Damaging air raids, tea bars for weary travellers, three tragic accidents caused by wartime circumstances and a Grantham railwayman's exemplary naval gunnery on a converted Grimsby trawler. Read how the railwaymen and women of Grantham met the challenges of keeping traffic on the move and defending Britain during World War 2 in our new page The Railway at Grantham in Wartime, 1939-1945.
Author: TracksthroughGrantham1
The Woolsthorpe Branch Rediscovered – Part 3 is launched
It's time to look out your boots once more, check the weather forecast and head out into the countryside to explore a line which left the Woolsthorpe Branch at Casthorpe Junction to serve the ironstone quarries at Harlaxton . It had a life of less than 36 years (1941-77) supplying the raw material for the iron and steel industry but today, more than 40 years after the tracks were removed, there's still a surprising amount to see.
The Woolsthorpe Branch Rediscovered - Part 3: Casthorpe Junction to Harlaxton Quarries
Steam Days – February 2017
The current issue of Steam Days (February 2017) has a 10-page article by David Martin titled A Day Trip to Grantham: 1961, which starts on page 43.
David's description of his trip includes the journey by bus and train from his home in Clifton, Nottingham. This section of the article is illustrated by a highly evocative selection of images from the Rail Archive Stephenson collection (mostly taken by T.G. Hepburn), along with others from Tom Boustead, most depicting seldom-photographed locations.
Arriving at Grantham, many of the accompanying photographs are in colour by Keith Pirt, and two more of his pictures feature across the cover and the contents pages of the issue.
Driver Sam Whitaker
We've just added some new photographs to Sam Whitaker's page, including a picture taken when he and three colleagues were was presented with their awards for 45 years' service. Can anyone help by telling us who the other three gentlemen are?
More 1950s and early 1960s photographs added
If you enjoyed the first group of photographs taken by Humphrey Platts, which we published on 4th January, then pay another visit to the page. Many more of his pictures have recently appeared.
More about Stationmaster Scampion
We've expanded the Grantham Stationmasters page to include some recollections of Harold Scampion, stationmaster from 1947 to 1963.
John Clayson
Colsterworth Quarries photos in Railway Bylines
In the January 2017 issue, on pages 68-69, there are three photographs taken in August 1966 of diesel-electric and steam locomotives at Colsterworth. Also, on pages 64-65, a photograph showing two locomotives on the narrow gauge tramway system at Waltham Quarries.
A new gallery of photographs
We're sure you will enjoy the latest addition to Tracks through Grantham. It's a fascinating and evocative collection of photographs taken by Humphrey Platts, who moved to Grantham in the autumn of 1949. He soon made his way to the station to follow his interest in railways and his hobby of photography. The first selection of Humphrey's pictures appears here, and more will be added in the coming weeks.
John Clayson
Rediscover Forgotten Railways – The Woolsthorpe Branch Part 2
We received several very appreciative comments when Part 1 came out a few weeks back. The sequel is now published, so why not look out your boots or bike this weekend (or anytime in the coming months) and take to the countryside, while exploring some local railway heritage? There's a surprising amount still out there to discover!
The Woolsthorpe Branch Rediscovered - Part 2: Longmoor Lane to Denton
PS: we've slightly revised and updated Part 1 too.
The Tracks through Grantham team wish all our contributors and readers a very Happy New Year. We look forward to seeing many of you again in April.
John Clayson
More from a Doncaster Fireman
Alan Mitchell has recently been back in touch with some more stories of footplate work through Grantham to add to his page, We've updated the photos too.