Brigg Blog was recently asked when the final and unique building at the town's railway station was demolished, leaving only the two platforms... and a host of memories.
A check through our archive suggests this happened 25 years ago.
We believe the picture seen above was taken in July 1997 - just prior to demolition of the sole survivor, the former station master's house.
The second image, dated late December that year and seen immediately below, confirms that the building had been removed by then.
A station of some importance when opened as part of the Manchester, Sheffield & Lincolnshire Railway mainline in 1848, it once had a roof covering both platforms, a bookstall and a cast-iron footbridge.
There was a booking/ticket office and a fine portico entrance to the station, plus waiting rooms, a house for the station master and a smaller one for another railway employee. See the picture below, taken in the 1970s.
The roof was removed not long after the picture seen below was taken, showing local youngsters on platform two in 1960. (Image courtesy of Adrian Broome - seen in the middle).
The booking office and staff became surplus to requirements towards the end of that decade when Pay Trains came to North Lincolnshire - fares being tendered to a guard-conductor once passengers were aboard the diesel units operating between Cleethorpes and Sheffield via Barnetby.
Following the resident station master's post being abolished, the house was retained and leased to other employees well into the 1990s.
The footbridge was taken down in 2015 and replaced by a modern version, although without a lift to aid access to the far platform for trains to Gainsborough, Retford and Sheffield.
This Victorian survivor was dismantled in sections and later re-homed (by road) to a heritage railway with a view to refurbishment and re-use.
Two metal shelters were provided to afford some cover for those waiting on the platforms.
Brigg station's passenger service was gradually reduced, with the alternative route between Sheffield and Cleethorpes via Scunthorpe and Doncaster gaining preference at the expense of the Brigg Line via Gainsborough and Retford.
This culminated in Saturday-only trains from 1993.
The land adjoining the railway station - occupied by the goods yard, depot and sidings until their removal - is currently a local talking point again, as North Lincolnshire Council, which owns it, has announced a redevelopment plan allied to new housing.
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| Brigg railway station in 1977 with buildings still evident. |
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| The so-called porter's house near platform one at Brigg railway station circa 1970. This was one of the first buildings to be demolished later that decade. |
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| The new footbridge at Brigg railway station being erected in 2015 after removal of the cast iron Victorian original. |
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| Brigg railway staff near the goods yard, perhaps in the 1950s. We think station master George Holden in second from left. |
