Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway

The old coal office from Skegness railway station seen at Ellis Brothers Lansdowne Road site on 29th June 2024 as dismantling started.

The scene at the LCLR south loop terminus with the frame of the old coal office in place on 27th July 2024. 

A historic part of Skegness’s railway and industrial heritage – sold out of railway use in 1947 – is being renovated and moved for a “new life” on the Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway, as part of the new station under construction at the line’s South Loop terminus, in the Skegness Water Leisure Park

The Old Coal Office, built at Skegness station by the Great Northern Railway in the late 1800s or early 1900s will become an interpretation centre at the new station showcasing the history of the world’s first heritage railway to be built by enthusiasts and will also tell the story of Ellis Bros (Contractors) Ltd., owners of the Water Leisure Park, Waterford and Greenacres   holiday parks in the Skegness area and which for more than 70 years, has built much of the modern  housing and other amenities in Skegness, Wainfleet and district.

The wooden building was moved to Ellis Brothers’ site in Lansdowne Road, Skegness in 1947 by the company’s founders and acted as the company’s offices until 2024, when the scheme for the new station at South Loop was developed.

The firm’s founder, the late Mr Fred Ellis, had a keen interest in the history and heritage of Lincolnshire and of Skegness in particular and wanted the building to be conserved and made available for public use – hence it forming the centrepiece of the new station on the LCLR.

A mysterious feature of the building is its clerestory roof, similar to those found on early railway carriages used by some railway companies (Midland Railway, Great Western Railway, North Eastern Railway) but not the GNR which operated the line to Skegness until its amalgamation into the London & North Eastern Railway and successors. Whether this feature was taken from an old carriage and added to the building to give extra light to those working in it, is not known – a photograph in Skegness Library taken in 1907 shows what is thought to be the Coal Office – but without a clerestory. Information and background on the building and how the Great Northern handled coal traffic for the developing resort, will be welcomed by those working on its renovation.

The building is in remarkably good condition and it’s expected to be moved to South Loop during August, ready for opening to the public in 2025.

The grant has been made jointly by East Lindsey District Council, South Holland District Council and Boston Borough Council, who administer the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (and Rural Prosperity Funding) in this area on behalf of the UK Government. (until recently referred to as the Government’s Levelling Up programme). The grant of £24,250 to the Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway is making possible the new station and the interpretation centre, which will help to boost the economy of Skegness and encourage more people to explore the coast’s heritage.

“Match funding” of the grant by the railway’s  hosts and owners of the Skegness Water Leisure Park, Ellis Bros (Contractors) Ltd., of £8,000, will provide £32,250 for the project.

Work on the site has been delayed and interrupted by the prolonged heavy rainfall which Lincolnshire has experienced since the autumn of 2023, affecting the water table and the ability to move equipment and materials to the site. However good progress is now being made.

Chief Executive Officer for Ellis Bros (Contractors) Ltd. and Company Secretary of the Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway, John Chappell, said: “We are delighted to be able to conserve for the future this remarkable survival of Skegness’ railway and industrial heritage, thanks to the contribution from the councils. As well as enabling us to show the contribution  to the economy and infrastructure of Skegness, the new role for the Old Coal Office helps us ensure the long term future for the railway and to enhance the existing achievements of the volunteers’ work.

“This contribution from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund will enable Skegness to escape from the widely held perception that the town is some sort of ‘cultural vacuum’. Anything which does that by adding  to the appeal of the heritage attractions of the Skegness district will benefit all of the town.

“Skegness, as we know it, was only brought about because of the railways – before they reached the area, Skegness was a fishing hamlet of just six houses. Everything we have is down to the railways and the LCLR contributes towards that heritage.” 

The Chairman of the Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway Historic Vehicles Trust, Richard Shepherd, said: “Rebuilding of the Old Coal Office at our new station enables us to create a ‘destination’ at the end of our line and let people learn about its unique history and heritage – at the moment trains terminate beside Skegness Airfield, but passengers cannot disembark. The locomotive uncouples at South Loop from the carriages, runs round them and then re-attaches, to return to Walls Lane station.

“We are extremely grateful to the local authority. to the Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund and especially  to Ellis Bros. (Contractors) Ltd for making this possible.

“Some idea of the economic benefits the Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway brings to the area  can be gauged from the distances people travel from to enjoy the railway and experience our unique collection of historic locomotives, carriages and wagons, many of which date from the First World War battlefields and even earlier.”

About the UK Shared Prosperity Fund:

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK Government’s local growth agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025.

The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business and people and skills.

For more information, visit www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/article/23065/UK-Shared-Prosperity-Fund and www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus.

24th May 2025

Seathorne Bank station on the first public running day of 2025. 

Jurassic running around its two coach train.

The station building looking very smart in the sun. Painting and internal fitting out work was still in progress.

26th October 2024

The 26th October was the final operating day for the LCLR in 2024. "Jurassic" is seen here at the virtually complete new station.

"Jurassic" runs around the train watched by passengers on the new platform.

Landscaping will be carried out in the spring - weather permitting!

The driver waits for the signal to depart from Seathorne Bank, the name chosen for our new station.

12th October 2024

(photo B.Coldwell)

With the platform surface now complete a clearance test train was run using ex Ashover coach no.1, which is currently undergoing restoration and loco "Wilton"

The test was successful - a good thing considering the weather conditions!

A view from the access ramp showing the test train in the platform and the ex GNR (E.Lincs Rly) platform railing stanchions now in place.

9th October 2024

As work on the station building nears completion attention turns to the platform.

The supporting steel girders are now in place and the concrete slabs which will form the platform surface are being fitted.

The 60cm narrow gauge railways were developed for just these kind of conditions in WW1 in France. So a small flat wagon was loaded with 2 concrete slabs at our shed where their is hard standing.

It was then propelled along our railway line to the construction site. Note the very muddy access track alongside the line.

A second teleporter was used at the station site to lift the slabs off the wagon...

...and place them on the stack ready for fixing in place on the girders.

11th September 2024

The outside cladding is now in place and has had its first coat of primer.

The clerestory roof is now in place and awaiting glazing.

The builders are now working on the access ramp up to the platform.

 Work on the steel girder supports for the platform is expected to start very soon.

14th August 2024

Funding officials from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Councillors visited the LCLR today to view progress on the new station project.

After alighting, joiner Mark Eldin explained the work involved in restoring and erecting the old railway building on the site.

The clerestory roof was laid across the platform pillars to show its construction.

John Chappell answers questions as the steam locomotive driver looks on. 

The plaque presented to the LCLR on the visit. This is on display at Walls Lane station until the new building at South Loop is ready to receive it.

10th August 2024

The width of the platform, between train and building, can be seen in this image.

What a difference 3 days make! The roof timbers are now in place and more cladding is evident.

7th August 2024

Much progress seen today. Initial concrete pour, outside walls received their cladding and platform pillars filled and concreted.

Larch cladding on platform facing wall.

Platform pillar being filled prior to receiving reinforced concrete.

The most southerly pillar already filled with concrete.

"Wilton" brings a train into the station as passengers view progress.

27th July 2024

Rapid progress had been made in the last week and passengers were now able to see the building taking shape at the station site.

The platform will sit on top of the brick pillars between the building and the railway track.

The train leaves south loop and returns to Walls Lane station.

The inside view of the large space which will be available for the railway.

24th July 2024

Work is now well under way on the floorboarding of the station buildings base.

One section of side wall on site at the railway.

20th July 2024

The building`s footings all ready to receive the station building. The brick structures on the right are the six platform pillars.

29th June 2024

The building has a fine railway heritage as it was the coal office at Skegness railway station before serving as office accommodation for Ellis Brothers in Lansdowne Road.

It has a railway type clerestory roof which has been carefully removed and placed in the workshop.

With generous space inside, this building will serve the railway well at its southern end.

The curved clerestory top of the glazed roof section.

15th June 2024

This was the scene of the site of the new station at the diesel gala on 15th June 2024 with "Paul" in the platform road.