The Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway is the only true narrow gauge railway (distinct from a miniature railway) on the East Coast of the British Isles. It is based at Skegness Water Leisure Park, Walls Lane, Ingoldmells, three miles north of Skegness, opposite Butlin’s Funcoast World on the A52. The 60 cm (1’ 115/8”) gauge line has a unique and historically important collection of early English narrow gauge railway carriages and wagons, diesel locomotives and one steam locomotive.

Construction has been under way since the mid-1990’s by a small group of volunteers, following the closure of the original LCLR and a move from that site at Humberston, south of Cleethorpes, where it had operated from 1960 to 1985. The line had transported holidaymakers from a bus terminus (and latterly, a Sunday market) to the Fitties Holiday Camp and Humberston Beach.

The railway has origins in the network of narrow gauge railways which before the development of modern roads, served Lincolnshire’s potato growing industry. The largest was the Nocton Estates Light Railway, seven miles south of Lincoln. Its track and rolling stock came from the trench railways built by the British military in the First World War to take troops and munitions to the front lines. When the Nocton system was due for replacement by improved roads, a group of railway enthusiasts decided to preserve some of the equipment and convert it for use on a passenger carrying line. They built and opened the LCLR to achieve this.

Social and economic changes affecting the holiday industry and the need to plan for a secure future, made the LCLR’s directors decide to relocate and rebuild. This work continues and the site at Skegness Water Leisure Park now houses the company’s locomotives, carriages and wagons. Even the rails are of historic interest: recovered from industrial and quarrying sites, where narrow gauge railways had once provided essential transport. In addition, the site hosts the important collection of WW1 trench railway vehicles owned and restored by a registered charity, the LCLR Historic Vehicles Trust.

The LCLR’s rolling stock is of special interest. The most spectacular are the two large bogie carriages built by the Gloucester Rail, Carriage and Wagon Company in 1924 for the Ashover Light Railway which ran for seven and a quarter miles from Clay Cross to Ashover in Derbyshire. They had eventually become static sports pavilions but were bought by the LCLR in 1961 and restored for passenger service in 1962 and 1963.

The only passenger carriage ever owned and operated by the Sand Hutton Light Railway on its line near York, opened in 1922 but closed in 1930, is also on the LCLR, undergoing renovation. It too had been used as a sports pavilion and was restored and returned to service on the LCLR.

Equally unique is the passenger carriage from the Nocton Estates Light Railway, built on the frame of one of the War Department Light Railway’s Class “D” bogie wagons. It had been used for inspections of the estates and to transport shooting parties and was purchased by the LCLR in 1982 from owners who had used it as an office upon closure of the Nocton system. Restoration continues.

The frame of one of the WDLR’s Class D wagons, (once used by the LCLR as an open top passenger vehicle), is a Class P four-wheeled ration wagon and a modified example are also on the railway.

The locomotives are also of special interest.

The company’s initial locomotive, “Paul”, was a four wheel “Simplex” diesel built by Motor Rail of Bedford in 1926 (works number 3995) which had operated on the Nocton railway and was given a new all over metal body when purchased by the LCLR.

The other four diesel locomotives are also Simplexes: “Wilton” (works number 7481, built 1940) acquired from Humberston Brickworks; “Nocton” (works number 1935, built 1920); “Major” (works number 8622, built 1944) and an unnamed example, (works number 8874, also from 1944).

The steam locomotive "Jurassic" , purchased by the LCLR in 1961, is awaiting restoration. It is an 0-6-0 saddle tank built in 1903 by Peckett & Sons (works number 1008) for lime works at Southam in Warwickshire. It is certain that its elegant lines, polished brass dome cover and name plates, large cab and long chimney will again make it popular with LCLR passengers when renovated.

The importance of the four vehicles owned by the LCLR Historic Vehicles Trust has been recognised by the Science Museum and the Transport Trust who have contributed to the cost of their restoration. For many years they were displayed in the Museum of Army Transport. They include the only surviving ambulance van built for the WW1 trench railways, two Class D bogie wagons and a Class P four-wheeled ration wagon.

The LCLR company is owned by a group of private shareholders and volunteers are welcome to assist under supervision in the operation, construction and maintenance of the line and its equipment. Access is only by permission of the owners and operators of the Skegness Water Leisure Park. Except where open days and future operating days are advertised, intending visitors should go first to the Park’s office in Walls Lane, Ingoldmells, Skegness, Lincolnshire PE25 1JF (Tel: 01754 899400, website www.skegnesswaterleisurepark.co.uk, e-mail enquiries@skegnesswaterleisurepark.co.uk).

The Skegness Water Leisure Park is open from March to the end of October and facilities include the Barn Inn, a play area, a touring caravan park, coffee shop, camp shop, the airfield of Skegness Aero Club, a fishing lake, water sports lake and two launderettes.

Approaches from potential volunteers and specialist questions from railway enthusiasts should be addressed by e-mail to CBates7147@aol.com.

The LCLR Historic Vehicle Trust may be contacted at 12 Giles Street, Cleethorpes DN35 8EA. Photographs of significant developments on the LCLR are posted on the website www.davesrailpics.co.uk which contains extensive galleries from the LCLR’s history and redevelopment.

For more information including open days visit: Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway web site