August 31, 2020 4.08 pm This story is over 43 months old

Special scene recreated to mark Lincolnshire railway 60th anniversary

Volunteers from its earliest days were involved
The scene recreated on August 27, 2020 at the LCLR’s current base in the Skegness Water Leisure Park with driver Mick Allen, who has been a volunteer since 1960, and original locomotive ‘Paul’ and volunteers Claire Smith, Gina Roberts and Calvin Roberts. Photo: Dave Enefer/LCLR

A special scene of the first train rolling out of North Sea Lane station for Humberston Beach was recently recreated to help mark the 60th anniversary of the Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway.

The first heritage railway in the world built by enthusiasts was said to have opened on August 27, 1960 to link the beach and a holiday camp at Humberston in Lincolnshire with the terminus of local bus services.

The Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway is a short line less than a mile long. It was built with old rails and rolling stock from the battlefields in France of World War I and the Nocton Estates Railway, which carried potatoes and sugar beet across the Lincolnshire Fens.

Original opening photo from August 27, 1960 – the first train on the line at Humberston. Photo: William Woolhouse collection/LCLR

It carried two million passengers before changes in British seaside holidays brought about its closure in 1985.

After a long period in store at Burgh-le-Marsh, it was rebuilt and reopened 42 miles to the south in the Skegness Water Leisure Park on Walls Lane, Ingoldmells in 2009.

On August 27 this year the world first was marked by the line’s volunteers by recreating the famous scene using the same locomotive and one of the early carriages.

The 60th anniversary train ready to depart with guard Chris Bates (volunteer since Easter Monday 1961) and driver Mick Allen (volunteer since August 29, 1960). Photo: Dave Enefer/LCLR

Some of the volunteers from its earliest days joined more recently recruited supporters to operate the train. The groups of volunteers were socially distanced and wore face masks.

However, passengers could not be carried because the railway remains closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A 1962 photo from a local newspaper showing a then 13-year-old Chris Bates (claimed at the time to be the world’s youngest railway shareholder) cleaning the station sign at LCLR’s original Humberston HQ. Photo: LCLR Archives

The 1962 photo being recreated on August 27, 2020 with Chris Bates tidying up another early LCLR Humberston station sign, but this time in Skegness. Photo: Mike Newbold/LCLR

The coronavirus crisis also caused a series of other events planned by Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway for its 2020 season to be postponed until 2021. This include the 25th anniversary of the Skegness Airfield, which is next to the railway in the water park.

Railway spokesman John Chappell said: “The LCLR has survived closure, a long period in storage and lengthy rebuilding, to be recognised as the world’s pioneering heritage line of its type.

“The volunteers were determined to mark this moment in the world’s railway history by recreating the scene from that same date 60 years ago”.

Three long-serving LCLR volunteers prepare to mark their role in the world’s first heritage railway to be built by enthusiasts 60 years ago. Left to right: Chris Bates, Jim Smith, Mick Allen.

Richard Shepherd, Chairman of the LCLR’s Historic Vehicles Trust, said: “We were determined to show we are still developing our railway despite not being able to operate public services at the moment. We look forward to welcoming passengers again when we’re able to”.