Nottingham-Grantham Line

The Nottingham to Grantham Line is a branch line between the towns of Nottingham and Grantham in the East Midlands of England. It follows the A52.

The following places are served by the line.
* Nottingham
* Netherfield
* Radcliffe on Trent
* Bingham
* Aslockton and Whatton
* Elton and Orston
* Bottesford
* Grantham

Routes to Skegness

At Grantham, the line meets the East Coast Main Line and also the Grantham to Skegness Line. Not all Skegness-bound trains stop at Grantham, and the express service (limited stop) has its first stop at Sleaford, splitting from the Grantham line near Allington onto the Grantham Avoiding Line at [http://www.signalbox.org/gallery/e/allingtonjcn.htm Allington junction] . The journey on this route to Skegness takes 1 hour 50 minutes, compared to 2 hours 20 minutes via Grantham. Nottingham (and Derby) to Skegness as of 2007 costs £16.70 Day Return and £21.40 Saver Return.

History

The line was initially operated by the Ambergate, Nottingham, Boston and Eastern Junction Railway from July 15 1850, taken over by the GNR in 1852. At Bottesford, the line was crossed by a north-south LNWR line from Melton Mowbray to Newark on Trent (this northern section was owned by GNR). A [http://www.meltonmowbray.steamrailways.com/Barnstone%20Branch.htm western spur] of this railway (through Barnstone) joined at Saxondale junction

External links

* [http://www.binghamheritage.org.uk/history/bingham_railway.htm History page]
* [http://nickallsop.fotopic.net/c1096981.html Recent photos of the route]
* [http://www.leytransport.i12.com/jolly.htm Former "Jolly Fisherman" excursions (pre-1993)]