Alan tracks down lost railway lines
BOSTON features in a new book by Lincolnshire broadcaster and railway enthusiast Alan Stennett.
The author recreates the world of steam trains and old county lines, covering the period from the late 1840s when the railway companies were being formed, through the golden age of steam to the line closures before and after the Second World War.
Lost Railways of Lincolnshire recounts the history of train travel around the county.
At first only Lincoln was used significantly but eventually a whole network of lines spread across the county – including part of what we now know as the East Coast Main Line.
From 1848-1852 Boston was even used as the headquarters for the engineering division of the Great Northern Railway.
As the lines spread out across the county the railway companies began to make huge profits.
Transporting goods was a highly lucrative business but soon the companies began to realise there was more to be had as holidaymakers began to use the lines too.
Alan, who lives in a converted railway station near Woodhall, reveals some fascinating figures.
Did you know more than 100,000 people visited Skegness in 1880? And that the town was one of the top four destinations for 1.5 million beach-trippers annually during the 1930s?
Sadly, Alan informs the reader, the good times were not to last and gradually the lines were lost.
A series of photographs helps illustrate the huge impact that both the growth and demise of the railway culture has had upon the area.
Lost Railways of Lincolnshire (ISBN: 978 1 84674 040 4) is published by Countryside Books and priced 10.99. For more information visit www.countrysidebooks.co.uk
For the best news, sport and leisure coverage in the area turn to the Boston Standard, out every Wednesday for just 40p.
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Weather for Boston, Lincolnshire
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 10 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 26 mph
Wind direction: North east
