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I had planned and attempted the trip along the Market Rasen line about five times now. Then when I did the Nottingham trams trip I noticed a line through Bulwell that spurred me in to planning mode. The line was poosible and it was possible along with the Market Rasen line as well.
Yes! Stupid O'Clock raised it's head again and off I went to Croydon for my first train.
9R02 East Croydon to St Pancras International 700008 Non winner.
Upstairs to the East Midlands Platforms via the Greggs and spot of breakfast. The gate lines were open so I went through and found the train
1D08 St Pancras International to Nottingham 222006 Non winner.
For some strange reason almost all the way up the Midland Main Line I was able to get a signal.
The train arrived in to Nottingham some 4 minutes late which cut my connection time down to 8 minutes. Crossing the bridge I made the connection with a lot of time.
2W05 Nottingham to Worksop 170416
The line is a quiet little one and in places it is single track. It connects at the Nottingham end at Mansfield jn and then passes through Mansfield to Shirebrooks East Jn. West of Worksop is the yards of Harry Needles. There is plenty there to see if you can get a chance (I don't know if you can see or photograph anything from anywhere other than the railway line. Maybe someone knows????).
Worksop station is a nice station and there are some heritage boards on the platforms. At the east end of the station is a level crossing with an old signal box still in situ.
My train arrived and I headed over a previously travelled line.
1L41 Worksop to Lincoln Central 195014
At Lincoln I headed out of the station and to the nearby McDonalds for food to keep me going. Strange how when you're waiting for food how long it takes when you've got a train to catch. But catch it I did!
2L63 Lincoln Central to Grimsby Town (via Market Rasen) 170532
On departure from Lincoln Central the train passes Pelham Street Jn and onwards to Market Rasen and then to Barnetby. I had decided to stay on all the way to Grimsby Town as I also wanted to tick off another line.
Grimsby Town station has some interesting old railway features and at the east end of the station you can see the old large signal box. The west end of the station is the level crossing. The town itself isn't the most inspiring.
2F89 Grimsby Town to Barton on Humber 170512
The line to Barton on Humber is mostly a single track affair with only six stations on the line; Ulceby, Thornton Abbey, Goxhill, New Holland, Barrow Haven and Barton on Humber.
After Habrough station the line branches off at Habrough Jn and Ulceby South Jn heading towards Barton. There isn't a lot to note on the line apart from Thornton Abbey which appears to have some rather old looking station signs on it.
New Holland Station is very much an industrial area but does have a little signal box at Lincoln Castle Way Level Crossing.
Barton on Humber station is pretty much a platform a little waiting shelter and a set of buffers. I literally took a couple of photos and got back on the train.
2F90 Barton on Humber to Habrough 170512
What can I say about Habrough station? There is not a lot there to be brutally honest. It's a staggered station across the level crossing. There are a few houses on both sides of the line. No station buildings apart from the bus shelter type things. At Habrough I then caught the next train to Lincoln.
2L70 Habrough to Lincoln Central 170510
Earlier in the day I had received notification that my train from Lincoln to Kings Cross was cancelled. Also I noted that LNER were having problems on the ECML so I'd arranged to meet the wife at Lincoln and we would make our way back a different route.
2L74 Lincoln Central to Nottingham 158813
This was also a bit of a bonus for me as the train passes over the Newark Flat crossing and between there and Nottingham was all new lines for me to tick off!
We changed platforms at Notting and caught the next London bound train
1B85 Nottingham to St Pancras International 222012
It was a nice trip back home although we were really very tired. Arriving in London we headed down for our final two trains.
9R55 St Pancras International to East Croydon 700043
2M69 East Croydon to Selhurst 377701