Former station at Stixwould.
The trackbed here is part of the Water Rail way
The Lincolnshire Loop Line was a 58 miles (93 km) Great Northern Railway built double track railway line that linked Peterborough to Lincoln via Spalding and Boston.
History
The Lincolnshire Loop Line was authorised on 26 June 1846 as part of the London and York Railway bill. The then renamed Great Northern Railway purchased the Witham Navigation and all navigation rights the same year and began construction of the new line, partly alongside it in 1847.[1] The line opened in 1848 and was for a short period the main route to the north and Scotland until the main line from Peterborough to Doncaster. Closure came in sections, with the first being Woodhall Junction to Boston which closed to passengers and goods on 17 June 1963.[2]
Route
The line from Lincoln to Boston was known as the Witham loop because it followed the course of the River Witham passing through Washingborough, Five Mile House, Bardney, Southrey, Stixwould, Tattershall, Dogdyke, and Langrick. The line from Boston to Spalding passed through three intermediate stations, Kirton, Algarkirk and Sutterton, and Surfleet, the Boston-Spalding section is now a bypass. The final section to Peterborough also boasted three intermediate stations, Littleworth, St. James Deeping, and Peakirk. This section is the only section-part of the line that remains in operation, although most of the stations have long been closed and disused.[2]
Only 6 (still open) stations Gainsborough Lea Road, Saxilby, Lincoln, Boston, Spalding and Peterborough North remain, and are still part of the national network.[2]
List of railway stations
- Gainsborough - line and station both still open.
- Lea - line still open, but station site closed.
- Stow Park - line still open, but station site closed.
- Saxilby - line and station both still open.
- Lincoln St. Marks - both line and station site both history, closed by British Rail in 1985.
- Lincoln Central - line and station both still open.
- Boston - line and station both still open.
- Kirton - line and station site both now history and lost under bypass.
- Algarkirk and Sutterton - line and station site both now history and lost under bypass.
- Surfleet - line and station site both now history and lost under bypass.
- Spalding - line and station both still open.
- Littleworth - line still open but station site closed.
- St. James Deeping - line still open but station site closed.
- Peakirk - line still open but station site closed.
- Walton - line still open but station site closed.
- Peterborough - line and station both still open.
Water Rail Way
There is a variety of art along the cycle route. Much is whimsical sculpture, but this mosaic commemorates a
Bronze Age Craft site archaeologists discovered on the South Delph
The trackbed from Boston to Lincoln is now part of National Cycle Route 1, and is also known as The Water Rail way, a punning reference to the route and the bird.[3][4]
References
Sheffield to Lincoln Line 
Peterborough to Lincoln Line
East Coast Main Line
