Miniature Railways - Colin Peake's Photographs
Cleethorpes - Crossing the Meridian Line
10th March 2007
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I've been meaning to take a trip to Cleethorpes for a few week now, but one thing or another got in the way. I finally made it on Saturday 10th March, which the weather forecasters thought would be the warmest day of the year so far. They may have been right...

Managing to catch the 11.15 from Kingsway I was soon at the Lakeside 'hub' of the CCLR. Here work over the winter has removed the headshunt for the run-round, so trains (hauled today by 'Yvette') were being propelled empty stock to the passing loop outside the station, then returning once the loco had run around.

The main reason for my visit was to view work on the new extension of the railway south over two level crossings and the Greenwich Meridian to a new terminus near Buck Beck and the Thorpe Park holiday park. Having viewed progress on Dave Enefer's website I was keen to see the work for myself. With permission from Chris Shaw I was able to walk the formation of the extension between the level crossings to see the work in progress.

Further up the extension I found Lister diesel 'Toby' with a works train whilst two of the railway's team raked ballast around the sleepers. I later saw then take 'Toby' back to lakeside for their lunch break.

If all goes to plan the extension will open over the May Day bank holiday weekend, when the CCLR will be holding a gala weekend. The same weekend there will be a vintage vehicle rally adjacent to the railway, and a beer festival ar Lakeside station!

With the kind assistance of another of the CCLR volunteers I was able to visit the workshops and sheds. Here I found Sandy River no. 24 awaiting driving wheelset refitting, 'The Cub' undergoing a rebuild and the recently arrived FMB Engineering built Heywood 'Katie' replica, along with regulars DA1, 'Battison', 'Effie', 'Sutton Belle' and 'Sutton Flyer'. 'Mountaineer', was sidelined in the musuem building at Lakeside with motion problems.

Finally, I'd just like to again thank Chris Shaw and his staff for making me feel so welcome at the railway.

Update 14th April: Turnouts have been arriving over the last few weeks and are now in place at the passing loop and North Sea Lane Station site. Sadly I didn't have my camera handy to record this, but please take my word for it!
Yvette prepares to propell her train to the loop.
Yvette prepares to propell her train to the loop.
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 The cut back headshunt at Lakeside.
The cut back headshunt at Lakeside.
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 Yvette ready for departure.
Yvette ready for departure.
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Yvette makes a smoky exit.
Yvette makes a smoky exit.
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 The Bush Mill coaches in platform 3.
The Bush Mill coaches in platform 3.
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 The start of the extension at the Lakeside level crossing.
The start of the extension at the Lakeside level crossing.
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The formation curves away to the left.
The formation curves away to the left.
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 The first foot crossing. This will serve craft units adjacent to the railway.
The first foot crossing. This will serve craft units adjacent to the railway.
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 Around the corner the line runs alongside the new arena.
Around the corner the line runs alongside the new arena.
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Looking back around the corner.
Looking back around the corner.
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 The future site for a CCLR stock shed, at present there are drainage problems.
The future site for a CCLR stock shed, at present there are drainage problems.
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 Looking seawards, the line on the left will be the stock shed headshunt.
Looking seawards, the line on the left will be the stock shed headshunt.
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The very solid buffer stop for the headshunt.
The very solid buffer stop for the headshunt.
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 Looking back from the second level crossing at the headshunt.
Looking back from the second level crossing at the headshunt.
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 The second crossing - this will be a good photo point in the future.
The second crossing - this will be a good photo point in the future.
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The crossing looking south along Meridian Road.
The crossing looking south along Meridian Road.
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 Looking south along the new trackbed.
Looking south along the new trackbed.
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 The crossing - another good vantage point!
The crossing - another good vantage point!
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Toby with a works train.
Toby with a works train.
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 Looking north along the new formation. The line is on a rsing grade towards the camera.
Looking north along the new formation. The line is on a rsing grade towards the camera.
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 At the top of the grade the line swings towards a floodgate and the passing loop.
At the top of the grade the line swings towards a floodgate and the passing loop.
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Looking through the floodgate. Points are awaited to connect in the loop.
Looking through the floodgate. Points are awaited to connect in the loop.
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 Looking back from the floodgate to the top of the straight.
Looking back from the floodgate to the top of the straight.
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 The view from the floodgate of the loop.
The view from the floodgate of the loop.
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The other end of the loop, there is a level crossing here.
The other end of the loop, there is a level crossing here.
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 The gated crossing at the south end of the loop.
The gated crossing at the south end of the loop.
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 After the crossing the line passes in front of the car park, note the lower fences.
After the crossing the line passes in front of the car park, note the lower fences.
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After a further foot crossing the line swings into the new terminus.
After a further foot crossing the line swings into the new terminus.
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 A view of the bend from the station end.
A view of the bend from the station end.
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 The new terminus will be a single platform and loop.
The new terminus will be a single platform and loop.
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Pointwork is still awaited to complete the trackwork here.
Pointwork is still awaited to complete the trackwork here.
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 The headshunt, with the view to Thorpe Park over Buck Beck.
The headshunt, with the view to Thorpe Park over Buck Beck.
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 Toby heads back to Lakeside for the worker's lunch break.
Toby heads back to Lakeside for the worker's lunch break.
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Toby heads to the level crossing, crossing at a slow pace.
Toby heads to the level crossing, crossing at a slow pace.
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 Toby heads off towards Lakeside (and lunch).
Toby heads off towards Lakeside (and lunch).
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 Back on the existing line Yvette storms past the sheds towards Kingsway.
Back on the existing line Yvette storms past the sheds towards Kingsway.
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The diamonf crossing at Lakeside is now switched - very impressive.
The diamonf crossing at Lakeside is now switched - very impressive.
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 No. 24 on blocks in the shed at Lakeside.
No. 24 on blocks in the shed at Lakeside.
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 The Heywood 'Katie' replica in the stock shed.
The Heywood 'Katie' replica in the stock shed.
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Yvette returns from Kingsway past the sheds.
Yvette returns from Kingsway past the sheds.
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 Yvette runs around at Kingsway.
Yvette runs around at Kingsway.
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 Yvette prepares to take the next train from Kingsway.
Yvette prepares to take the next train from Kingsway.
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© 1998-2008 Colin Peake - All copyrights rest with the Author
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