North Bay Railway takeover prompts rediscovery of historic views in ‘lockdown tidy-up’
THE recent takeover (issue 278) of Scarborough's North Bay Railway by John Kerr and Peter Bryant, the owners of the Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway (CCLR), has prompted the discovery of two historic postcards from the 20in gauge resort line's earliest days, as well as a booklet commemorating its golden jubilee, published 40 years ago.
The old postcards, with their evocative scenes of prewar holiday crowds enjoying a ride on this famous miniature line, have been unearthed by Mike Swift, from Huddersfield, a former secretary of the Narrow Gauge Railway Society and a founder shareholder in the Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway (LCLR).
A ‘lockdown tidy-up' of drawers and cupboards in Cleethorpes uncovered previously unpublished photographs of the earliest days of the LCLR. It was the first heritage railway in the world to be built by enthusiasts, which ran from 1960 onwards at Humberston, near Cleethorpes, until 1985, and reopened 42 miles to the south at the Skegness Water Leisure Park in 2009 and the CCLR.
Finds
Prompted by the response to their publication (issues 269, 274 and 275) and the North Bay takeover, Mike found the two postcards in his own collection, along with a booklet published in 1981 by Scarborough Borough Council (the then owners of the line) commemorating its golden jubilee.
It is thought there may be many more previously unseen photographs from the early days of the Scarborough, Cleethorpes and Lincolnshire Coast railways, particularly old family holiday snaps, tucked away in long-forgotten albums.
Copies or originals will be particularly appreciated for the railways' archives.
LCLR volunteer Christ Bates said: “They also help to emphasise the significance of these lines in building the hospitality industries of the area, as many people rediscover the delights of holidays on the Lincolnshire and Yorkshire coasts during post-Covid staycations.”
➜ Any copies of rediscovered old photographs can be emailed to chrisbates31@btinternet.com or posted to Chris Bates via Skegness Water Leisure Park, Walls Lane, Ingoldmells, Skegness, PE25 1JH.