CHUFFED TO BITS

Brigg railway fans and lovers of nostalgia can enjoy a very rare treat this afternoon. For one of the surviving giants of the steam age will be passing very close to the town.
A4 4-6-2 No 60009 Union of South Africa is coming to northern Lincolnshire to haul a special train early tomorrow morning. And the legendary loco will be making its way across country today, in readiness for the outing to Chester.
Last leg of the trip for the Doncaster-built loco will be from Lincoln to Barnetby, which means it will be travelling along the line which passes under the road bridge between Kettleby and Bigby. That should be about 4.20pm this afternoon, if all goes well.
Tomorrow's trip starts at Cleethorpes and goes via Barnetby, Scunthorpe and Doncaster - not through Brigg. The closest it will get to our town will be Elsham level crossing (about 8.22am)if you want to go and have a look
On the return journey, the steam loco will leave the train at Doncaster, to be replaced by a diesel.
Did you know there used to be a railway halt on Bigby High Road? Presumably it was where Brigg people (after a walk from town) could board trains on the Lincoln line. It appears in some late Victorian timetables I've seen, but I've never seen a photograph of it, nor worked out exactly where it was. Anyone with useful information please email scoopfisher@aol.com