Lincolnshire Loop Line
Encyclopedia
The Lincolnshire Loop Line was a 58 miles (93.3 km) Great Northern Railway
built double track railway line that linked Peterborough
to Lincoln
via Spalding
and Boston
.
purchased the Witham Navigation
and all navigation rights the same year and began construction of the new line, partly alongside it in 1847. The line opened in 1848 and was for a short period the main route to the north and Scotland until the main line from Peterborough to Doncaster. Closure came in sections, with the first being to which closed to passengers and goods on 17 June 1963.
passing through , , , , , , , and . The line from to passed through three intermediate stations, , , and , the Boston-Spalding section is now a bypass. The final section to also boasted three intermediate stations, , , and . This section is the only section-part of the line that remains in operation, although most of the stations have long been closed and disused.
Only 6 (still open) stations Gainsborough Lea Road, Saxilby, Lincoln, Boston, Spalding and Peterborough North remain, and as still part of the national network.
Great Northern Railway (Great Britain)
The Great Northern Railway was a British railway company established by the Great Northern Railway Act of 1846. On 1 January 1923 the company lost its identity as a constituent of the newly formed London and North Eastern Railway....
built double track railway line that linked Peterborough
Peterborough
Peterborough is a cathedral city and unitary authority area in the East of England, with an estimated population of in June 2007. For ceremonial purposes it is in the county of Cambridgeshire. Situated north of London, the city stands on the River Nene which flows into the North Sea...
to Lincoln
Lincoln, Lincolnshire
Lincoln is a cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England.The non-metropolitan district of Lincoln has a population of 85,595; the 2001 census gave the entire area of Lincoln a population of 120,779....
via Spalding
Spalding, Lincolnshire
Spalding is a market town with a population of 30,000 on the River Welland in the South Holland district of Lincolnshire, England. Little London is a hamlet directly south of Spalding on the B1172 road....
and Boston
Boston, Lincolnshire
Boston is a town and small port in Lincolnshire, on the east coast of England. It is the largest town of the wider Borough of Boston local government district and had a total population of 55,750 at the 2001 census...
.
History
The Lincolnshire Loop Line was authorised on 26 June 1846 as part of the London and York Railway bill. The then renamed Great Northern RailwayGreat Northern Railway (Great Britain)
The Great Northern Railway was a British railway company established by the Great Northern Railway Act of 1846. On 1 January 1923 the company lost its identity as a constituent of the newly formed London and North Eastern Railway....
purchased the Witham Navigation
River Witham
The River Witham is a river, almost entirely in the county of Lincolnshire, in the east of England. It rises south of Grantham close to South Witham, at SK8818, passes Lincoln at SK9771 and at Boston, TF3244, flows into The Haven, a tidal arm of The Wash, near RSPB Frampton Marsh...
and all navigation rights the same year and began construction of the new line, partly alongside it in 1847. The line opened in 1848 and was for a short period the main route to the north and Scotland until the main line from Peterborough to Doncaster. Closure came in sections, with the first being to which closed to passengers and goods on 17 June 1963.
Route
The line from to was known as the Witham loop because it followed the course of the River WithamRiver Witham
The River Witham is a river, almost entirely in the county of Lincolnshire, in the east of England. It rises south of Grantham close to South Witham, at SK8818, passes Lincoln at SK9771 and at Boston, TF3244, flows into The Haven, a tidal arm of The Wash, near RSPB Frampton Marsh...
passing through , , , , , , , and . The line from to passed through three intermediate stations, , , and , the Boston-Spalding section is now a bypass. The final section to also boasted three intermediate stations, , , and . This section is the only section-part of the line that remains in operation, although most of the stations have long been closed and disused.
Only 6 (still open) stations Gainsborough Lea Road, Saxilby, Lincoln, Boston, Spalding and Peterborough North remain, and as still part of the national network.
List of railway stations
- GainsboroughGainsborough Lea Road railway stationGainsborough Lea Road railway station is the major station in the town of Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, England. The town's other station is Gainsborough Central...
- line and station both still open.- LeaLea railway stationLea railway station was a station in Lea, Lincolnshire, south of Gainsborough. It is now closed.-References:...
- line still open, but station site closed. - Stow ParkStow Park railway stationStow Park railway station was a station in Lincolnshire on the line between Lincoln and Gainsborough.Former Services-References:...
- line still open, but station site closed.
- Lea
- SaxilbySaxilby railway stationSaxilby railway station serves Saxilby in Lincolnshire, England. The station is west of Lincoln Central on the Sheffield-Lincoln line and the Doncaster-Lincoln Line....
- line and station both still open.- SkellingthorpeSkellingthorpe railway stationSkellingthorpe railway station is a former railway station in Skellingthorpe, Lincolnshire. It was opened by the Lancashire, Derbyshire and East Coast Railway in March 1897 and closed by British Railways in 1955...
- line still open, but station site closed. - Lincoln St. MarksLincoln St. Marks railway stationLincoln St. Marks is a closed railway station on the Nottingham to Lincoln Line.-History:St. Mark's railway station, the first in Lincoln, was opened by the Midland Railway in 1846. Originally a terminus the line was extended through the station only a few years after opening to connect with the...
- both line and station site both history, closed by British Rail in 1985.
- Skellingthorpe
- Lincoln - line and station both still open.
- WashingboroughWashingborough railway stationWashingborough railway station was a railway station serving the village of Washingborough, Lincolnshire.-History:The station was opened by the Great Northern Railway on 17 October 1848....
- now closed and disused. - Five Mile House - now closed and disused.
- Bardney - now closed and disused.
- SouthreySouthrey railway stationSouthrey railway station is a former station in Southrey, Lincolnshire.-History:The station was opened on 17 October 1848 as part of the new Lincolnshire Loop Line, from Peterborough to Lincoln via Spalding and Boston. This line was authorised as part of the London and York Railway bill, which...
- now closed and disused. - Stixwould - now closed and disused.
- Woodhall JunctionWoodhall Junction railway stationWoodhall Junction railway station is a former station in Woodhall, Lincolnshire. It served as a junction where several different lines met, none of which are still open....
- now closed and disused. - TattershallTattershall railway stationTattershall railway station was a station in Tattershall, Lincolnshire. It is no longer in operation. It is currently an art gallery.Former Services-External links:*...
- now closed and disused. - DogdykeDogdyke railway stationDogdyke railway station was a station on the former Great Northern Railway between Boston and Lincoln.The station, and essentially the hamlet of Dogdyke itself, served a transhipment point at the confluence of the rivers Bain and Witham. Principal traffic was agricultural, but also included coals...
- now closed and disused. - LangrickLangrick railway stationLangrick railway station was a station in Langrick, Lincolnshire on the line between Boston and Lincoln.The site of the old station house is now occupied by Langrick Station Cafe. The possibility that the building now standing is a much-converted original station house has been disputed...
- now closed and disused.
- Washingborough
- BostonBoston railway stationBoston railway station serves the town of Boston in Lincolnshire, England. Services are operated by East Midlands Trains.-History:The station has declined in importance since the 1960s. In its heyday the station employed over 50 staff and had two through tracks and cover over the platform tracks...
- line and station both still open.- KirtonKirton railway stationKirton railway station was a station in Kirton, Lincolnshire.. It closed to passenger traffic on 11th September 1961.-References:...
- line and station site both now history and lost under bypass. - Algarkirk and Sutterton - line and station site both now history and lost under bypass.
- SurfleetSurfleet railway stationSurfleet railway station was a station in Surfleet, Lincolnshire, England.. It closed to passenger traffic on 11 September 1961.The rail line is now the A16 road, and no trace of the station can be found.-References:...
- line and station site both now history and lost under bypass.
- Kirton
- SpaldingSpalding railway stationSpalding railway station serves the town of Spalding in Lincolnshire, England.Spalding is on the branch line to Lincoln operated by a roughly hourly service in both directions usually by Class 153 single car units...
- line and station both still open.- LittleworthLittleworth railway stationLittleworth railway station is a former railway station in Deeping St Nicholas, Lincolnshire on the Peterborough to Lincoln Line. It opened in 1848 and was closed for passengers in 1961....
- line still open but station site closed. - St. James Deeping - line still open but station site closed.
- PeakirkPeakirk railway stationPeakirk railway station served the parish of Peakirk in Cambridgeshire.The station building was converted into a private residence in the early 1990s. It is notable for having few external alterations, excluding a recent extension...
- line still open but station site closed. - Walton - line still open but station site closed.
- Littleworth
- PeterboroughPeterborough railway stationPeterborough railway station serves the city of Peterborough, England. It is located approximately north of London Kings Cross on the East Coast Main Line...
- line and station both still open.