2. RAILWAYS
  3. MIDLAND & GREAT NORTHERN JOINT RAILWAY

MIDLAND & GREAT NORTHERN JOINT RAILWAY MISCELLANY

Included here are pictures of the old Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway that are not really about locomotives - coaches, wagons, stations, engine sheds, bridges, etc. These pictures are published for pleasure/information/research purposes only and are not for sale or copy under any circumstances. Information in captions has been researched as thoroughly as possible but its accuracy cannot be guaranteed.
PLEASE NOTE : IMPORTANT MESSAGE : Please be aware that I do not sell copies of ANY of my pictures, DO NOT email copies to viewers or allow re-posting on other sites. Neither do I wish to enter into correspondence with any individual or group regarding my pictures or their captions. All comments reflect my personal opinions and I am not prepared to discuss these with anyone or to spend the rest of my life answering inane questions. I apologise for this disclaimer but I'm afraid it has been forced upon me. I have no wish to offend anyone and I hope you will continue to enjoy my pictures at your leisure.
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SOUTH WITHAM - Not a very good picture but the best I could do. The stationmaster's house, the only permanent building in an otherwise wooden station.
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SOUTH WITHAM - Not a very good picture but the best I could do. The stationmaster's house, the only permanent building in an otherwise wooden station.

  • SOUTH LYNN LOCOMOTIVE DEPOT (31D) - The locomotive shed at South Lynn, built almost entirely of wood, was badly damaged by fire in early 1958. Amazingly, given that the threat of closure was already hanging over the M&GN, it was decided to rebuild it, work which was still underway when the line closed.
  • SOUTH LYNN LOCOMOTIVE DEPOT (31D) - The locomotive shed at South Lynn, built almost entirely of wood, was badly damaged by fire in early 1958. Amazingly, given that the threat of closure was already hanging over the M&GN, it was decided to rebuild it, work which was still underway when the line closed. This shot shows the locoshed in 1980, still in use for commercial purposes. The tracks give access to the Saddlebow sugar beet factory.
  • SOUTH WITHAM - A brand new station built entirely of wood, seen here just after opening, looking towards Saxby. The yard on the right caters to the extensive ironstone traffic from this area, the tower being a wagon drop. The ironstone quarry was just behind this tower beyond the hedge line.
  • SOUTH WITHAM - Bridge No.20 crossed Thistleton Lane just east of South Witham Station. There was a footpath adjacent to the left side that gave access to the Westbound platform. Note how the road has had to be dug away, even then giving a headroom of only 12 feet 6 inches. It probably floods in winter too. You'd think they'd demolish it and raise up the level of the road.
  • SOUTH WITHAM - Bridge No.25 was built to carry what was then known as the Great North Road over the railway. When the A1, as it is now known, was dualled in the 1960's, another bridge was built adjacent to carry the northbound carriageway and the trackbed was utilised for the slip roads.
  • SOUTH WITHAM - In contrast to the previous picture, this shot is taken in October 1958, just before the end of passenger services. The ironstone traffic continued until 1964 and this effectively became a terminus of a branch from Saxby. Seen here looking west.
  • SOUTH WITHAM - In contrast to the previous picture, this shot is taken in October 1958, just before the end of passenger services. The ironstone traffic continued until 1964 and this effectively became a terminus of a branch from Saxby. Seen here looking west. Note MR style nameboard.
  • SOUTH WITHAM - Not a very good picture but the best I could do. The stationmaster's house, the only permanent building in an otherwise wooden station.
  • SOUTH WITHAM - The remains of Bridge No.22, Manor Farm Bridge, a typical bridge of it's type, just wide enough for a single vehicle to pass to make it as cheap as possible.
  • SPALDING & BOURNE RAILWAY - Goods Brake No.1 - This brakevan must have been fairly ancient even when this picture was taken and was presumably preserved or set aside somewhere. The Spalding & Bourne Railway opened in 1866 and was absorbed into the M&GN in 1894 so, if this is a contemporary picture, then it is very early. I've never seen anything quite like it before. The guard certainly couldn't have seen much from the cubby!
  • SPALDING - Although technically a GNR Station, the M&GN enjoyed full use of the generous facilities at Spalding - indeed, any M&GN train calling there was obliged to reverse direction and change engines, hence the presence of an M&GN locoshed. Seen here in about 1920 with an M&GN train departing on the right, 4-4-0 No.4 I think.
  • SPALDING - Opened in October 1848 by the GNR on the Peterborough to Boston and Lincoln routes, Spalding quickly expanded into a major railway centre, with lines to Holbeach in 1862, Bourne in 1866 and March in 1867. The railway map was competed in 1882 with the GN/GE Joint line to Sleaford. By this time the station had expanded to 7 platforms and had it's own motive power depot. The station is seen here in about 1910 with an M&GN train about to depart.
  • SPALDING LOCO DEPOT - Seen here in the 1950's, Class J6 No.64231 nearest the camera, flanked by 2 Ivatt Class 4MT's.
  • SPALDING LOCOSHED - The little two-road locoshed at Spalding usually played host to a fair number of engines due to the fact that all M&GN trains calling at the station were obliged to reverse - notice that all of the engines in this picture face south! Spalding was also the terminus of local services from Sutton Bridge and Bourne. Seen here in the 1920's I think.
  • STALHAM - Opened by the Yarmouth & North Norfolk Railway in July 1880, Stalham was the second stop from North Walsham on the line to Yarmouth Beach. After closure, the station building was eventually demolished and re-erected at Holt on the NNR - seen here in 1920.
  • STALHAM - Opened by the Yarmouth & North Norfolk Railway in July 1880, Stalham was the second stop from North Walsham on the line to Yarmouth Beach. It closed along with almost everything else. The station building was eventually demolished and re-erected at Holt on the NNR.
  • STALHAM - Opened by the Yarmouth & North Norfolk Railway in July 1880, Stalham was the second stop from North Walsham on the line to Yarmouth Beach. It closed along with almsot everything else. The station building was eventually demolished and re-erected at Holt on the NNR. The station platform furniture is of interest in this view.
  • STALHAM - Opened by the Yarmouth & North Norfolk Railway in July 1880, Stalham was the second stop from North Walsham on the line to Yarmouth Beach. It closed along with everything else and in this picture appears to be in use as a builders yard. Most of the buildings appear to be fairly intact. The station building was eventually demolished and re-erected at Holt on the NNR.
  • STALHAM - Opened by the Yarmouth & North Norfolk Railway in July 1880, Stalham was the second stop from North Walsham on the line to Yarmouth Beach. It closed along with nearly everything else in March 1959. This view is looking towards Catfield in July 1959 and all looks very little different than it did when it was open.
  • SUTTON BRIDGE, Lincolnshire (1) - Cross Keys Bridge is a swing bridge that spans the tidal River Nene in Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire. When it was built in 1897, it was the third bridge to cross the Nene in Sutton Bridge. The bridge is still in use today carrying the busy A17 between Lincolnshire and Norfolk. It was originally a dual purpose bridge serving the Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway Company on what is now the westbound carriageway and the road was on the eastbound side. The railway line was closed in 1965 and the bridge took on its present day use as a road bridge. Armstrong Whitworth built the engines which supplied the power to swing the bridge. The hydraulic house is now undergoing conversion to a family home but will retain the hydraulics and accumulators, which are housed in a 40-foot high tower. The bridge swings to allow ships and pleasure craft using the River Nene to pass through to the Port of Wisbech, in the 1880's the 11th busiest timber port in Britain. Seen here on March 24th, 2014, looking east. The right hand arch carried the railway. Much of the nearby outside furniture shown on other pictures is modelled on the design of the bridge.
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