People with an interest in Brigg history and/or public transport can now enjoy interesting footage of our local railway line.
We've been alerted to the posting of a video taken from the cab of a train being driven from Barnetby through Wrawby Junction, Kettleby, Brigg, Scawby & Hibaldstow, Kirton Lindsey (including its lengthy tunnel) and on to Gainsborough.
A number of local folk have already been tipped off about this RailMart footage and have kindly sent Brigg Blog the all-important link so others can do likewise. https://youtu.be/EwC20XSom8E
The latest post is well worth a look and shows the ride in actual time.
Dave Bell, one of those to supply the link, says: "The various groups involved in extending services through Brigg will likely be aware of these. The YouTube channel has a lot of other videos of the same sort."
As the driver makes his way through Brigg, look out for both bridges over the Ancholme, Mill Lane, power stations on the ex-Brigg Sugar Factory site, the former Scawby & Hibaldstow station (closed in the mid-1960s), the last surviving Great Central Railway tall signalbox at Kirton Lime Sidings and the 1,334-yard Kirton Tunnel, constructed in the 1840s under the expert eye of Sir John Fowler, who would later play a part in building the world famous Forth Bridge in Scotland.
Other cab rides along surviving lines in northern Lincolnshire can also we watched (see the links that follow).
Dave adds: "These videos (no soundtrack) were released recently, showing some of the lines from Barnetby. While they're a few years old, it's apparent that the line east from Barnetby doesn't have the capacity it used to."
Two plans have been put forward to increase the frequency of Brigg Line trains (currently Saturdays only), involving a new Barton to Gainsborough service via Brigg or introducing a return 'shuttle' connecting Worksop and Cleethorpes through our town.
Dave wonders about a "bottleneck" on the section between Barnetby and Brocklesby Junction, where the four tracks were reduced to three some years ago. "Are there the timetable slots available amongst all the freight traffic?" he asks.
One solution would be to relay the fourth line, but this would prove expensive.
If not, he suggests, could the powers-that-be consider "the return of a decent bus service as a better bet?"
The Brigg video highlights the former Manchester, Sheffield & Lincolnshire Railway being reduced, in places, from double to single track decades ago. Brigg station still has both its platforms in use today but Kirton has only one.
VIDEO VIEWING
The little-used route from Grimsby to Immingham, through the docks area.
https://youtu.be/VrQVPa2eNgs
Gainsborough through Retford on the iconic Brigg Line.
https://youtu.be/Qx6Xi_TzTDo
The existing Barton to Cleethorpes service
https://youtu.be/J5Np4UOnfFc
PICTURED: Some scenes from the video by RailMart - Brigg station, the former Scawby & Hibaldstow station, Hibaldstow's automatic barrier crossing and Kirton Tunnel. An acclaimed book about the tunnel has been penned by Sheffield railway enthusiast Stephen Gay.
