Uppingham branch survivor.
Nestled below Seaton Viaduct on the the Manton Junction to Corby line the one time LNWR branch from Seaton Junction to Uppingham once passed beneath the viaduct. Recent vegetation clearance in association with bridge abutment work on the closed line has exposed the old branch line gradient post. The 3¾ mile single track line appeared to dropped at 1/100 towards the junction and rose beyond the viaduct at 1/80 towards the terminus. This closed line even had new DfT infrastructure register numbers painted on the new brickwork where the bridge over a tributary of the River Welland has been removed. It had recently been recorded as structure no. DfT SE-U 2. It is the first time I have seen Department for Transport replace the old BRB lettering on redundant railway infrastructure.
The Uppingham branch never lived up to expectation it opened for traffic in September 1894 hoping to cash in on the local ironstone trade and patronage from Uppingham School. The renowned school entered into a contract with the LNWR and ran some specials but the locals did what they had always done and used the much better Midland Railway service from nearby Manton station. In the end the school blocked expansion of the ironstone quarries nearby in 1918 and the branch finally lost its passenger service on 13th June 1960 with freight ceasing on 1st June 1964 after which the line was closed and lifted.
Uppingham branch survivor.
Nestled below Seaton Viaduct on the the Manton Junction to Corby line the one time LNWR branch from Seaton Junction to Uppingham once passed beneath the viaduct. Recent vegetation clearance in association with bridge abutment work on the closed line has exposed the old branch line gradient post. The 3¾ mile single track line appeared to dropped at 1/100 towards the junction and rose beyond the viaduct at 1/80 towards the terminus. This closed line even had new DfT infrastructure register numbers painted on the new brickwork where the bridge over a tributary of the River Welland has been removed. It had recently been recorded as structure no. DfT SE-U 2. It is the first time I have seen Department for Transport replace the old BRB lettering on redundant railway infrastructure.
The Uppingham branch never lived up to expectation it opened for traffic in September 1894 hoping to cash in on the local ironstone trade and patronage from Uppingham School. The renowned school entered into a contract with the LNWR and ran some specials but the locals did what they had always done and used the much better Midland Railway service from nearby Manton station. In the end the school blocked expansion of the ironstone quarries nearby in 1918 and the branch finally lost its passenger service on 13th June 1960 with freight ceasing on 1st June 1964 after which the line was closed and lifted.