Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway

Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway, Skegness Water Leisure Park,     Walls Lane, Ingoldmells, Skegness, PE25 1JF

The Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway (LCLR) is a 60 cm narrow gauge heritage railway, approximately 0.75 miles long, situated in Ingoldmells at the award winning Skegness Water Leisure Park on the beautiful Lincolnshire Coast. On our summer operating days you can ride in one of our historic railway carriages, pulled by either one of our historic diesel locomotives, or on steam days (see dates opposite) by our Peckett steam locomotive "Jurassic". The diesel locos are based on designs for WW1 trench railways, which later powered transport for agriculture and industry throughout Lincolnshire and the wider world. Our steam locomotive "Jurassic" was built in 1903 and spent her working life at a cement works in Southam, near Rugby. Following restoration at the LCLR she returned to steam in mid 2017.

Our collection of historic WW1 trench railway vehicles are demonstrated on gala days, and can normally be viewed on operating days. More details of the collection on the LCLR Historic Vehicles Trust page.

Supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund

30th June 2023

The LCLR is to receive a grant from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund which with match funding from the railways hosts, The Skegness Water Leisure Park, will allow for a new station and interpretation centre at the present South Loop on the railway.

Jurassic was in steam on Sun 7th May, complete with Coronation Headboard. 

LCLR Chairman Richard Shepherd taking delivery of newly upholstered seats, from Russ at Windale Furnishings in Skegness, for the restoration of Ashover No1 coach at the railway. The fabric was sourced by the railway and is a genuine railway pattern. Windale Furnishings then offered to reupholster the seats as their contribution to the restoration of our historic coach. The LCLR is very grateful for this extremely kind gesture and we look forward to being able to offer them a ride in the completed coach very soon!

The Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway has been awarded the ‘MORGAN AWARD FOR ROLLING STOCK PRESERVATION’ for its "Queen Mary" coach restoration. Well done to all concerned!

 

The "Queen Mary" coach (next to locomotive) in use on Sat 4th June 2022

Restoration of our near-century old railway carriage, Ashover 1, has been boosted by the generosity of Piper Windows, a local firm of window manufacturers, who have donated the safety glass necessary to re-glaze the vehicle’s windows. Read More

WORLD’S FIRST-BUILD HERITAGE RAILWAY TO CELEBRATE 60TH ANNIVERSARY – TWO YEARS LATE!

April 2021

The gala, on 13th July 2019, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the LCLRs opening in the Skegness Water Leisure Park was opened by two very special guests: The Mayor of Skegness Cllr. Mark Dannatt and Skegness favourite The Jolly Fisherman.

We have just one more running date this year on Saturday 28th October 2023 when "Jurassic" will hauling trains from 1130 until 1530 (diesel from 1030).

We`d like to open on more days in 2024 but to do so we need more volunteer drivers, guards & station staff. You don`t have to be crazy about trains - not all of us are - but it might help! Why not come along on 28th October and talk to our friendly group?  Alternatively drop us an email to arrange a visit on one of our Wednesday or Saturday working parties throughout the year?

The LCLR will run on the following dates in 2023. Further dates may be added later.

Sunday 7th May S

Monday 8th May D - "The Big Help Out" Volunteers Day.

Sunday 28th May S

Saturday 24th June D

Saturday 1st July D

Saturday 22nd July S

Wednesday 26th July D

Saturday 29th July S

Monday 31st July D

Wednesday 2nd August D

Saturday 5th August S

Monday 7th August D

Wednesday 9th August D

Saturday 12th August S

Monday 14th August D

Wednesday 16th August D

Saturday 19th August S

Monday 21st August D

Wednesday 23rd August D

Saturday 26th August S

Monday 28th August D

Wednesday 30th August D

Saturday 2nd September S

Wednesday 6th September D EXTRA DATE!

Saturday 28th October S

S = Steam D = Diesel

Trains run from 10.30 until 15.40.

On steam days the first trains will be diesel hauled with the steam loco taking over around 12.00.

Fares: £2 per person or £5 family ticket (2 adults + up to 3 children)

Under 3 years - free  Dogs - free

 

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The railway is located on the Skegness Water Leisure Park, PE25 1JF. Look for the brown sign close to Butlins and turn into Walls Lane from the A52 Skegness-Mablethorpe road. Upon arrival please pull in to the "visitors" layby, before the barrier, and enter the reception building. One of the members of the Leisure Park staff will direct you to the railway, and allow your vehicle through the barrier. Please keep the access code given to you, it is also needed for the Park exit barrier.There is no charge for entering the Park and you may use facilities such as The Barn Inn, Coffee Shop etc. or (by prior arrangement) stay on site  Tel. 01754 899400. There is good free parking next to our station.

There is a frequent bus service from Skegness Interchange (and Mablethorpe) - ask for Walls Lane, which is just before Butlins Resort. The Parks pedestrian entrance & LCLR are a short walk along Walls Lane - follow signs. Buses connect at Skegness Interchange with East Midland Railway services from Nottingham, Grantham (for London Kings Cross), Sleaford (for Lincoln and the North) and Boston.

"My wife and I received great hospitality from the railway`s volunteers when we visited in July this year... Our visit made for a really delightful day out which is thoroughly recommended."

"Very friendly and knowledgable staff, souvenirs to buy and a very pleasant trip."

"Superb railway in a superb park well worth the visit. Open carriage passenger rides excellent friendly staff."

"One of Britains Top 20 seaside railways" - Heritage Railway magazine.

The LCLR is run totally by a small group of volunteers. Have you ever dreamt of being a train driver, guard, or ticket collector? We can offer full training in all operating departments. During the closed season we work every Wednesday, and some Saturdays, at our base in Ingoldmells, Skegness to maintain our steam & diesel locos, carriage stock, trackwork and buildings. If you would like to join our small band of friendly volunteers, we`d really like to hear from you! It`s a great way to keep fit and help preserve a piece of Lincolnshire`s history. Note: not all of our volunteers are die hard railway enthusiasts - why call in and see for yourself?

Please contact us via the link below:

 

The youngest volunteer on the Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway, 18-year-old Matthew Forman-Clark (a student at Boston College who lives in Skegness) has just qualified as a passenger train guard and handled his first services on Saturday 6th August 2022. Matthew began volunteering on his 18th birthday (the youngest age at which volunteers can assist), helping to prepare the 1903-steam engine Jurassic for service and working on renovation and maintenance of the track and carriages. Chairman of the LCLR's Historic Vehicles Trust, Richard Shepherd, said: "All of us involved with the railway congratulated Matthew on passing his guard's exam and were impressed to see his smart turnout for his first duties. He is an indispensable part of our small tam of volunteers who keep our heritage trains on the rails. We're more used to seeing him in a boiler suit with a smattering of soot, from cleaning out Jurassic's boiler tubes and smoke box. We hope many more younger volunteers will follow in his footsteps to ensure the railway can continue in the future and enable the public to enjoy this unique part of Lincolnshire's heritage".

If you would like to know more about working with our small friendly team on our railway please do get in touch!

L to R - Platform Assistant Chris Bates, Matthew Forman-Clark, Station Master Calvin Roberts with driver Jim Smith looking on from cab. (Pic C. Bates/LCLR)

 

19th September 2020

The LCLR paraded its 8 working Simplexes down the line for the first time on this day which had been planned for a group visit. Due to Covid 19 the visit was cancelled but the volunteers followed social distancing and performed the parade in private. See Link for more.

The volunteers at the LCLR have been busy during the year designing and erecting a new station building to provide more customer and staff accommodation at their main Walls Lane station. See Link for photos.

The NGRS paid a visit to the LCLR 2 weeks after our public running season had finished. We were able to demonstrate some of our WW1 trench railway vehicles on the line for the first time in two years and it was a very enjoyable day - with great weather!