Lincolnshire Wolds Railway facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lincolnshire Wolds Railway |
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Fulstow no. 2 at Ludborough
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| Locale | Lincolnshire, England |
| Terminus | Ludborough railway station |
| Commercial operations | |
| Name | London and North Eastern Railway |
| Built by | East Lincolnshire Railway |
| Original gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Preserved operations | |
| Operated by | Lincolnshire Wolds Railway |
| Stations | 5 (2 reopened so far) |
| Length | 1.5 miles (2.4 km) |
| Preserved gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Commercial history | |
| Opened | 1848 |
| Closed | 1961 passengers, 1965 goods, line closed and abandoned 1980 |
| Preservation history | |
| 1984 | Society moves into derelict station at Ludborough |
| 1998 | line reopened |
| 2008 | line relaid to North Thoresby |
| 26 August 2009 | North Thoresby reopened |
| Headquarters | Ludborough |
The Lincolnshire Wolds Railway (LWR) is a special heritage railway in Lincolnshire, England. It's the only steam railway in Lincolnshire that uses the standard track width and is open to everyone! The railway is based at Ludborough station, which is close to Louth.
This railway was once part of the big Great Northern Railway (GNR). This old rail system started way back in 1848. It used to connect towns like Grimsby, Louth, and other parts of East Lincolnshire with London. The Lincolnshire Wolds Railway has even won national awards for its great work in preserving railway history!
Contents
History of the Railway Line
The railway line was built a long time ago, starting in 1846. It was finished and officially opened in 1848. This first part of the line ran from Louth to New Holland. It was built by a company called the East Lincolnshire Railway Co (ELR).
The ELR leased the line to the Great Northern Railway (GNR) because they didn't have enough money to run it themselves. The GNR then connected this line to other routes. This allowed trains to travel from Grimsby all the way to Boston. Famous GNR steam engines, like the C12 locomotives, used to run on this line.
Changes Over the Years
In 1923, the Great Northern Railway became part of a bigger company. This new company was called the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER). The LNER made some improvements to the line. They updated the railway signals to a newer type.
Later, in 1948, all the railways in Great Britain were taken over by the government. This created a new company called British Railways. British Railways kept the line open for many years. At first, steam trains carried passengers. Later, these were replaced by diesel multiple units, which are like modern passenger trains.
The Line's Closure
British Railways announced in 1965 that the line would close. This was part of a big plan to cut costs, known as the Beeching cuts. Many people in the local area were against the closure. Because of this strong opposition, the line stayed open for a while longer.
However, in 1969, British Railways finally got permission to close the line. The last passenger train ran on 5 October 1970. The railway tracks were quickly removed from the section between Firsby Junction and Louth.
A part of the line, from Louth to Grimsby, stayed open for another 10 years. It was used only for carrying grain three times a week. But in 1978, British Railways said this service would also stop. They planned to remove all the tracks.
Saving the Railway
A group of people formed the Grimsby-Louth Group to try and save the line. When it became clear the line would close, they changed their name. They became the Grimsby-Louth Railway Preservation Society. Their goal was to keep the line running.
Despite their efforts, British Rail closed the line completely on 20 December 1980. They quickly removed the tracks, wooden sleepers, and even the stones (ballast). This made it much harder for anyone to restore the railway.
Preservation Efforts Begin
Even though the line was closed, people didn't give up. In 1984, efforts began to rebuild Ludborough Station. British Rail had almost completely destroyed the site. All the buildings were gone, and even the platform edges were removed. The tracks and ballast were also taken away.
The preservationists worked hard to bring the station back to life. In 1991, they got a special permission called a Light Railway Order. This allowed them to rebuild the railway line between Waltham and Louth.
On 30 August 2003, a historic steam engine, LNER Class Y7 No. 68088, steamed on the Lincolnshire Wolds Railway. This was a big moment for the volunteers. The railway line was extended towards North Thoresby. On 26 August 2009, the first train ran between Ludborough and North Thoresby in 47 years!
Today, work continues to extend the track further south from Ludborough station. This includes building a new entrance to the engine shed. The railway also launched an appeal in 2012 to buy more track and ballast for future extensions.
How the Railway Operates
Ludborough station has been beautifully restored. It looks just like it did in the past. It's now a working station museum, complete with an old-fashioned signal box that still works!
The railway currently runs for about 1.75 miles (2.8 km) northwards to North Thoresby. You can ride on trains pulled by both steam and diesel locomotives. One of their diesel locomotives, D3167, has a special connection to the area. It used to work as a shunter at Lincoln Central station for many years.
Railway Signalling
The signalling system on the Lincolnshire Wolds Railway is simple but very important. It helps control the trains safely. There are two main signal boxes in use:
- Ludborough: This signal box was built on the foundations of the original one. It looks very similar to the old box. It was officially opened in 2005. Inside, it has a large lever frame with 18 levers. These levers came from another railway location in Grimsby. Visitors can often go inside the box with permission from the signalman.
- North Thoresby: This signal box is located at the end of the platform. It has a smaller lever frame with seven levers, all of which are used. Its main job is to control the sidings (side tracks) and the main line at the platform.
Ludborough station uses special signals called GNR somersault signals. North Thoresby, however, uses the more common upper quadrant signals.
Future Plans for the LWR
The original dream of reopening the entire line from Louth to Grimsby is no longer possible. A new road, the A16 Peaks Parkway, was built over part of the old railway line. This means the railway cannot extend all the way to Grimsby.
However, the Lincolnshire Wolds Railway still has big plans! They hope to rebuild about 9 miles (14 km) of the track. This would connect a new station at Louth to Holton-le-Clay.
Stations on the LWR
The Lincolnshire Wolds Railway has several stations, some open and some planned for the future:
- Holton Le Clay – This is planned to be the northern end of the line in the future.
- North Thoresby – This station reopened in 2009.
- Ludborough – This station reopened in 1998 and is the main base.
- Fotherby – This station is currently closed.
- Louth North – This is planned to be the southern end of the line in the future.
Locomotives at the LWR
The railway has a collection of locomotives, including both steam and diesel engines. Some are ready to run, while others are being repaired or restored.
Steam Locomotives (Working)
- Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST 'Spitfire' (built 1929): This engine returned to service in 2015 after being repaired.
Steam Locomotives (Under Repair)
- Peckett 0-4-0ST 'Lion' (built 1914): This engine is currently in the shed being repaired.
- Peckett 0-4-0ST 'Fulstow no. 2' (built 1928): This engine needs a boiler inspection and repairs.
- RSH 0-6-0T 'Zebedee' (built 1949): This engine is currently being repaired.
- SJ B Class 4-6-0 No.1313' (built 1918): This is a very big project that will take many years to restore.
Diesel Locomotives (Working)
- BR Class 08 no. D3167 (also known as 08102): This is a common type of shunting locomotive.
- W.G. Bagnall 0-6-0DM no. 3151 "Debbie DL2".
Diesel Locomotives (Under Repair)
- Ruston & Hornsby 0-4-0DM 375713, Tioxide no 4
- Ruston & Hornsby 0-4-0DM 414303, Tioxide no 6
- Ruston & Hornsby 0-4-0DM 421418, Tioxide no 7
- Fowler 0-4-0DM 4210131 ex Conoco
- Fowler 0-4-0DM 4210145 ex Conoco No 8
- Hunslet 4wDM 5308, Colonel B
