3. Trip to Skegness-18.01.17

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2017 > 3. Trip to Skegness-18.01.17

A pretty dismal winter day out. Andy and me went in his Nissan Micra to a very grey Skegness. He needed all the stations on the old Great Northern line and I needed most of the signal boxes. We had a brief stop on the ECML north of Peterborough on the journey out.

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Images 1-28 of 28 displayed.

170105, XC 07.22 Birmingham New Street-Stansted Airport (1L30, 30L), Woodcroft Crossing TF139050
Cross Country's 170105 approaches Woodcroft level crossing on the approaches to Peterborough. This three-car 170 was working the 07.22 Birmingham New Street to Stansted Airport. Something had obviously gone wrong as it was late here and eventually arrived at its destination half an hour adrift.
Keywords: 170105 1L30 Woodcroft Crossing TF139050

82217 & 91106, GR 05.48 Edinburgh Waverley-London Kings Cross (1E02, RT), Woodcroft Crossing TF139050
I very overcast conditions at the beginning of January, the 05.48 Edinburgh to London King's Cross approaches Peterborough passing Woodcroft crossing. DVT 82217 is on the front with 91106 '#GetNorth2018' pushing on the rear. We were kept here at Woodcroft crossing, situated on the minor road between Marholm and Etton, for some time due to the passage of trains. It's a manual manned crossing with the gatekeeper taking his instructions from Helpston box some mile or so to the north.
Keywords: 82217 91106 1E02 Woodcroft Crossing TF139050

800101, 08.55 Doncaster Carr-Peterborough (5X60), Woodcroft Crossing TF139050
This was my first view of an IEP Azuma on the ECML and branded in Virgin EC livery. here, 800101 passes Woodcroft Crossing on the up fast working the 08.55 Doncaster Carr to Peterborough test train running as 5X60. This is a suitably long nine-car formation but I suspect that the seating and general environment will not be as good as in the excellent MkIVs that they are replacing.
Keywords: 800101 5X60 Woodcroft Crossing TF139050

43299, GR 05.29 Stirling-London Kings Cross (1E03, 8L), Woodcroft Crossing TF139050
A wide-angle shot that shows the general environs at Woodcroft level crossing. There are manually operated gates controlled by a gatekeeper who has a small hut on the far side of the line from here. The default is for the gates to be closed to road users. If passage is required, the road user rings a bell and the gate keeper will open the gates, if clear. We were kept waiting here for about 20 minutes for the passage of various trains. One of the workings was the 1E03 05.29 Stirling to London King's Cross with power car 43299 leading.
Keywords: 43299 1E03 Woodcroft Crossing TF139050

Class 180, GC 07.54 Bradford Interchange-Loindon Kings Cross (1A70, 7L), Marholm TF154036
Open access operator Grand Central runs a number of services up an down the ECML. The 07.54 Bradford Interchange to London King's Cross approaches Peterborough at Marholm taken from the popular footbridge, at least with photgraphers! Unfortunately, this class 180 could not be identified
Keywords: Class 180 1A70 Marholm TF154036

170103, XC 07.10 Gloucester-Stansted Airport (1L00, 6L), Marholm TF154036
This is a real Cross Country cross-country working! The 07.10 Gloucester to Stansted Airport drifts on the up slow preparing for its Peterborough stop past Marholm formed of 170103. This picture is taken from the large footbridge that spans the five lines of the ECML at this point. This bridge replaced a level crossing that required the road, as a through route, to be closed. The bridge has become a well known and popular spot with train photographers.
Keywords: 170103 1L00 Marholm TF154036

Planning notice for construction of dive under, Marholm TF154036
A planning notice attached to the footbridge at Marholm. It is outlining works that Network Rail wanted to carry out with relation to the construction of a dive-under and various other alternations to the track that would affect the general public.

153379, EM 10.40 Peterborough-Lincoln (2K38, 3E), Spalding station
A misty and grey winter scene at Spalding station. East Midlands 153379 arrives working the 10.40 Peterborough to Lincoln. I have visited Spalding station several times, and every time it has lost just a little more of its old Great Northern character. Now the semaphores and the fantastic box, that was situated on the level crossing in the background, have gone it's a bit barren and bare.
Keywords: 153379 2K38 Spalding station

Frontage, Spalding station
The fantastic and impressive frontage of Spalding station has undergone extensive renovation in recent years. This Great Northern building is constructed out typical fawn bricks. The station was originally named Spalding Town and was at a major junction in this remote part of the Fens.
Keywords: Frontage Spalding station

156415, EM 11.15 Skegness-Nottingham (2S12, 1E), Hubberts Bridge station
Hubberts Bridge station is situated in a pretty remote spot next to the A1121 road between Sleaford and Boston. It is a station with few facilities and not much passenger patronage, but having said that number did double during 2017 to 1 100. 156415 passes through the station, as most trains do, working the 11.15 Skegness to Nottingham.
Keywords: 156415 2S12 Hubberts Bridge station

Hubberts Bridge Signal Box (BR, 1961) & crossing gates
Despite Hubberts Bridge station having few facilties, it does have a signal box. It is not a pretty structure being built by BR in 1961. The crossing gates are still manually controlled by the signalman. This box replaced a magnificent structure that stood on the same spot until it was replaced in the early 1960s.
Keywords: Hubberts Bridge Signal Box 1961 crossing gates

Hubberts Bridge Signal Box (BR, 1961) & crossing gates
A reverse view of Hubberts Bridge station, signal box and crossing gates. The dismal weather really adds to this scene. Whenever I visit this part of the country I always get the feeling of going a bit into the wilderness, and I don't mean that offensively to residents of the Fens!
Keywords: Hubberts Bridge Signal Box (BR, 1961) & crossing gates

156401, EM 10.45 Nottingham-Skegness (2S13, 2E), Hubberts Bridge station
As we about to leave and head on to Boston, the signalman emerged from the warmth of Hubberts Bridge box to close the gates to the B1192 road. After a short wait, 156401 passed working the 2S13 10.45 Nottingham to Skegness. This service takes a real cross-country route including a reversal at Grantham. It also passes through a number of block posts controlled by traditional semaphores and 'proper' signal boxes!
Keywords: 156401 2S13 Hubberts Bridge station

Boston West Street Junction Signal Box (GN, 1874) & up starter
Taken from the platform end at Boston station the up starter bracket is seen with one of its arms and short posts removed. In the background the handsome and typically styled West Street Junction signal box. This is the oldest surviving Great Northern box dating from 1874. It is listed as a Grade II structure by Historic England so its future is likely to be secure in some form or another.
Keywords: Boston West Street Junction Signal Box GN 1874 up starter

Sibsey Signal Box (GN, 1888) & crossing gates
Sibsey signal box is situated just to the east of the village of the same name where the B1184 road crosses the railway. The box has been well maintained and still has its wooden steps but the crossing gates look a little tatty! The box is a type 1 Great Northern box built in 1888 but its future is uncertain as is due to close, along with all the others on the Skegness route, in 2020.
Keywords: Sibsey Signal Box GN 1888 crossing gates

Bellwater Junction Signal Box (GN, 1913)
Bellwater Junction signal box is in a very remote spot situated down the end of a lane. It gets its name from the adjacent Bell Water fenland drainage channel. It's an example of the GNR's final design of box, a type 4a and it was opened in 1913. Even though it is named as a 'Junction' box there has been no junction for many years. In fact, there is absolutely no evidence either on the ground or when studying an Ordnance Survey map of the line that diverged here. It was short line that headed west with five tiny intermediate stations that joined the Boston to Lincoln line at Woodhall Junction.
Keywords: Bellwater Junction Signal Box GN 1913

Bellwater Junction Signal Box (GN, 1913)
The rear of the 1913 GNR Bellwater Junction signal box that also shows the crossing gates. These gates allow access to the farm of the same name that is just the other side of the railway. However, they look as though they are rarely opened and the road on the far side looked very overgrown. I took some while 'preparing' the image and getting the verticals right soon realising that the telegraph pole, dead centre, was leaning at a a hairy angle and that it was not my eye! The box stands proud of the flatness of the Fenland environment and in the winter mist it was a strangely quiet and almost eerie spot.
Keywords: Bellwater Junction Signal Box GN 1913

Thorpe Culvert Signal Box (NR, 2003)
Thorpe Culvert signal box was constructed by NewtworK Rail in 2003. English Heritage stipulated that the structure should replicate the GNR building that it was replacing. Looking at this, it seems that Network Rail did a reasonable job both in the design and the building materials used. Incidentally, the original box, that was on exactly the same spot, needed replacement as it was in a structurally precarious condition and needed demolition. At the same time the box was rebuilt, the opportunity was taken to replace the semaphores with colour lights and to install barriers at the level crossing.
Keywords: Thorpe Culvert Signal Box NR 2003

Wainfleet Signal Box (GN, 1889)
Wainfleet signal box is located between the platform end and the level crossing in the large Fenland village of Wainfleet All saints. It was constructed by the GNR in 1889 to their Type I design. This is of a more simple design than some of their more ornate types with, for example, plain barge boarding and less ornate windows. This structure, like several on the Skegness route, is Grade II listed by English Heritage so when it comes to the end of its life in 2020, its future is more secure.
Keywords: Wainfleet Signal Box GN 1889

Wainfleet Signal Box (GN, 1889)
Wainfleet All Saints, to give it its full name, is situated some six miles from Skegness and has a population of just under 2 000. The railway arrived in 1873 and the signal box, seen here, in 1889 both being constructed by the Great Northern Railway. This box is a much simpler design of their standard boxes and of the rest found on the Poacher Line as it's known. It is seen in the mist here with All Saints Parish Church in the background.
Keywords: Wainfleet Signal Box GN, 1889

Andy, Havenhouse Station waiting room!
In its rather limited list of facilities, Network Rail states that Havenhouse has a waiting room. Well, this is Andy sitting in it! It's a good job there is not another person waiting for one of the four daily trains as it would be a little intimate. In 2017 Havenhouse was the 15th least used station on the network bucking the trend with another drop in numbers using it, now down to 106 brave souls!
Keywords: Havenhouse Station waiting room

Skegness Station
The combination of the dying winter light and the haar drifting in from the North Sea made our arrival at Skegness a pretty dismal one! Here, looking up the platforms all that is left of this once quite substantial station can be seen along with the signal box and associated semaphores.
Keywords: Skegness Station

Skegness Signal Box (GN, 1882)
Some fantastic signalling at Skegness. With the 1882 Great Northern signal box in the background there is a normal starter with attached shunting signal. There is also a starter bracket with subsidiary arms below. All this, with the exception of the Grade II listed box, will be swept away when he whole of the Poacher Line is comprehensively re-signalled in 2020.
Keywords: Skegness Signal Box GN, 1882

158813, EM 12.45 Nottingham-Skegness (2S17, 3L), Skegness station
East Midlands' 158813 comes to a halt at Skegness station arriving at the seaside with the 12.45 from Nottingham. Completing its journey, just three minutes late, I suspect that it will not be carrying many happy holidaymakers on this grey and foggy January afternoon!
Keywords: 158813 2S17 Skegness station

Skegness Signal Box (GN, 1882)
Skegness signal box is an impressive structure that sits on the platform ramp as seen here. In common with other boxes on the line, it is in good condition with evidence that Network Rail has been undertaking some conservation work. It's pleasing to see that the wooden windows have not been replaced by the ghastly UPVC units that seem to have been put into many boxes. The is is probably due to the fact that Historic England have identified this, and a number of others on the Poacher Line, as being listed structures. So, its future is assured for the moment, at least.
Keywords: Skegness Signal Box GN 1882

Up starter signals, Skegness station
The impressive up starter signals at Skegness. The one to the left sees infrequent use as the platform is largely out of use but for the occasional special. The four-arm bracket in the centre is complete with subsidiary arms below. These are used to allow a train to pass the main arm at danger. In this case, to allow for the once prolific number of excursion trains to draw out of the station and enter the carriage sidings beyond the station. These carriage sidings have been dramatically rationalised in recent years.
Keywords: Up starter signals, Skegness station

158813, EM 15.09 Skegness-Nottingham (2S20, 1E), Skegness station
153813 sits at Skegness' platform 4 waiting to leave with the 15.09 to Nottingham. The light was appalling by this stage in the day, even though it was actually the middle of the afternoon! Skegness station has seen much rationalisation over the years, the canopies seen here are the only ones remaining on the station that once saw tens of thousands of passengers using it every summer. Most holiday makers originated from the East Midlands, with many form Nottingham and Derby traditionally visiting the town for their 'week in the sun' with most coming by train.
Keywords: 158813 2S20 Skegness station

Frontage, Skegness station
The frontage of Skegness station underwent a major refurbishment during 2011. In the centre of this image there is a replica statue of the Skegness' famous Jolly Fisherman. This character first appeared in 1908 being a creation of artist John Hassall for the Great Northern Railway's promotional department. He appeared with the now famous slogan, 'Skegness is SO bracing'. The figure has been adopted as the mascot of the East Coast town.
Keywords: Frontage, Skegness station

Images 1-28 of 28 displayed.