage Railways

more pictures of the station can be found on the Louth site.

(Photo: LEYTR Collection)

(Photo : D.N. Robinson)

Legbourne Road, Authorpe and Aby for Claythorpe. Legbourne Road

is featured in this 1906 view looking north. It was closed to passengers

on December 12th, 1953 and in more recent times served as a Railway

Museum which has, sadly, since closed.

used up to the station's closure in 1970. No doubt both would fetch a

hefty price at a railwayana auction these days !

(Photo : H.D. Martineau)

operated between the 1884 and 1889 following the course of what is

now the A1111 road. The shed was located near to Alford station in

premises currently owned by coach operator F. Hunt - interestingly,

when work was done on the premises some of the original rails were

uncovered !

railway museum until a few years ago and is featured elsewhere on this site),

Authorpe, Aby and Alford, and we reach Willoughby which was the juction

for the branch to Mablethorpe. We will have a quick trip down there next.

Before this, we have chance to look at three views of the station. Its

immaculate gardens won awards. The footbridge was reused at a fish farm

at Burgh-le-Marsh. The bottom view shows Colwick B1 61285 at the head

of a train from Mablethorpe joining the ELR and, no doubt, packed with

holidaymakers bound for the Midlands !

(All photos: A. Cartwright collection)