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Bombs on Board to Bums on Seats – 3 April 2005
Bishop's Visit to Talyllyn Railway – 5 April 2005
Continuing to move into the new building – 5 April 2005
Bye Bye Russell! – 7 April 2005
Ref: LCLR 6924
LINCOLNSHIRE COAST LIGHT RAILWAY
ADVANCE INFORMATION FOR THE MEDIA
FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO SEE RENOVATION OF NARROW GAUGE LOCOMOTIVES AND CARRIAGES FOR LCLR, SKEGNESS
Lincolnshire Heritage Open Days 2005
The Lincolnshire Heritage Open Days in September this year will offer a first opportunity for the public to view the renovation of the narrow gauge locomotives and carriages used on the Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway.
The railway is under construction at the Skegness Water Leisure Park in Walls Lane, Skegness (near Butlins Funcoast World, off the A52 Skegness to Sutton on Sea road). It was moved to the site 10 years ago after closure of the original line at Humberston, near Cleethorpes in 1985.
Since then, a small group of volunteers have worked to lay a 60-cm gauge track and plans are in hand to build a station and eventually open the line to passenger service.
The site is not normally open to visitors so the Lincolnshire Heritage Open Days on Saturday and Sunday 10 and 11 September will offer an ideal opportunity to allow people to see for the first time what has been achieved so far, and what has still to be done.
Guides will be available to explain the history and background of the equipment to visitors, who will be welcome from 11.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.
In addition to the locomotives and carriages owned by the LCLR, the collection of railway wagons and a unique railway ambulance used to transport men and supplies during World War One which is owned by the Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway Historical Vehicles Trust will also be on view.
Ends
Issued April 2005
Media enquiries: Chris Bates 0121 472 6739; [email protected]
The Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway Limited is a company registered in England, Registered Number 655803 England. The Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway Historical Vehicles Trust is a Charity Registered in England number 514443.
Further information about the LCLR is on the website of the Skegness Water Leisure Park on www.skegnesswaterleisurepark.co.uk (follow links to ‘Light Railway’) and background information is attached.
NOTES TO EDITORS: BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
LINCOLNSHIRE COAST LIGHT RAILWAY
• The Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway is the only true narrow gauge railway (as distinct from a miniature railway) on the East Coast of the British Isles. It is based in the Skegness Water Leisure Park in Walls Lane, Ingoldmells, three miles north of Skegness, opposite Butlin’s Funcoast World on the A52.
• The 60 cm (1’ 115/8”) gauge line has a unique and historically important collection of early English narrow gauge railway carriages and wagons, diesel locomotives and one steam locomotive.
• Construction has been under way since the mid-1990’s by a small group of volunteers, following the closure of the original LCLR at Humberston where from 1960 to 1985 it transported holidaymakers to a holiday camp and beach.
• The railway has origins in the network of narrow gauge railways which before the development of modern roads served Lincolnshire’s potato growing industry. The largest was the Nocton Estates Light Railway, seven miles south of Lincoln: track and rolling stock came from trench railways built by the British military in the First World War. When the Nocton system was replaced by improved roads, a group of railway enthusiasts decided to preserve some of the equipment and convert it for use by passengers. They built and opened the LCLR to achieve this.
• Social and economic changes affecting the holiday industry and the need to plan for a secure future, made the LCLR’s directors decide to relocate and rebuild. The site at Skegness Water Leisure Park now houses the company’s locomotives, carriages and wagons.
• The site also hosts the important collection of WW1 trench railway vehicles owned and restored by a registered charity, the LCLR Historic Vehicles Trust.
The LCLR’s rolling stock is of special interest.
• The most spectacular are the two large bogie carriages built by the Gloucester Rail, Carriage and Wagon Company in 1924 for the Ashover Light Railway which ran for seven and a quarter miles from Clay Cross to Ashover in Derbyshire. They had eventually become static sports pavilions but were bought by the LCLR in 1961 and restored for passenger service in 1962 and 1963.
• The only passenger carriage ever owned and operated by the Sand Hutton Light Railway on its line near York, opened in 1922 but closed in 1930, is also on the LCLR, undergoing renovation. It too had been used as a sports pavilion and was restored and returned to service on the LCLR.
• Equally unique is the passenger carriage from the Nocton Estates Light Railway, built on the frame of one of the War Department Light Railway’s Class “D” bogie wagons. It had been used for inspections of the estates and to transport shooting parties and was purchased by the LCLR in 1982 from owners who had used it as an office upon closure of the Nocton system. Restoration continues.
• The frame of one of the WDLR’s Class D wagons (once used by the LCLR as an open top passenger vehicle), a Class P four-wheeled ration wagon and a modified example are also on the railway.
• The importance of the four vehicles owned by the LCLR Historic Vehicles Trust has been recognised by the Science Museum and the Transport Trust who have contributed to the cost of their restoration. For many years they were displayed in the Museum of Army Transport at Beverley, East Yorkshire. They include the only surviving ambulance van built for the WW1 trench railways, two Class D bogie wagons and a Class P four-wheeled ration wagon.
Locomotives
• The company’s initial locomotive, “Paul”, was a four wheel “Simplex” diesel built by Motor Rail of Bedford in 1926 (works number 3995) which had operated on the Nocton railway and was given a new all over metal body when purchased by the LCLR.
• The other four diesel locomotives are also Simplexes: “Wilton” (works number 7481, built 1940) acquired from Humberston Brickworks; “Nocton” (works number 1935, built 1920); “Major” (works number 8622, built 1944) and an unnamed example, (works number 8874, also from 1944).
• The steam locomotive “Jurassic “, purchased by the LCLR in 1961, is awaiting restoration. It is an 0-6-0 saddle tank built in 1903 by Peckett & Sons (works number 1008) for lime works at Southam in Warwickshire.
The LCLR Company is owned by a group of private shareholders and volunteers are welcome to assist under supervision in the operation, construction and maintenance of the line and its equipment. Access is only by permission of the owners and operators of the Skegness Water Leisure Park.
Except where open days and future operating days are advertised, intending visitors should go first to the Park’s office in Walls Lane, Ingoldmells, Skegness, Lincolnshire PE25 1JL (Tel: 01754 899400, website www.skegnesswaterleisurepark.co.uk, e-mail [email protected]).
The Skegness Water Leisure Park is open from March to the end of October and facilities include the Barn Inn, a play area, a touring caravan park, coffee shop, camp shop, the airfield of Skegness Aero Club, a fishing lake, water sports lake and a launderette.
The LCLR Historic Vehicle Trust may be contacted at 12 Giles Street, Cleethorpes DN35 8EA.
Posted by CHRIS BATES on 7 April 2005
Congratulations to the Corris Railway - No. 7 steams – 12 April 2005
Narrow Gauge Railway Museum progress – 12 April 2005
Royal Wedding Train on Talyllyn Railway – 13 April 2005
The SKLR is looking for NEW VOLUNTEERS! Anybody can come along and try their hand at a whole host of skills. There are more skills than you would think, some that are easy to pick up and others that take some basic training. We have drivers, caterers, guards, website designers, photographers, cleaners, painters, welders, gardeners, carpenters…..
Come and have a go and meet new people! Volunteering also enhances your CV. We appeal to all ages, but seek young blood especially to inject new ideas into the running of this line. ***SEE WWW.SKLR.NET***
***ANYONE CAN VOLUNTEER: YOU DON’T NEED TO BE A “STEAM ENTHUSIAST”***
And finally, a grand project to re-steam a Fireless Locomotive named ‘Unique’. Is there anyone with any advice and pointers out there? Or who could support the project either financially or physically?
Contact us through our website www.sklr.net.
This years events include CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS in August. Come and visit us!
Posted by Ian Jarrett on 19 April 2005
I am researching the history of the Chattenden and Upnor Military railway and am using my new found knowledge to persuade colleagues of mine at Medway Council to consider firstly: preservation of the route (e.g. with a cycle path) and secondly: possible future reinstatement as tourist attractions are boosters for the local economy.
If anybody has any ideas on this matter, or any resources such as book, photographs etc, I would be very interested to hear from you as it would all contribute to my argument. If a line can be rebuilt at the Welsh Highland, why ever not can a similar project be undertaken in Medway?? I am sure that a project such as this could gather all sorts of backing and support, for instance in terms of financial sponsorship and also in terms of voluntary labour to operate it.
You can contact me at [email protected]
See Chattenden and Upnor Railway
And don’t forget to check out SKLR
Posted by Ian Jarrett on 19 April 2005
Gasworks Loco Returns to Museum – 21 April 2005
Talyllyn Heritage Group Weekend, 30 April - 2 May – 23 April 2005
Microsoft Train Simulator Route - Thank You! – 23 April 2005
Spring Gala This Weekend – 29 April 2005
"TATTOO" Locomotive project progress.
– 11 April 2005
