Waltham railway station
Encyclopedia
Waltham was a railway station on the East Lincolnshire Railway
which served the villages of New Waltham
and Humberston
in Lincolnshire
between 1848 and 1964. It was originally named Waltham and Humberstone, but Humberstone was dropped soon after opening. The line through Waltham remained open for freight until December 1980.
between and . It was constructed by by contractor
John Waring and Sons of Rotherham
who, in December 1846, had agreed to construct the line for the sum of £46,102 (£ as of ). The station was initially named Waltham and Humberstone, although it was in fact two miles from each village. It consisted of staggered platforms either side of a level crossing; the down platform to the north and the up to the south. The stationhouse, which was visible from the road, was situated on the south side of the crossing, on the down side of the line. Opposite, at the end of the lay a signal box
of typical East Lincolnshire Railway construction}; this controlled the crossing and a small goods yard adjacent to the down line. The yard initially handled coal and potatoes, but was later expanded to take cattle with the addition of a large cattle holding pen at its southern end. The goods yard was served by a single siding
trailing off the down line which forked either side of the cattle pen.
The arrival of the railway at Waltham led to the development of the area around the station and the creation of a thriving village known as New Waltham
. The parish of New Waltham was created in 1961. The July 1922 timetable saw 13 up and down weekday services, plus one Sunday service each way, call at Waltham. The station closed to passengers on 11 September 1961, with the goods yard remaining open until 15 June 1964. The line through Waltham was closed at the end of 1980.
. The roadworks put an end to hopes by the Great Northern and East Lincolnshire Railway plc to put the railway back in to Grimsby.
The station site survived largely intact until 2009 when, following a structural survey, it was determined that the stationhouse was beyond restoration and would have to be demolished. The property was demolished and another house was constructed on the site known as "New Station House". The former goods yard was obliterated by a redevelopment called "Station Mews" and involving the construction of eight properties accessed by a private road.
On 28 September 1991, a Light Railway Order was obtained which authorises the reinstatement of the East Lincolnshire Railway between Waltham and the former Keddington Road level crossing near Louth
. The Lincolnshire Wolds Railway had intended on opening a station at Waltham. However as developers have built over the track bed to the south at Holton-le-Clay and at Waltham itself, it is now impossible to re-lay the track as far as Waltham. On 26 August 2009, the first train between and ran for the first time in 47 years.
East Lincolnshire Railway
The East Lincolnshire Railway was a main line railway linking the towns of Boston, Louth and Grimsby in Lincolnshire, England. It opened in 1848 and was closed to passengers in 1970.-History:...
which served the villages of New Waltham
New Waltham
New Waltham is a village and civil parish in North East Lincolnshire. It is located just south of Grimsby and Cleethorpes close to the A16 , and is situated between the villages of Waltham and Humberston. Previously part of Waltham parish, the parish of New Waltham was created in 1961...
and Humberston
Humberston
Humberston is a large village and civil parish to the south of Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire...
in Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
between 1848 and 1964. It was originally named Waltham and Humberstone, but Humberstone was dropped soon after opening. The line through Waltham remained open for freight until December 1980.
History
The station opened on 1 March 1848 as part of the East Lincolnshire RailwayEast Lincolnshire Railway
The East Lincolnshire Railway was a main line railway linking the towns of Boston, Louth and Grimsby in Lincolnshire, England. It opened in 1848 and was closed to passengers in 1970.-History:...
between and . It was constructed by by contractor
General contractor
A general contractor is responsible for the day-to-day oversight of a construction site, management of vendors and trades, and communication of information to involved parties throughout the course of a building project.-Description:...
John Waring and Sons of Rotherham
Rotherham
Rotherham is a town in South Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Don, at its confluence with the River Rother, between Sheffield and Doncaster. Rotherham, at from Sheffield City Centre, is surrounded by several smaller settlements, which together form the wider Metropolitan Borough of...
who, in December 1846, had agreed to construct the line for the sum of £46,102 (£ as of ). The station was initially named Waltham and Humberstone, although it was in fact two miles from each village. It consisted of staggered platforms either side of a level crossing; the down platform to the north and the up to the south. The stationhouse, which was visible from the road, was situated on the south side of the crossing, on the down side of the line. Opposite, at the end of the lay a signal box
Signal box
On a rail transport system, signalling control is the process by which control is exercised over train movements by way of railway signals and block systems to ensure that trains operate safely, over the correct route and to the proper timetable...
of typical East Lincolnshire Railway construction}; this controlled the crossing and a small goods yard adjacent to the down line. The yard initially handled coal and potatoes, but was later expanded to take cattle with the addition of a large cattle holding pen at its southern end. The goods yard was served by a single siding
Rail siding
A siding, in rail terminology, is a low-speed track section distinct from a running line or through route such as a main line or branch line or spur. It may connect to through track or to other sidings at either end...
trailing off the down line which forked either side of the cattle pen.
The arrival of the railway at Waltham led to the development of the area around the station and the creation of a thriving village known as New Waltham
New Waltham
New Waltham is a village and civil parish in North East Lincolnshire. It is located just south of Grimsby and Cleethorpes close to the A16 , and is situated between the villages of Waltham and Humberston. Previously part of Waltham parish, the parish of New Waltham was created in 1961...
. The parish of New Waltham was created in 1961. The July 1922 timetable saw 13 up and down weekday services, plus one Sunday service each way, call at Waltham. The station closed to passengers on 11 September 1961, with the goods yard remaining open until 15 June 1964. The line through Waltham was closed at the end of 1980.
Present day
Tracklifting commenced in early 1981, with the section between Grimsby and Waltham - constructed of bullhead rail - being the last to be removed. This section was designated by Humberside County Council for the building of the A16 Peaks ParkwayPeaks Parkway
The Peaks Parkway is part of the northern end of the A16 road, in Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire. It was conceived in the 1970s and follows part of the trackbed of the former East Lincolnshire Railway between and .-Background:...
. The roadworks put an end to hopes by the Great Northern and East Lincolnshire Railway plc to put the railway back in to Grimsby.
The station site survived largely intact until 2009 when, following a structural survey, it was determined that the stationhouse was beyond restoration and would have to be demolished. The property was demolished and another house was constructed on the site known as "New Station House". The former goods yard was obliterated by a redevelopment called "Station Mews" and involving the construction of eight properties accessed by a private road.
On 28 September 1991, a Light Railway Order was obtained which authorises the reinstatement of the East Lincolnshire Railway between Waltham and the former Keddington Road level crossing near Louth
Louth, Lincolnshire
Louth is a market town and civil parish within the East Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England.-Geography:Known as the "capital of the Lincolnshire Wolds", it is situated where the ancient trackway Barton Street crosses the River Lud, and has a total resident population of 15,930.The Greenwich...
. The Lincolnshire Wolds Railway had intended on opening a station at Waltham. However as developers have built over the track bed to the south at Holton-le-Clay and at Waltham itself, it is now impossible to re-lay the track as far as Waltham. On 26 August 2009, the first train between and ran for the first time in 47 years.