Missing: Horncastle station
WHEN changing their vehicles, transport operators often like to describe the development as a ‘ fleet upgrade’ – but in this instance your deputy editor says he’s had a ‘ fleece upgrade.’
Having worn his trusty navy Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways’ ( FfWHR) example for several years at home and to the office, he’s been on the look out for a suitable replacement – preferably from the same source.
In addition to being a nod to his Welsh roots, which he’s quietly proud of, the FfWHR logo, which includes the Welsh flag, complete with its red dragon has often proved to be a welcome talking point.
Particularly at a time when our railways are under immense pressure due to restrictions implemented in the name of Covid- 19, raising awareness and supporting heritage railway organisations with branded clothing is something we can all do, wherever we are.
While browsing the FfWHR online shop, Gareth noticed the fleece was back in stock in his size and colour. The order was despatched promptly on the morning of Friday, December 18 and arrived at Gareth’s home in Peterborough 24 hours later – and this despite the ‘ Christmas rush’. Top marks to courier DHL too.
➜ Order yours from www. festrail. co. uk/ shop/ or call 01766 516034.
Left: Gareth Evans shows off his new Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways fleece
A railway station isn’t normally the sort of thing that gets misplaced – whether full- size or a model. Full- size stations are sometimes closed, demolished, replaced, rebuilt or moved to another location – model ones can be either rebuilt, sold, incorporated in new layouts or binned. However, a model of Horncastle station in Lincolnshire – has, well – vanished!
The full- size station was opened to passengers on August 11, 1855. It was the terminus of a line just under eight miles in length, from Kirkstead Junction ( later renamed Woodhall Junction) on the Boston to Lincoln ‘ Lincolnshire Loop’ line, running on single track to Woodhall Spa and then to a terminus in Horncastle.
Operated by the GNR and later the LNER, passenger services were withdrawn by BR on September 13, 1954, although freight traffic lasted until April 6, 1971.
It is that 50th anniversary which the Horncastle History and Heritage Society is hoping to mark in 2021, though exactly how this significant event in the town’s history can be commemorated depends on what Covid- 19 containment measures permit in the year ahead.
An initial appeal for ideas led to the discovery of a photograph of a model of the station, which was once exhibited in the erstwhile Horncastle Museum. It had been built by a solicitor in Horncastle, Mr Tweed, at a time when both the railway and the station were still at the heart of town’s economy. It was complete with a model locomotive and carriages, which not surprisingly, proved popular with visitors.
The museum was located in the Trinity Centre in Horncastle and it was thought that upon closure in 2002, the model of Horncastle station had gone to the Museum of Lincolnshire Life in Lincoln. However, checks with that venue have shown they had not accepted it.
Chairman of the Horncastle History and Heritage Society, Dr Ian Marshman, said: “The big question now is where is it? We would like to return it to Horncastle in 2021 to display in the town and perhaps offer it to the Woodhall Spa Cottage Museum, with whom we’re working on anniversary commemorations.
“There is a suggestion it may have gone to a railway museum, which operated for a while at Burgh- leMarsh until the death of its owner, when the collection seems to have been dispersed. We would really like to know where it is. We just hope it has not been broken up.
“Horncastle station has always been popular with people making railway models as the buildings and track layouts were perfect for reproducing on a small scale.”
➜ If you have any information about the lost model, please contact Dr Ian Marshman, Chairman of the Horncastle History and Heritage Society by email on horncastlecivic@ gmail. com or telephone
07709 684104.