Steaming Along The Cleethorpes Coast...

Hi everybody. Today we took the 40-mile or so drive from our holiday caravan in Skegness, across the Lincolnshire countryside to Cleethorpes. This bustling little town has a nice seafront with plenty of amenities. However, perhaps the best (in my mind at least), is the 15" gauge Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway. This quaint 2-mile line is based at Lakeside station, on the outskirts of the town centre near the Pleasure Island Theme Park. From Lakeside, the trains run for 1 mile along the sea-wall cycle track, before crossing a viaduct into Kingsway. Kingsway is only a minute or two from the seafront on foot. From Kingsway; after the loco has run round; the trains return along the sea-wall into Platform 3 at Lakeside. Departing Lakeside again, trains head onto the extension, opened a couple of years ago. This mile-long stint, takes the train to North Sea Lane, a quiet station overlooking the beautiful estuary. From North Sea Lane, the trains return back to Lakeside. The entire return journey takes 50 minutes and, believe it or not, only costs £4! We arrived at Lakeside in the mid-morning and, after purchasing our tickets, we checked out the station. This station does have a claim to fame; it is home to the World's Smallest Pub; "The Signalbox Inn"; as recognised by the Guiness book itself...
Unfortunately the train had just left for North Sea Lane, so we waited for the next one over a cold bottle of Dr Pepper...
Whilst awaiting the next train, we stepped into the little museum. This building, alongside Lakeside's Platform 2, houses a few choice pieces of the CCLR collection. One of my favourite exhibits was the miniature steam crane, with working apparatus! What a lovely little creation...
Today's CCLR loco? Well, it was the "one I really wanted"...which I was very pleased about! It was the Robinson 8K/LNER 04 2-8-0 Heavy Freight...
Well, of course, I submit, it wasn't the one above! That is the REAL Class 04, No63601; the sole-surviving member of the class, based at the GCR. However, the 15" gauge (1/4 scale) model is just as nice in my mind. What a beautiful piece of kit. Well, with that, may I introduce No6284...
Now, apart from the huge mechanical lubricator on the running board, this is a fantastic model! Lovely little machine. Embodying the usual 'eight legs' of the 04, No6284 seemed a powerful beast, easily hauling the train of at least 5 coaches. Anyhow, aboard we jumped, and 6284 departed Lakeside for Kingsway. BUT! STOP THERE! Read on to hear of a true story which even I myself cannot explain (if not, read on from the next paragraph). Well, here we go. We sat in the train, and heard the familiar sound of the loco..."chuff", "chuff", "chuff", or something like that! 6284 was departing upgrade on the tight curve, in reverse too. As I looked out of the window, I had a thought or two. "No Guards whistle?...Odd", "No Loco whistle?...Odder", "Oh", "Man Running After Locomotive?...BAD!". "Yes", somehow, 6284 had opened her own regulator and made her way out of the platform. Soon enough, the Ticket Inspector of all people ran to her and shut the regulator...just as well really! No explanation was given as to why this weird happening occured apart from, "it happens". The words "it shouldn't" do cross the mind here. But, the loco was stopped, and thats the main thing. Soon after, with driver on board, 6284 departed, successfully, for Kingsway...
A portrait of the fabulous model at Kingsway...
After the run to Kingsway, the 04 ran round and then took us off to North Sea Lane via Lakeside. As well as 6284, there are many other CCLR loco's. Arguably, the most famous engines are the ex-Sutton Miniature Railway ones, and their matching coaching stock and diesel railcar...
The SMR stock is flagshipped by sister Atlantics "Sutton Belle" and "Sutton Flyer". Last time we came in August 2008, we rode behind "Belle". Lovely machines. Below, the 04 arrives at Lakeside from North Sea Lane with an afternoon turn...
In the museum, "Sutton Flyer" is resting. I am always impressed by well-kept loco's and, in particular, the well-kept buildings in which they are stored...
Up at a sunny North Sea Lane, 6284 is checked over after a brisk run from Lakeside...
6284 was built by two of the railways supporters. She has been fantastically built. Purchased as a chassis and a kit of parts, she was finished a year or two ago. You can't argue; she is lovely. Since completion, the loco has performed fantastically and put in many turns on the CCLR. Driver today was Mat Yardley, and, before I got talking to him, I thought I knew him! Mat is a GCR man who, in fact, has done much work on the real 04. Funny really...I have him on Facebook! He was quite disturbed when I used his full name but later remembered who I was too. So, with that, he invited me onto the footplate and I had a ride on the 04 around North Sea Lane! "Woo!...another footplate, another railway!"...
6284...
Arriving back at Lakeside after our 50-minute trip, and my footplate ride, I was very satisfied indeed! A lovely hour or two out on the CCLR. I would advise a visit to this line. Steam and diesel trains run throughout the year, and daily in the summer. Below, see some video clips that I took during our little visit today (includes both platform and footplate footage)...

Well, thats all folks; a beautiful seaside railway. Good evening...