This 1950 map shows the Crab and Winkle line skirting Dogsthorpe from the New England yards to the Dogsthorpe Crossing on Welland Road.
Thanks to Paul Young www.peterboroughimages.co.uk for this photo and description:
The railway crossing taking the Midland & Great Northern Line over Welland Road ….. probably captured in the early 1950s.
Today (2014) you would be approaching the Dogsthorpe “Household Recycling Centre” (aka “Dogsthorpe Tip” !) on your right with the line following almost precisely the road into the facility. Just through the gates on the immediate left is Newborough road which used to branch off at this point before the Paston Parkway and new A47 were constructed which removed this junction …… although the short length of truncated road is still in existence in the undergrowth next to Welland road. The chimneys and buildings in the distance were the Star Pressed Brickworks.
The railway was closed to passenger services in late 1957 although a daily “brick train” continued to work eastbound from the Dogsthorpe Sidings into the 1960s.
The above date has been questioned. My mother tells me that I was running down the garden (in Welland Rd) to wave to the trains in 1963, and she is sure they weren't just brick trains. Adele.
Mike Grierson supplied the following information: "The anouncement to close the Midland and Great Northern railway was made in June 58 with closure starting in 59, but final closure was not until April 1965."
From Graham Smith "I remember waving at the steam trains from my dads allotments next to itters park . upto the mid 60s . crossing fulbridge rd then on to welland rd then on to eye station in fact we went on a steam train to hunstanton on a steam engine and carriages . that station was where the market now is in hunstanton . . he always said not to sit with your back to the engine ."
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In 1866 the Peterborough, Wisbech and Sutton [Bridge] Railway opened. It bisected Paston Lane and ran behind where Robert and Bluebell Avenues are now. In 1893, the company amalgamated with the Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway, bringing easier access to the Norfolk coast. Affectionately nicknamed the ‘Crab and Winkle Line’, ‘Seaside Specials’ transported day-trippers and holiday-makers to Cromer and Great Yarmouth, whilst freight trains supplied the citizens of Peterborough with fresh shellfish until the route’s closure at midnight on 2 February 1959. Its course still may be traced as a footpath running parallel with Soke Parkway through Bluebell Land recreation ground.
A picture of The Dogsthorpe crossing in 1962 .
The railway crossing house is first mentioned in the 1871 Census:
Gatehouse, Midland Railway.
- Alfred Waterman, 36, Railway Gatekeeper, born in Essex.
- Lois Waterman, wife, 34, born Clifton, Beds.
- Ada,6, born Blaby Leics.
- Clara,3, born Dogsthorpe.
In 1881 the Railway Gatehouse is identified, unlike most of the other houses, but it is unoccupied with the comment "people coming in".
In 1891 the MGMN Railway gatekeeper was:
- Charles Lewsley, 48, born in Ockbrook, Derbyshire
- Elizabeth, wife, 48. born in London, Islington.
- Earnest, son, 18, born in Chesterfield, Derbyshire.
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In 1901 the gatehouse was occupied by:
- George Waller, 29, Signalman, born Shillington, Beds
- Anna, wife, 30, born Shillington Beds
- Alfred
- Florence
- Ethel
- Hilda
In 1911 George Waller was still in the gatehouse:
- George Waller, head, 39, Signalman.
- Annie, wife, 41, Married 18 years, 6 children one of whom had died.
- Alfred James, 18, sugar boiler for a sweet meat manufacturer.
- Ethel May, 14,
- Hilda May, 10,
- Edith Annie, 6,
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 Another gem from Peterborough Images:
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The old gated “Paston Crossing” carrying the railway over Fulbridge Road. Today the Paston Parkway follows the route of the Midland & Great Northern Railway so the level crossing would be pretty much under the parkway at the Fulbridge road loop junction. This image probably dates to the late 1950s shortly before passenger services ended on the line which was lifted at this point in the early 1960s.
The wonders of Ancestry.co.uk, a search for Paston Crossing in the 1911 Census came up with
- George James Dennis, 30, Railway Gateman, born Whalpole Norfolk.
- Minnie Mary Dennis, 28, married 4 years with 2 children, born E Rudham Norfolk.
- Lionel James, 3, born Paston
- Francis May, 1, born Paston
They were living in 4 rooms, and their address was Paston Crossing Peterborough.
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Googling Dogsthorpe and Railways came up with the snippet of information that there was an accident at Dogsthorpe on 2nd May 1912 [suicide of Frederick Lightfoot] .
I soon found Frederick in the 1911 Census. Living in St Pauls Road.
- William Lightfoot, head, 58, Late Guard GNR now out of work. Born Nassington Northants.
- Elizabeth, wife, 56, married 22 years, 3 children all still living. Born Nassington Northants.
- Fred, son, 19, single, laundry van driver. Born Peterborough.
- Ethel, daughter, 17, single, mothers help (crossed out). Born Peterborough.
I then went back to previous census and was confused by the list of children born before William's marriage to Elizabeth in 1889, William had had 8 children with his first wife Lucy Mary between 1874 and 1888. Lucy died in the first quarter of 1889 aged just 38.
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Whilst searching for more on Fred Lightfoot I found this newspaper article, sadly Fred was not the first.
Hull Daily Mail Wed 22 Dec 1909
"An inquest was held in Peterborough on Tuesday on Gordon Verity, aged 19 (son of John William Verity, an insurance agent of Hull) who was killed by the Cromer Express on the Midland and GN joint line on the previous day. Edward Merser a master taylor, 4 Queen St, Peterborough, said deceased was his wife's nephew, and had been living with him for five years, being an apprentice. He had suffered from catarrh for several years and had been under medical treatment. He left the house the previous morning to see the doctor, as he was going to Hull with his mother in the afternoon. Subsequently a note was found in his purse in his portmanteau, in which he said:"Am committing suicide on railway near Dogsthorpe." Another note found in his possession stated that he was tired of being a trouble and expense to all, and his head was always wandering and queer. The letter was very despondent in tone.
The jury deliberated in private as to their verdict, the Foreman stating there was no evidence that Verity was suffering from temporary insanity. The jury suggested that they should do as the jury at Stoke had done in the case of a doctor's death, and bring a verdict of "Suicide". The Coroner said that would be tantamount to a verdict of "Felo de Se." He had known cases declared to be temporary insanity on weaker evidence than they had. After further deliberation by the jury the Foreman said that a verdict of "Suicide whilst of unsound mind" had been agreed to."
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The news even reached the Dundee Courier, 20 September 1907
"Considerable delay to traffic was caused by the derailment of a goods train on the Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway at Dogsthorpe near Peterborough, yesterday, fourteen trucks going off the line, and blocking both up and down lines. Passengers had to walk to Peterborough from the scene of the accident. Fortunately there were no personal injuries."
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In 1947 "the Crab and Winkle Line headed out across the flat fenland past Dogsthorpe Brickworks and on through Thorney and Wisbech.The great floods of March 1947 were preceded by heavy falls of snow on Thursday, 6th March the City of Peterborough found itself almost cut off by both road and rail. The 6.15am goods train was stuck in drifts at Dogsthorpe".
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For more about this line see http://www.eyepeterborough.co.uk/heritage/railway.html
