Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway

Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway

Locale	Lincolnshire, England
Dates of operation	1948–
Track gauge	15 in (381 mm)
Length	2 miles (3.2 km)
Headquarters	Cleethorpes

Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway

Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway
Legend Kingsway Station x20px Viaduct over boating lake x20px x20px Discovery Station (request only) x20px Engineering Shed x20px x20px x20px Lakeside Central x20px x20px x20px x20px Humberston North Sea Lane

The Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway is a 15 in (381 mm) railway built in 1948 in Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire operating between Cleethorpes Leisure Centre and behind Pleasure Island Family Theme Park and the Buck Beck estuary.

History

The line was built in 1948 to a slightly smaller 14.5 inches (370 mm) gauge, as a tourist attraction by Cleethorpes Borough Council, who also operated it from 1959 to 1990.

Trains run from Kingsway station, which is next to the Leisure Centre, over a 40 yards (37 m) viaduct and along the sea wall, turning west to run past the shed and museum at Lakeside station. Over the 2006/7 winter off-season, the Line was extended a further 900 yards (823 m) south-east to a new station at North Sea Lane, close to the Meridian Line car park, Pleasure Island Family Theme Park and the Buck Beck estuary. This brought the total current running length to 2 miles (3.2 km).

In the 1960s, the line used battery locomotives. On being regauged in the 1970s, two Rio Grande steam outline locomotives built by Severn Lamb were used. Since being taken into private ownership, a variety of steam and diesel locomotives have been used, followed by petrol-driven engines with a steam outline, though genuine steam locomotives are now in operation. A National Lottery grant enabled the railway to acquire stock from the long-dismantled Sutton Miniature Railway in Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield, all of which is currently housed in the old Sutton Miniature Railway locomotive shed, including Bassett-Lowke Class 10 Little Giant 'Mighty Atom.'

The railway also held the Olympic Torch on Day 39 of the 2012 Olympic Torch relay with BMR locomotive 'Mountaineer' hauling the Alan Keef 'Council Rake' carriages, taking it from Kingsway station to Lakeside station.

In May 2014, the railway was sold to Cleethorpes Light Railway Limited.

Stations

• Cleethorpes Kingsway: Original station dismantled in 1998 and the current station built and opened in 1999 with a viaduct over the boating lake on way into the station, inside the building is a gift & model shop.
• Discovery Halt: Closed, only open for request stops.
• Lakeside Central: The main terminus with engine sheds, workshop, paint shop, carriage shed and a passing loop and on the platforms are signal boxes, a tearoom, a cafe, a general office, a museum and the 'Smallest Pub in the World'.
• Humberston North Sea Lane: Opened in 2007, features a signal box, a gift shop and a refreshment stand. Building only open during the Summer running days.

Operations

There are three official colour-coded timetables:

• Blue: 50 Minute Timetable; 1 train.
• Green: 30 Minute Timetable; 2 trains.
• Red: 15 Minute Timetable; 4 trains.

The common timetable is the Blue Service used during mid-week and off peak seasons while the Green timetable is used on weekends and bank holidays. The Red timetable is occasionally for Gala days and some Special Events.

The railway is operated by a fleet of seven steam locomotives and six diesel locomotives. Passenger rolling stock consists of nineteen fully enclosed bogie carriages, one articulated set and four open top carriages.

Steam locomotives

Name	No	Wheel Arrangement	Tractive + Cyl Size	Main Dimensions	Built	Rebuild + Maint	Gauge	Colour	Status	Owned By
Sutton Belle	1	4-4-2 Tender	4.25 x 6.75	16'8 x 3'6 x 2'6.5	Cannon Ironfoundries 1933	Griffin Foundry 1953 & CCLR 2003	15 in (381 mm)	Royal Maroon	Out of Service	CCLRSA
Sutton Flyer	2	4-4-2 Tender	4.25 x 6.75	17' x 3'6 x 2'6.5	Griffin Foundry 1950	CCLR 2003 +2006	15 in (381 mm)	Royal Blue	On Display (Out of service)	CCLRSA
Mighty Atom/Prince of Wales	11	4-4-2 Tender			Bassett-Lowke 1908		15 in (381 mm)		On Display awaiting restoration	CLR Ltd
SRRL 24	24	2-6-2 Tender	3000 lb 5.94 x 8	23 ft x 6 ft x 4 ft 3 in	Fairbourne 1990		15 in (381 mm)	Black	In Service	CLR Ltd
Effie		0-4-0 Well Tank			Great Northern Steam	CCLR 2006	15in	Heywood Green	Stored	Private Owner
Yvette	111	4-4-0 Tender	3 13/16 x 6 508 lbs		Craven 1946	CCLR 2006	15 in (381 mm)	LNER Darlington Green	Valve gear replacement	T. Brackenbury
O4 Class	6284	2-8-0 Tender			Crome/Loxley 2009		15 in (381 mm)	LNER Freight Black	In Service	R Crome & R Loxley

Diesel Locomotives

Name	No	Built	Wheels	Fuel/ Trans	Gauge	Status	Colour	Owner
Ted	7	Lister 1944	0-4-0	Diesel-Mechanical	15 in (381 mm)	Workshop	Brunswick Green	CLR Ltd
Dudley	SMR 4	G & S Light Engineering 1946	Bo-Bo	4* Petrol-Mechanical	15 in (381 mm)	On Display	Grey & Red	CCLRSA
DA1	6	Bush Mill Railway 1986	0-4-0	Diesel-Mechanical	15 in (381 mm)	In Service	Royal Blue with white linings	CLR Ltd
Bluebell	278	Severn Lamb 1979	2-8-0	Diesel Hydraulic	15 in (381 mm)	In Service	Royal Blue	CLR Ltd

Rolling Stock

Number	Type	Built	Seats	Livery	Notes	Status
1	Enclosed Observation	1930	14	Royal Maroon with coloured linings	Was built as a drive trailer for a 2-car railcar. As the engine was an Austin 7 engine, it was fitted with an Austin logo, which it still carries today. Was converted into an ordinary coach****. It arrived at Cleethorpes in 2002.	Stored
2	Enclosed	1930	12	Royal Maroon with coloured linings	Built for the Sutton Miniature Railway, arrived at Cleethorpes in 2002.	Stored
3	Enclosed	1930	12	Royal Maroon with coloured linings	Built for the Sutton Miniature Railway, arrived at Cleethorpes in 2002.	Stored
4	Enclosed	1952	12	Royal Maroon with coloured linings	Built for the Sutton Miniature Railway, arrived at Cleethorpes in 2002.	Stored
5	Enclosed	1952	12	Royal Maroon with coloured linings	Built for the Sutton Miniature Railway, arrived at Cleethorpes in 2002.	Stored
6	Enclosed Observation	1952	14	Royal Maroon with coloured linings	Built originally the same as no. 2-5. Rebuilt with observation in 1956. Built for the Sutton Miniature Railway, arrived at Cleethorpes in 2002.	Stored
7	Open	1952	14	Red & Brown seats with black floorboards and frames	Built for the Sutton Miniature Railway, arrived at Cleethorpes in 2002.	Stored
8	Open	1954	14	Red & Brown seats with black floorboards and frames	Built for the Sutton Miniature Railway, arrived at Cleethorpes in 2002.	Stored
9	Open	1956	14	Red & Brown seats with black floorboards and frames	Built for the Sutton Miniature Railway, arrived at Cleethorpes in 2002.	Stored
10	Open	1956	14	Red & Brown seats with black floorboards and frames	Built for the Sutton Miniature Railway, arrived at Cleethorpes in 2002.	Stored
100	Guard's Van	1977	12	Crimson and Cream	Built for the Longleat railway, sold to Cleethorpes in 1990.	In Service
101	Enclosed	1977	16	Crimson and Cream	Built for the Longleat railway, sold to Cleethorpes in 1990.	In Service
102	Enclosed	1977	16	Crimson and Cream	Built for the Longleat railway, sold to Cleethorpes in 1990.	Stored
103	Enclosed	1977	16	Crimson and Cream	Built for the Longleat railway, sold to Cleethorpes in 1990.	Stored
1	Enclosed	1984	20	Royal Maroon with black frames	Built for the Liverpool Garden Festival.	In Service
2	Enclosed	1984	20	Royal Maroon with black frames	Built for the Liverpool Garden Festival.	In Service
3	Enclosed	1984	20	Royal Maroon with black frames	Built for the Liverpool Garden Festival.	In Service
4	Enclosed	1984	20	Royal Maroon with black frames	Built for the Liverpool Garden Festival.	Out of Service
N/A	Council Rake	1987	102 + 2 wheelchair users	Royal Maroon with black frames & yellow lining	Built by Alan Keef for the North East Lincolnshire Council, only stock to have disabled access & held the Olympic Torch on 'The Flame Train' on Day 39.	Stored

External links

• Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway Official Website