March - Spalding GN&GE Joint Line

[a good off]

It is fast approaching the 30th anniversary of the short sighted closure of this once important through route. Do any of you have any memories of this line? Either living near it, working on it or travelling over it, I'd love to hear any stories or memories people have of it. 27/11/82 RIP.

Thanks!

 

[neonison]

The 09.10 SO Leeds to Yarmouth went this way, also doing Sleaford avoiding, Ely North curve and Norwich avoiding.

 

[AJP62]

The 09.10 SO Leeds to Yarmouth went this way, also doing Sleaford avoiding, Ely North curve and Norwich avoiding.

And the Lincoln avoiding line that was present at the time. Same also used by the SO Newcastle - Yarmouth train.

The three you mentioned were also used by trains coming from the Sheffield direction including the SO Manchester - Yarmouth.

The joint line was pretty busy on a Saturday up until the early 80s.

 

[sheff'd victoria]

It is fast approaching the 30th anniversary of the short sighted closure of this once important through route. Do any of you have any memories of this line? Either living near it, working on it or travelling over it, I'd love to hear any stories or memories people have of it. 27/11/82 RIP.

Thanks!

Im I getting mixed up with the line that ran to Boston ? didnt that close in 1982 as well ?

 

[honestdave]

Hi. I am preparing a major article on this line for publication in Backtrack Magazine later this year. I worked it as relief signalman for nearly 10 years 1973 -1982. Subject will be the life of the men and the trains rather than dry historical bumpf. Watch this space.

 

[a good off]

That sounds great HonestDave! Have you got any memories of George Grief? He was a good friend of mine. I have a June 1978 TRB from French Drove if its of any interest to you reference wise?

 

[honestdave]

George Grief was the man who started myrailway career off - a lovely man, full of hilarious but not altogether true stories that changed regularly like the wind direction. Unfortunately, you need a good memory to be able to tell tall stories and get them believed but George possessed no memory at all - he knew that you knew that it was all %^$£&*............but that only made it more fun. I miss him very much. DG

 

[a good off]

George was responsible for my railway career too. I wish I could get a time machine and go back for just one night to join him on a dark winter's evening shift with the stove roaring, tea flowing and long gone trains rattling past into the night. But this time with tape recorder... I miss him very much too.