Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway
| Locale | Lincolnshire, England |
|---|---|
| Dates of operation | 1948– |
| Track gauge | 15 in (381 mm) |
| Previous gauge | 14 1⁄4 in (362 mm) |
| Length | 2,130 yards (1.95 km) |
| Headquarters | Cleethorpes |
The 15 in (381 mm) 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.
The present day CCLR has moved a long and tortuous way from its origins as the 300 yards (270 m) long, steam-hauled single track 10 1⁄4 in (260 mm) gauge Cleethorpes Miniature Railway (CMR) founded in 1948.
This history is examined in the article Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway Timeline.
Trains run from Kingsway station, which is next to the Leisure Centre, over a 40 yards (37 m) viaduct and along the sea wall, turning SSW to run past the shed and museum at Lakeside station. During the 2006/7 winter off-season, the line was extended a further 900 yards (823 m) 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. This brought the total running length to 2,130 yards (1.95 km).
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 railway to acquire from the long-dismantled Sutton Miniature Railway in Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield, all of which is currently housed in the old Sutton Miniature Railway locomotive shed, including Bassett-Lowke Class 10 Little Giant 'Mighty Atom.'
The railway also held the Olympic Torch on Day 39 of the 2012 Olympic Torch relay with BMR locomotive 'Mountaineer' hauling the Alan Keef 'Council Rake' carriages, taking it from Kingsway station to Lakeside station.
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Wikipedia