Regular train services, including trains hauled by a steam locomotive, will begin on Sunday 27th May 2018 over the new extension completed over the winter months to the Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway in the Skegness Water Leisure Park.
The railway has been extended by 150 metres beside the Skegness Aerodrome. The terminus loop at the South Loop has been moved to this new point (with 50 metres of the original track being relaid), with the provision made for the second station at some point in the future.
Services will continue to operate from Walls Lane station, close to the new Reception Building of the Water Leisure Park. The Park's Reception BUilding was opened last by HRH The Princess Royal.
The extension has been completed by volunteers using rail sourced from a Ministry of Defence depot near Carlisle and is laid on former London Underground sleepers, and finally is secured with track bolts from the Ffestiniog Railway.
2018 operating dates at the Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway
S = Steam after lunch; D = Diesel.
May
- Sunday 27th Open Day S
June
- Saturday 9th: Skegness Water Leisure Park Caravan Show. Rides will be free D
July
- Saturday 21st D
- Saturday 28th D
August
- Wednesday 1st D
- Saturday 4th S
- Wednesday 8th D
- Saturday 11th S
- Wednesday 15th D
- Saturday 18th S
- Wednesday 22nd D
- Bank Holiday weekend Saturday 25th S
- Bank Holiday Sunday 26th S
- Wednesday 29th D
September
- Saturday 1st D (not S as originally publicised)
- Saturday 15th S
- Sunday 16th Skegness Water Leisure Park Classic Car Show S
What did the officials say?
John Chappell, the Railway's spokesman, said:
“A new section of passenger railway opening in Lincolnshire is a rare and special occasion. We will keep fares at £1 return, even on days when we are using our steam locomotive Jurassic. That surely makes us the best value heritage railway anywhere in the British Isles”.
“The railway is home to a historically significant collection of vehicles from the trench railways of the World War One battlefields, and we will demonstrate as many as possible. The completion of the extension, the upgrading of the track and rolling stock are all great achievements by our increasing band of volunteer workers. Some travel from as far away as Wiltshire, Lancashire and the East Riding to work on the LCLR”.
- Visit the Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway website
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