On February 19th 1970, the Skegness Branch train waits patiently at Firsby for custom before departing at 15.02. The lavishness of the infrastructure is well illustrated with the footbridge which contrasts today's minimalist functional approach. The curve round to the Skegness Branch was single line, and track-circuited. It could be accessed from either Platform 1 (Down Main) or Platform 3 which was a loop off the Up Main (the Platform 3 sign is visible on the wall of the station building) but there was no direct access from the Up Main (Platform 2). Photo: John Tolson, courtesy Trevor Davis.

The severity of the curve from the former Firsby South Junction round to the East Junction, and hence the need for a 15 mph speed restriction, can be seen from this view of 31249 heading the 06.13 Leeds to Skegness round the curve on July 4th 1987. Photo: Alan Jones.

The line to Firsby station used to continue round to the right, behind the locomotive and into Firsby station, but once the railway had closed and been lifted the land was soon turned back to farmland and all traces of the line disappeared. Fresh from overhaul, a very smart 31168 and its rake of Mk 1 stock squeal round the remaining part of the triangle at Frisby with the 09.21 (SO) Leeds to Skegness on June 25th 1983. Photo: Alan Jones.

The driver's attention is caught by something in the fields as the 12.58 Saturdays Only Skegness to Derby approaches Barton's Lane crossing on September 11th 1982 in the hands of English Electric Class 20s Nos. 20072 and 20172. These were both long-standing Toton engines and would have spent their days tripping coal trains around the East Midlands from places like Rufford, Clipstone, Pleasley and Denby Collieries, so a breath of fresh sea air would have been a welcome change for them - and clearly much appreciated by the haulage fans! Photo: Alan Jones.

Seen from a foot-crossing over the line, Class 47 No. 47565 creeps round Firsby curve with the 13.13 (SO) Skegness to Sheffield on August 19th 1989. At the time there were two Summer Saturday workings from Sheffield to Skegness. The first ran South from Sheffield and then via Nottingham and the Grantham Avoiding Line whilst the second, seen here, travelled East along the former Great Central line to Gainsborough then down the Joint Line to Sleaford. The third carriage is one of the thirty Mk 2C Open Seconds with Micro-Buffet, numbered in the 6500-6529 series and converted in 1980-81 from TSO vehicles by removing one seating bay and replacing it with a counter and space for a trolley. Photo: Alan Jones.

There is only one over-bridge between Boston and Skegness, at Fendyke Road in Firsby, by the former East Junction. On a hot and hazy August 19th 1989, Brush Class 31 No. 31441 (formerly 31220) slows for the 15 mph restriction round the very tight East-to-South curve with the 12.52 (SO) Skegness to Leeds. By this date, a reasonable amount of early Mk2 stock was appearing on Summer Saturday workings, displacing steam-heated Mk 1 stock and making electrically-heated Class 31/4s an obvious choice when the timings were not too demanding. Photo: Alan Jones.