Wonderful Wainfleet

The “flying banana” New Measurement Train approaches Wainfleet with 1Q49 from Derby to Skegness

More than five years after my previous visit (January 2020) it is time to pay a return visit to Wainfleet (13 March 2025) on the ever-charming 55-mile long Poacher Line from Grantham to Skegness, in the hope of seeing its two semaphore distant signals pulled off for a Class 43-powered NR test train.

This small Lincolnshire town, five miles south of Skegness, is home to the revered Bateman’s Brewery and to an unstaffed station boasting a fine Grade II-Listed Great Northern Railway signal box that dates from 1899 and controls a handful of semaphores, including distant signals W1 in the down direction and W22 on the up line.

170206 passes up distant signal W22 with 2O12 from Skegness (11.14) to Nottingham

It seems a matter of luck whether either of the distant signals are pulled off for a passing train, and although I have previously passed W22 when it is pulled off this was not the case on my 2020 visit, so my best hope seemed to be in a service not calling at the station, namely the Class 43-powered NR test train.

170208 passes signal W2 with 2S93 from Nottingham (09.55) to Skegness

My luck was in on Thursday, 13 March, when not only did the forecast rain showers largely fail to materialise, but I was also able to see W22 pulled off for both an up passenger working and for the NR Test Train.

170208 departs Wainfleet and passes its signal box with 2S93 from Nottingham (09.55) to Skegness

Having seen test train 1Q49 at Heckington a few months ago, it was very good to see that this time is was the full “flying banana” with yellow-liveried HST power cars 43062/013 and five yellow Mk3 coaches that were being used to undertake testing of the track.

Down distant signal W1 is pulled off as the “flying banana” New Measurement train approaches

As I wrote following my January 2020 visit, the 23¾ route miles from Boston to Skegness are home to no less than six signal boxes, three of which have secure futures as they are all Grade II-Listed (West Street Junction, Wainfleet and Skegness), and four of which still control semaphore signals (the three Listed boxes plus Bellwater Junction).

170208 passes up home signal W21 on its approach to Wainfleet with 2O14 from Skegness (12.12)

In the citation for its Listing, Wainfleet Signal Box, was commended for the following reasons: “Architectural interest: it represents a good example of a late GNR type 1 signal box; Intactness: it remains substantially unaltered and retains external and significant internal details, including its lever frame.

The “flying banana” approaches Wainfleet on its return from Skegness to Derby

Down distant signal W1 can just be seen from the south end of up station platform, or by taking a 15 minute walk away from the town, while W22 can be reached by taking an easy 10 minute walk out of town on a path running in an easterly direction alongside the Steeping River to the A52 Wainfleet by-pass, which has a level crossing over the railway only yards from the up distant signal. Interestingly, both distants are wire worked.

The New Measurement Train passes distant signal W22 on its return from Skegness to Derby

Three other semaphores controlled from the box’s 25 lever frame, are two in the down direction, with outer home W2 and home W3 both easily photographed from the station. Nearby, up home W21 stands close to the signal box with a sighting board behind, but can be seen by taking a short walk down Church Lane then following the path alongside the Steeping River.

Hourly Nottingham-Skegness Poacher Line are mainly formed by East Midlands Railway (EMR) two or three-car Class 170 units, with no freight activity on the route north of Boston, meaning the only regular non-passenger traffic on this section of line is the NR test train and seasonal RHTT workings.

For those who fancy a visit to Wainfleet and are looking for some post-photography refreshment, I can recommend the Bateman’s Brewery-owned Woolpack Inn, that stands in the centre of the town, next door to the world’s smallest petrol station (as seen above), where I enjoyed an excellent pint of Bateman’s dark mild (3.4% / £4.10 a pint).