Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway

Updated on Dec 10, 2023

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Dates of operation 1948– Previous gauge 14 ⁄4 in (362 mm) Headquarters Cleethorpes Locale Lincolnshire		Track gauge 15 in (381 mm) Length 2,130 yards (1.95 km) Phone +44 1472 604657 Date of operation 1948

Address Lakeside Station, Kings Rd, Cleethorpes DN35 0AG, UK Similar Pleasure Island Family Th, Lincolnshire Wolds Railway, Kirklees Light Railway, Cleethorpes Boating Lake, The Jungle Zoo Profiles Facebook Twitter

Cleethorpes coast light railway supporters gala 2014

The 15 in (381 mm) gauge Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway primarily serves holidaymakers in Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire, England. It operates from near the Cleethorpes Leisure Centre, running to the mouth of the Buck Beck.

Cleethorpes coast light railway part 1

History

The present day CCLR has moved a long and tortuous way from its origins as the 300 yards (270 m) long, steam-hauled single track 10 ¹⁄₄ in (260 mm) gauge Cleethorpes Miniature Railway (CMR) founded in 1948.

This history is examined in the article Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway Timeline.

Present operations

Trains run from Kingsway station, which is next to the Leisure Centre, over a 40 yards (37 m) viaduct and along the sea wall, turning SSW to run past the shed and museum at Lakeside station. During the 2006/7 winter off-season, the line was extended a further 900 yards (823 m) south-east to a new station at North Sea Lane, close to the Meridian Line car park, Pleasure Island Family Theme Park and the mouth of the Buck Beck. This brought the total running length to 2,130 yards (1.95 km).

In the 1960s, the line used battery locomotives. On being regauged in the 1970s, two Rio Grande steam outline locomotives built by Severn Lamb were used. Since being taken into private ownership, a variety of steam and diesel locomotives have been used, followed by petrol-driven engines with a steam outline, though genuine steam locomotives are now in operation. A National Lottery grant enabled the railway to acquire stock from the long-dismantled Sutton Miniature Railway in Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield, all of which is currently housed in the old Sutton Miniature Railway locomotive shed, including Bassett-Lowke Class 10 Little Giant 'Mighty Atom.'

The railway also held the Olympic Torch on Day 39 of the 2012 Olympic Torch relay with BMR locomotive 'Mountaineer' hauling the Alan Keef 'Council Rake' carriages, taking it from Kingsway station to Lakeside station.

In May 2014, the railway was sold to Cleethorpes Light Railway Limited.

Stations

Kingsway: Original station dismantled in 1998 and the current station built and opened in 1999 with a viaduct over the boating lake on way into the station, inside the building is a gift shop.

Discovery Halt: Only open for request stops.

Lakeside Central: The main terminus with engine sheds and workshops, passing loop and on the platforms a cafe, museum and the Signal Box Inn 'The Smallest Pub on the Planet'.

Humberston North Sea Lane: Opened in 2007, features a signal box and a refreshment stand. Building only open during the Summer running days.

Operations

There are three official colour-coded timetables:

Blue: 50 Minute Timetable; 1 train.

Green: 30 Minute Timetable; 2 trains.

Red: 15 Minute Timetable; 4 trains.

The usual timetable is the Blue Service, used during mid-week and off peak seasons; while the Green timetable is used on weekends and bank holidays. The Red timetable is used occasionally for gala days and some special events.

The railway is operated by a fleet of seven steam locomotives and five diesel or petrol locomotives. Passenger rolling stock consists of nineteen fully enclosed bogie carriages, one articulated set and four open top carriages.

Steam locomotives

Locomotives which have worked on the railway but have since left are listed in Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway Timeline.

References

Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA