Worthy efforts continue to persuade more local people to use the Saturdays-only passenger trains which call at Brigg railway station - three towards Grimsby and Cleethorpes and three heading for Kirton Lindsey, Retford and Sheffield.
Brigg Blog decided to do our bit last Saturday (November 20, 2021) by boarding at the town's station to change trains at Barnetby for one heading towards Nottinghamshire.
It proved to be a very interesting day out with a difference, with some surprises, including an unexpected 'replacement bus'.
The Independent Brigg Line Rail Group (IBLRG) has long campaigned to raise public awareness of what is a Northern company service along the iconic local line. More modern diesel units are now evident, having replaced the 'bus on wheels' Pacers which offered faithful, if basic, travel for so many years.
We joined three other Brigg residents on Platform 1 to board the first train of the morning (and week!) towards the east coast.
The Class 150 unit was a couple of minutes late arriving at 9.15am, having traversed part of the original mid-19th century Manchester Sheffield & Lincolnshire Railway mainline from the steel city via Gainsborough Central and Kirton's lengthy tunnel.
We bought a day ticket to Newark from the guard/conductor and enjoyed the ride past Brigg signalbox, the Bigby Road barrier crossing and through Kettleby.
A signal stop at Wrawby Junction permitted a good view of the landmark 137-lever brick-built signalbox, dating from the early 20th century. Although taken out of service some years ago, it's still standing - being grade two listed. This was once the biggest 'box' on the Great Central Railway.
We alighted at Barnetby station but faced a lengthy wait (until 10.58) to board the next East Midlands service towards our destination.
Until quite recently, the first Brigg train of the morning arrived a few minutes before a connecting Newark-bound unit. However, this is no longer the case.
The weather being dry and mild for November, we walked from the station to take a look at the disused Barnetby East signalbox, close to which a new Co-op company store is now being built, and also new housing.
Having read an article in that morning's Daily Star highlighting the discomfort caused by the closure of many railway station toilets across the UK, we walked past the Barnetby village conveniences on the station approach road. They were open, clean and in good order, with hand-washing, soap dispensers and hot air dryers all operating. We tested them.
Barnetby station is unstaffed and does not have toilets for passengers to use. However, we failed to find any indication on the platforms to inform customers there is a block of WCs (cared for by North Lincolnshire Council) only a few yards away.
The addition of new signs on the platforms and/or messages on the visual display screens might bring welcome relief to some waiting customers who are 'caught short'.
This is North Lincolnshire's main railway junction, where many people change trains. So not all passengers will have local knowledge about the village WCs being close by.
Obviously, the adjacent Whistle & Flute pub/restaurant (originally the Station Hotel) has toilets available to paying customers, but the hostelry is not open at all times when trains are running.
Pay-and-display car parking is available close to the station. The meters do not take cash but contactless card payments can be made.
Built more than 100 years ago, Barnetby station's former booking office (now long closed) provides office accommodation only and is known as Stothard House - a former railway manager-related name.
After returning to the station in good time to await our connection, we were interested to hear periodic public address notices urging waiting passengers to wear masks in crowded places, including this station. At the time we were the only person on any of the four platforms, where the only enclosed structures are a few small waiting shelters. Elsewhere, things are al fresco!
Earlier, though, we had met someone we knew who was boarding a TransPennine Express train towards Doncaster (pictured at the top of this post). Others joined him, but then things became quiet again.
A very lengthy freight train full of biomass imported through Immingham rumbled through on its way to Drax power station in Yorkshire, ahead of our unit arriving.
Some of Barnetby station's nearby sidings are overgrown with trees and bushes which, if cleared, might perhaps help generate more electricity for the nation at Drax (or another similar facility) and potentially address the railway's traditional 'leaves on the line' autumn wheelslip issues,
Bang on time our connecting train arrived in Platform 3 and we boarded a two-car Class 170 - a comfortable successor to the older DMUs that operated last time we used this service.
However, when two train staff arrived to check our ticket, they told us this train was not going through to Newark; it would be terminating at Lincoln due to engineering work being undertaken on the route beyond. We didn't think to check in advance.
Helpful staff at Central station ensured that train passengers knew where the replacement buses were waiting for them and the times of departure.
However, the meandering route meant progress was going to be slow. There was a sightseeing tour of some of the city's historic streets and buildings (at no extra charge!). The replacement bus called at Hykeham station (bordering Lincoln) and then others on either side of the Lincs/Notts border.
This rural ride through the countryside proved interesting and enjoyable, but eventually we reached the historic Civil War town and its Newark Castle station, which we hadn't seen close up for more than 50 years, although we have made many visits to mainline Northgate.
Newark Castle station has impressive architecture and staff were present - something Brigg station hasn't enjoyed since the late 1960s!
It had taken 3¾ hours to get there - a journey that could have been undertaken by car in 45-50 minutes.
Newark's impressive Real Ale Store being nearby offered a golden opportunity to stock up with a few tasty bottled beers from its extensive selection - for later consumption.
Newark Sugar Factory is engaged in a beet processing campaign at this time of the year. The earthy aroma brought back memories of decades when Brigg's own sugar-making facility was still going strong prior to being closed on the grounds of economy.
The Brigg factory (actually in Scawby) had connecting links with the Brigg railway line and even its own shunting locos (steam and later diesel) to sort wagons in the factory sidings.
We decided to pen these Saturday railway journey reflections following the high number of page views gained by a recent post about Brigg man Adrian Broome's Saturday visit to Sheffield. He even provided us with a headline: A Trip Down Memory Line.
Please note if you are planning to use the Saturdays-only passenger train service from Brigg that timetable changes are ahead. View details here...
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Barnetby East signalbox (now disused) viewed from the top of the village railway station's footbridge - November 2021 - with the Lincolnshire Wolds beyond.
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