Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway
The gauge Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway primarily serves holidaymakers in Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire, England. It operates from near the Cleethorpes Leisure Centre, running to the mouth of the Buck Beck.
History
The CCLR began as the Cleethorpes Miniature Railway in 1948, and ran for a distance of near the sea front in Cleethorpes. The line was relocated and extended the following year, and between 1949 and 1971 ran southwards for from Cleethorpes Town to Thrunscoe. The line was extended at both ends in 1972: the northern terminus was relocated slightly closer to the town centre, while at its southern end it now ran as far as the Zoo.It became the Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway when it was privatised in 1991, and the new company renamed the termini Kingsway and Witts End. Witts End was abandoned in 1994, and a new southern terminus was built at Meridian. A new extension from Lakeside to Humberston North Sea Lane was opened in 2007, lengthening the railway from to.
In the 1960s, the line used battery locomotives. On being regauged in the 1970s, two Rio Grande steam outline locomotives built by Severn Lamb were used. Since being taken into private ownership, a variety of steam and diesel locomotives have been used, followed by petrol-driven engines with a steam outline, though genuine steam locomotives are now in operation. A National Lottery grant enabled the railways supporter association to acquire stock from the long-dismantled Sutton Miniature Railway in Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield, including Bassett-Lowke Class 10 Little Giant 'Mighty Atom.'
The railway held the Olympic Torch on Day 39 of the 2012 Olympic Torch relay with BMR locomotive 'Mountaineer' hauling the Alan Keef 'Council Rake' carriages from Kingsway station to Lakeside station.
The railway was sold to Cleethorpes Light Railway Limited in May 2014 and celebrated its 70th anniversary in July 2018.
Present operations
Trains run from Kingsway station, which is next to the Leisure Centre, over a viaduct and along the sea wall, turning SSW to run past the shed and museum at Lakeside station. The track continues south-east to a new station at North Sea Lane, close to the Meridian Line car park, Pleasure Island Family Theme Park and the mouth of the Buck Beck.Stations
- Kingsway: Original station dismantled in 1998 and the current station built and opened in 1999 with a viaduct over the boating lake on way into the station, inside the building is a gift shop.
- Discovery Halt: Closed, but station is still accessible by means of the footpath crossing alongside.
- Lakeside Central: The main terminus with engine sheds and workshops, passing loop and on the platforms a cafe, museum and the Signal Box Inn 'The Smallest Pub on the Planet'.
- Humberston North Sea Lane: Opened in 2007, features a signal box and a refreshment stand. Building only open during the Summer running days.
Operations
- Blue : 50 Minute Timetable; 1 train.
- Green : 30 Minute Timetable; 2 trains.
- Red : 15 Minute Timetable; 4 trains.
Steam locomotives
Locomotives which have worked on the railway but have since left are listed in Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway timeline.| Name | No | Wheel Arrangement | Tractive + Cyl Size | Built | Status | Owned By |
| Sutton Belle | 1 | 4.25 x 6.75 | Cannon Ironfoundries 1933 | Stored | CCLRSA | |
| Sutton Flyer | 2 | 4.25 x 6.75 | Griffin Foundry 1950 | Stored | CCLRSA | |
| Mighty Atom/Prince of Wales | 11 | Bassett-Lowke 1908 | Stored | CLR Ltd | ||
| SRRL 24 | 24 | 3000 lb 5.94 x 8 | Fairbourne 1990 | Stored | CLR Ltd | |
| Effie | Great Northern Steam 1999 | Under Restoration | Private Owner | |||
| Yvette | 111 | 3 13/16 x 6 508 lbs | Craven 1946 | Under Restoration | T. Brackenbury | |
| O4 Class | 6284 | Crome/Loxley 2009 | In service | T. Brackenbury | ||
| Bonnie Dundee | 11 | Kerr Stuart KS720/1901 | Under Restoration | R&ER | ||
| Flower of the Forest | 2w-2 VBT | R&ER 1985 | Stored | R&ER |
Diesel and petrol locomotives
| Name | No | Wheels | Fuel/ Trans | Built | Status | Owner |
| 7 | 0-4-0 | Diesel-mechanical | Lister 1944 | Under Restoration | CLR Ltd | |
| Dudley | SMR 4 | Bo-Bo | 4* Petrol-mechanical | G & S Light Engineering 1946 | Stored | CCLRSA |
| Rachel | 15 | 0-6-0 | Diesel-mechanical | G & S Light Engineering 1959 | In Service | CLR Ltd |
| DA1 | 6 | 0-4-0 | Diesel-mechanical | Bush Mill Railway 1986 | In service | CLR Ltd |