A Visit To The Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway - 11/11/17

After arriving at the station via a previously unknown National Express service between Hull and Cleethorpes (it goes to London) and a quick hop on a local Stagecoach, I purchased an All Day Ticket  at Lakeside Station and went to the platform where the coaching stock was being prepared. Unusually, this was a train formed of just four coaches and the reason was made clear when the train's loco for the day came down from the shed - Effie making a rare appearance... At least it was for me! I made myself known to the driver who remembered me from past visits and to the guard who seemed friendly indeed.

Departure was prompt at 10:50 from Platform 3 (1 and 2 are OOU most of the time and used for storing coaching stock and only really used when there are major events on) for the first run of the day to Kingsway. We stopped at the loco sheds though to allow a small party of people to get off there to work on engines and other items. Upon restarting, it was discovered Effie could not move due to low traction where we'd stopped - however a valiant effort on the part of the driver soon got us going and we got to Kingsway only a minute or so behind schedule. After closely observing the runaround, Effie was now in the correct position and awaited her booked departure time. Kingsway Station, for those that have never visited is a simple terminus station with two platforms - with P1 being the most used due to the positioning of the headshunt. During the extreme end of the season, the station building is closed with entrance gained via a side gate which is fully signed.

With nobody else there, the train set off for a run all the way to Humberston Station with a call
back at Lakeside Station first.

As you can see, sand had to be applied on the first few trips due to the poor adhesive nature of the track that morning. Anyway, it was onwards for a very enjoyable day out with me spending most runs behind the engine so I could film Effie hard at work. During one layover at Lakeside, I went to the cafe to buy a bacon sandwich but found I had missed the time when they stopped doing them. However, the very kind lady said she'd do one for me ready to pick up on the way back through - so a massive bonus for me then!

Humberston Station is the southern end of the line at the moment and is a simple platform arrangement with a headshunt and run round loop - with an additional loop just outside the station for use on gala days. As it was winter, the station building was closed and I was told that the station might be demolished during station rebuilding works when the line is increased to go to a nearby caravan park. The plan, so far as I know, is to place the new platform where the loop is and Humberston becomes and intermediate station. This work could be carried out over the winter close period and involves altering Humberston's track arrangement as well as lay additional track, new platform and a bridge to get them over a small stream.



After a number of absolutely splendid runs behind Effie, including a marvellous start out of Kingsway with a little wheelslip making some truly awesome noises, we pulled into Lakeside to find that, due to Effie not having a headlamp fitting and the darkness of the evening drawing closer, it was decided to end services. This suited me as I could catch the last bus home instead of getting a train and a bus! However, the staff decided that, as Kingsway's gate was still open and needed securing for the night, Effie would run light engine up there to secure the gate before running light engine back. The staff then realised that I was still around and asked if i minded walking from Kingsway to Cleethorpes Pier. When I replied I did not, the first coach was detached from the rest of the rake and a "special service" formed of Effie and the lone coach ran up to Kingsway to save me walking part of the way there - a great way to end the day out...

I leave you with a few more images of my much loved Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway