The 21st Anniversary of the
Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway
 
n some respects the final five years before closure of the LCLR were something of a goldenage…except that its basic traffic of holidaymakers
was declining rapidly and the fact that drastic decisions needed to be taken on its future couldnot be ignored. Traffic from the Sunday Market
at Beacholme Holiday Camp necessitated trains requiring anything that could move being pressed into service to cope with the crowds but at
other times the line was alarmingly quiet. A vigorous and enthusiastic group of volunteers worked hard to upgradefacilities, install air brakes
on the trains and to make the railway better known – even so, it was a rarity when an enthusiast arrived at North SeaLane. Traffic had migrated
to Benidorm and the miners’ strike hit the economic heartland of the railway’s core trade – holidaymakers from the mining communitiesof South Yorkshire.

After the outside broadcast there were some “classic” scenes to be seen, sadly, not to be repeatedafter closure in 1985.


Front view of Jurassic before the fitting of air braking equipment and
lining out in a slightly more elaborate livery.


Fresh from its packing case…ex-WD Simplex “Major”
a classic view before application of air braking and cab to this useful workhorse.


The LCLR as those who loved it remembered it…loco Number 4 “Wilton” (ex Humberston Brick Works)
entering North Sea Lane station with open carriage built on frames of ex-WDLR Class D and an Ashover carriage.


Busy view of North Sea Lane yard with Jurassic, ex-WDLR bogie ambulance vans and Major
and the interior of the passenger station visible.


Classic NG view – Jurassic, ex-WDLR vans and number 4 “Wilton”
ready with a passenger train for South Sea Lane.


South Sea Lane terminus – “Wilton” has run round its train of ex-Ashover
and open carriages and awaits departure.


 Two of the founder directors of the LCLR on its 21st anniversary
 nearest the camera, the late Fred Boothby, with William Woolhouse,
company secretary, manager and still involved in the line’s
reconstruction at its new site at Ingoldmells near Skegness.


The LCLR's first loco, Simplex "Paul" dating from 1926 having a solo trip on the line in 1984 or 1985, with a very young "second man".


(photo - Chris Bates collection)
"Elin", a resident at LCLR, but not a regular performer,
being "cleaned" by a young holidaymaker -- about 1982 or 83.

All photographs and captions by Chris Bates

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