Boston
On a wintry 19th February 1970 a Class 114 DMU departs from Boston on the 15.34 Grimsby Town to Peterborough. The infrastructure is delightful - water tower, two three-way points, a single slip, catch points, telegraph poles, West Street Junction Box with its ornate bargeboards and a finialled lattice-post platform starter on the Up platform. Photo: John Tolson, courtesy Trevor Davis.
Monday 5th October 1970 was the date of closure of the East Lincs main line from Peterborough to Grimsby, with the last services running on Sunday 4th. On Saturday 3rd, Lincoln-based Class 114 DMUs cross at Boston on the 15.55 Peterborough-Grimsby Town and the 15.34 Grimsby Town to Peterborough. Photo: John Tolson, courtesy Trevor Davis.
08386 began life in October 1957 allocated to Hither Green but found its way onto the Eastern Region at Tinsley in October 1968. It arrived at Lincoln in April 1982 only to be withdrawn in March 1985, but re-instated in May 1985 before final withdrawal in January 1987. It is seen at West Street Junction, Boston, on July 27th 1985 taking a break from shunting duties in the docks with the famous 'Boston Stump' in the background. Photo: Alan Jones.
A Class 150/1 Sprinter unit waits at the Up platform of Boston station on September 26th 1987 as Brush Class 47 No. 47512 in the attractive large-logo "Spotter's Livery" pauses at the Down platform with the 10-coach 06.13 (SO) Leeds to Skegness. West Street Box can be seen behind the train, through the gap once occupied by the centre roads. Photo: Alan Jones.
Access to Boston harbour was controlled by a delightful octagonal signal box, with a lattice post somersault signal (without finial) covering trains coming out of the docks, seen on July 27th 1985. Photo: Alan Jones.
The finial and bargeboards of Grand Sluice signal box are the most ornate produced by the Great Northern Railway and were found only in the Lincolnshire area. Saturday 27th July 1985. Photo: Alan Jones.
A heavy, leaden sky presents a foreboding backdrop to English Electric Class 20s Nos. 20034 and 20073 as they pass Grand Sluice box and enter Boston station with the 12.40 (SO) Skegness-Derby on July 27th 1985. The location of the former centre roads through the station is clear, but after much rationalisation the station is now a passing place on a single line between Hubberts Bridge and Sibsey. Photo: Alan Jones.
The River Witham plays a major role in the drainage of land in East Lincolnshire, joining at Boston with the South Forty Foot Drain to flow into The Wash. On July 27th 1985, a strengthened 13.45 Skegness to Grantham, formed of two Cravens units and a Metro-Cammell unit cross the Witham and prepare for their stop at Boston station. Photo: Alan Jones.
Maud Foster
Seen on August 31st 1985, just two months after being taken out of use on 30th June 1985, Maud Foster was a lovely example of a small 1877-built Great Northern Railway crossing box, named after a local landowner who allowed her land to be used for drainage of the levels. The box was a little unusual in that its lower half (the locking room) was all brick and its upper half (the operating room) was all wood, whereas most GNR boxes of the era were brick, brick with wooden window frames or all wood. The sash window in the locking room is also a lovely touch. As can be seen, the box was small and was just large enough to house a 12-lever McKenzie and Holland frame along with a capstan wheel to operate the crossing gates. Photo: Alan Jones.