‘This is not nostalgia for rail – it’s the future’

Our readers have responded positively to East Lindsey District Council’s decision to submit an application to the Department for Transport to restore some of the rail links in our area.
Class B1 4-6-0 No. 61391 stands in Platform 3 at Louth with a service to Peterborough, and possibly through to London Kings Cross, in the mid 1950s. (Photo and caption provided by Chris Bates / David Enefer)Class B1 4-6-0 No. 61391 stands in Platform 3 at Louth with a service to Peterborough, and possibly through to London Kings Cross, in the mid 1950s. (Photo and caption provided by Chris Bates / David Enefer)
Class B1 4-6-0 No. 61391 stands in Platform 3 at Louth with a service to Peterborough, and possibly through to London Kings Cross, in the mid 1950s. (Photo and caption provided by Chris Bates / David Enefer)

As reported last week, the council recently submitted an application for a £50,000 feasibility study for the ‘Restoring Your Railway Fund’, in relation to a section of the former East Lincolnshire railway from Firsby to Louth and also the Willoughby to Mablethorpe loop.

The Louth and Mablethorpe Leader received the following letters from some of our readers regarding the plans.

John Bicknell said: “I was pleased to see the plans to investigate the potential for re-opening rail routes.

Class C12 4-4-2T Mo. 67398 stands at Platform 2 at Louth station with a service to Mablethorpe in early 1950sClass C12 4-4-2T Mo. 67398 stands at Platform 2 at Louth station with a service to Mablethorpe in early 1950s
Class C12 4-4-2T Mo. 67398 stands at Platform 2 at Louth station with a service to Mablethorpe in early 1950s

“Hopefully, in time, these communities can be reconnected to the national network, which will be a major step forward in making 
them accessible to more people, and reducing the reliance upon motor traffic.”

Dick Fowler, from Tetford, said: “The feasibility study is excellent news. This is not nostalgia for rail serving small communities, it is the future.

“The prize would be to provide a good local shuttle service as well as reconnecting the main UK rail network to the coast and Wolds North of Skegness

“Lincolnshire’s ‘car and caravan’ tourist economy is unsustainable, as we move to low-carbon transport between now and 2035.

Class C12 4-4-2T No. 67398 (displaying a Louth shed plate – 40C) at Grimoldby station in early 1950s, with a service for LouthClass C12 4-4-2T No. 67398 (displaying a Louth shed plate – 40C) at Grimoldby station in early 1950s, with a service for Louth
Class C12 4-4-2T No. 67398 (displaying a Louth shed plate – 40C) at Grimoldby station in early 1950s, with a service for Louth

“Many car drivers will struggle to afford even used electric cars and the charging network will find mass tourism challenging.

“As some of the original route has been built over, there will be routing issues, but this is rare opportunity to see how to apply the latest technology.”

Jane Fletcher added: “I think this is a brilliant idea and long overdue. I could never understand how the train service was stopped in Louth but continued in Cleethorpes.

“The railway lines should all have been kept and not sold off to farmers etc. They could have been cycle tracks.

A diesel multiple unit at Theddlethorpe station in the mid 1950s, with a service to Louth. This section of the Mablethorpe Loop closed in late 1960A diesel multiple unit at Theddlethorpe station in the mid 1950s, with a service to Louth. This section of the Mablethorpe Loop closed in late 1960
A diesel multiple unit at Theddlethorpe station in the mid 1950s, with a service to Louth. This section of the Mablethorpe Loop closed in late 1960

“It would be amazing if the rail service could be brought back, tourists would flock to journey through the Lincolnshire Wolds.”

Juliana Daley added: “It is brilliant that the rail network is under review for East Lindsey. Hope everything goes well with the intending proposition for the area.”

Several readers, while they may generally feel positively about the prospect of rail links returning to our area, believe the track should extend towards the north.

Ken Wright, from Holton le Clay, wrote: “I think having the Lincolnshire railway line back would be a great idea and would remove a great number of vehicles from the A16. I’m afraid though the line will come nowhere near Grimsby as it did in the past.

“A number of houses have been built on the old track around Holton le Clay; more importantly, the track in Grimsby has been totally removed and is now a two lane carriageway, Peaks Parkway.”

Ian Wild from Sutton on Sea, said: “Interesting to read ELDC and local MPs think it a good idea to spend £50,000 to investigate a revamped train line to run north from Firsby to Louth, and in so doing extending the link south to Boston and beyond.

“For me, this shows a ‘south’ centric view of where people want and need to travel, and shows a complete disregard of where the real action is in our part of the world – the Humber and the wider Northern Power House. Surely any proposed train line should be north to link with Cleethorpes, the Humber, Doncaster, Leeds and Manchester.”

Another reader, who simply signed their letter as G.G, wrote: “Is that serious or just a campaign promise?

“Even if the idea of a train is nice and romantic, they need to do something more than that. Why not the idea of a line between Boston and Grimsby as many years ago?

“But the practical side: how much [will be needed] to invest, and shouldn’t be better and more effective to improve the service of buses instead of that?”

Over on social media, there was a more mixed response.

Chris Simonds added: “Sorry but this sheer and utter fantasy land. There’s no connection towards Grimsby which has a major population due to the Peaks Parkway in the way. Louth has about 17000 people living in it and there’s no major freight hubs to connect to. I’ve seen a few comments about tourism, etc. How will that generate revenue? If they really want the railway back to Louth they’d be better off helping and supporting the LWR.”

Chris Birchmore said: “Sadly this is probably just to give away £50,000 to someone to write a feasibility study, and then forget about it.”

Andrew Sharpley added: “What is proposed is a railway from nowhere to nowhere, a heritage anachronism, a museum piece, a relic. Not a functioning track integrated into the national network.”

• Our thanks goes to Chris Bates for providing the ‘never seen before’ photos from the collection of the late Bill Woolhouse, from Fotherby, who founded the Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway. These images were identified, catalogued, and archived by David Enefer (Lincs Coast Light Railway Historic Vehicles Trust).