Five Mile House railway station

Five Mile House was a railway station on the Lincolnshire Loop Line[1] which served the village of Fiskerton in Lincolnshire between 1848 and 1964. Situated on the south bank of the River Witham, passengers on the north bank had to use a ferry to reach it. It closed two years after opening due to low traffic, but reopened fifteen years later. Withdrawal of passenger services took place in 1958, leaving the station open for anglers' excursions until 1964. The Water Rail Way footpath now runs through the site.

Five Mile House
Five Mile Bridge
modern footbridge across the Witham.
The cycle track on the left is the old trackbed. The old wooden platforms were a few yards from here.
LocationFiskerton, West Lindsey
England
Grid referenceTF058714
Platforms2
Other information
StatusDisused
History
Original companyGreat Northern Railway
Post-groupingLondon and North Eastern Railway
Eastern Region of British Railways
Key dates
17 October 1848Opened
1 December 1850Closed
1 September 1865Reopened
15 September 1958Closed to regular services
6 September 1964Closed to all traffic

History

The station was opened on 17 October 1848[2] on the south bank of the River Witham near the village of Fiskerton. It was constructed by Peto and Betts civil engineering contractors who, in November 1846, had agreed to construct the line including stations by 28 February 1848.[3] It took its name from a public house near the river which served as a barge inn popular with horse-drawn packets.[4] Two timber-built staggered platforms were provided either side of a crossing which led to a ferry across the river.[4] Users on the north bank of the river were obliged to cross it using the ferry to reach the station, a journey which deterred many potential customers.[5] Lack of traffic resulted in the station closing in 1850,[2] only to reopen fifteen years later when a farmer was granted siding facilities.[4] A footbridge replaced the ferry in 1957 when the latter closed.[6]

Goods traffic was never heavy, and the station was mainly used for transporting potatoes, grain, hay and sugar beet.[4] The station buildings were destroyed by fire in 1919 and were replaced by two small buildings; one was used as an office and the other as a waiting room.[4] The July 1927 timetable saw seven up and five down services, and one Sunday service each way;[7] destinations included Grantham, Skegness, Louth, Horncastle, Doncaster and Peterborough.[7] Regular passenger services were withdrawn on 15 September 1958,[8] but the station remained open until 6 September 1964 for anglers' specials on summer weekends from and to Rotherham Central, Sheffield Victoria and Wadsley Bridge.[9][10][11] By September 1964, only one train each way called at the station.[6]

Preceding station   Disused railways   Following station
Washingborough
Line and station closed		   Great Northern Railway
Lincolnshire Loop Line		   Bardney
Line and station closed

Present day

The timber platforms remained intact until at least the early 1970s.[6] The Water Rail Way footpath now runs through the site.[6]

References
  1. Conolly 2004, p. 17, section B1.
  2. Butt 1995, p. 97.
  3. Ludlam 1995, p. 25.
  4. Ludlam 1995, p. 119.
  5. Ludlam 1995, pp. 119–120.
  6. "Disused Stations". Subterranea Britannica.
  7. Ludlam 1995, pp. 54–55.
  8. Clinker 1978, p. 48.
  9. Clinker 1978, p. 161.
  10. Ludlam 1995, p. 75.
  11. Croughton, Kidner & Young 1982, p. 74.

Sources
  • Butt, R. V. J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations: details every public and private passenger station, halt, platform and stopping place, past and present (1st ed.). Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 978-1-85260-508-7. OCLC 60251199.
  • Clinker, C.R. (October 1978). Clinker's Register of Closed Passenger Stations and Goods Depots in England, Scotland and Wales 1830-1977. Bristol: Avon-Anglia Publications & Services. ISBN 0-905466-19-5.
  • Conolly, W. Philip (2004) [1958]. British Railways Pre-Grouping Atlas and Gazetteer. Hersham, Surrey: Ian Allan Ltd. ISBN 978-0-7110-0320-0.
  • Croughton, Godfrey; Kidner, R. W.; Young, Alan (1982). Private and Untimetabled Railway Stations: Halts and Stopping Places. Trowbridge, Wilts.: The Oakwood Press. ISBN 0-85361-281-1.
  • Ludlam, A.J. (1995). The Lincolnshire Loop Line (GNR) and the River Witham (Locomotive Papers No. 190). Headington, Oxford: The Oakwood Press. ISBN 0-85361-464-4.

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