Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway cancels 60th anniversary events

The railway is based in the Skegness Water Leisure Park in Walls Lane, Ingoldmells, which re-opened on July 4, when the holiday park industry was finally given the thumbs-up by the Government.

LCLR had been intending to celebrate its 60th anniversary of being the very first heritage railway in the world to be built by enthusiasts on a greenfield site.

It had opened on August 27 1960 on its original site in North Sea Lane, Humberston, near Cleethorpes,, from where it carried passengers to a nearby beach and holiday camp.

This closed in 1985 and was located to the Water Leisure Park in Skegness.

Chairman of its Historic Vehicles Trust, Richard Shepherd, said: “We have decided to postpone everything to next year.

"Some of our volunteers are still self-isolating because of the pandemic; others have work commitments which limit the number of days on which they could operate trains.

"That would have made it difficult to staff and operate our trains to meet the requirements of the Office of Rail and Road and other statutory bodies, to ensure the safety of passengers and volunteers. Their safety has to be our priority”.

Railway spokesman John Chappell said: “We’re sorry for the disappointment our decision will cause, but hope people will understand the reasons for our decision. In the meantime,

the volunteers will continue with restoration, renovation and preparation of the Railway for when it can reopen”.

Updates will be posted on www.lclr.co.uk