Train buffs want to reopen Ludborough to Louth railway line
RAILWAY buffs are full steam ahead to take the low road to Louth.
It will cost about £1.6 million to rebuild the track between their station at Ludborough and the outskirts of Louth's Fairfield Industrial Estate.
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Maurice Lynn, of Lincolnshire Wolds Railway, on the end of the line which is hoped will stretch as far as Louth
And the Lincolnshire Wolds Railway (LWR) owners have launched a fundraising appeal to buy track and materials for the eight miles of railway line.
The restoration of the Grimsby to Louth railway was the long-term objective of the preservation society that was formed when the line was closed by British Rail more than 30 years ago.
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Ludborough station became the group's base and then the long haul began to rebuild this historic line as a heritage railway.
It will take eight miles of track to link the village with the outskirts of the town and appeal organisers estimated it will cost about £200,000 per mile.
They have obtained structural engineering reports stating the three bridges over which the track will run between Ludborough and Louth are sound.
LWR's managing director Frank Street said: "The bridges are basically sound, but they will need some maintenance."
He said the company also aims to extend the track northwards towards Holton-le-Clay.
"It is going to be a steady trickle than a flood of money for the work," he added.
He highlighted the progress that had been made since the group took over the railway line.
In 2009 a milestone was reached when steam trains started running to North Thoresby. The link to Louth will increase the current track by more than four times its current length.
Maurice Lynn, of LWR, said: "Our first target is to reach Utterby Halt, but there is much enabling work, such as clearing undergrowth and scraping and preparing the trackbed, which needs to be done before we can extend the line. It costs more than £200,000 to lay a mile of track so you can see the scale of the challenge.
"We need to raise funds to purchase materials such as ballast, rails and sleepers before we can progress."
Call 01507 363881 for more information.
Comments
by notworthit
Saturday, June 30 2012, 7:52PM
“Hate to sound cynical but aren't there some (previously) gated level crossings to consider ?”
by BobCratchett
Saturday, June 30 2012, 12:31PM
“If I spike the lottery win... i'll fund this fully.”
by smoker
Saturday, June 30 2012, 12:26PM
“Steve0,
My comment was to show what can be achieved when there's the will to do it and was a comparison with what NELC has done over the same period.”
by Steve0
Saturday, June 30 2012, 12:11PM
“Smoker - you've lost me, what's this got to do with NELC? The railway closed years before the council was even around, and the railway is in East Lindsey not North East Lincs.”
by smoker
Saturday, June 30 2012, 11:37AM
“Good luck to all those concerned. It's been a hard slog, but you are slowly getting there. Show NELC that some people appreciate preserving the best of the past rather than destroying it.”
by Steve0
Saturday, June 30 2012, 10:04AM
“The very best of luck with this project. Who knows, in time it could even be a viable way for people of the villages this train passes to get into Louth to visit?”