Branston and Heighington railway station

Branston and Heighington
The station in 1961
General information
Location	Heighington, North Kesteven England
Platforms	2
Other information
Status	Disused
History
Original company	Great Northern and Great Eastern Joint Railway
Pre-grouping	Great Northern and Great Eastern Joint Railway
Post-grouping	London and North Eastern Railway
Key dates
1 August 1882	Opened as Heighington for Branston
1 May 1884	Renamed Branston and Heighington
3 November 1958	Closed for passengers [1]
7 December 1964	closed for goods

Branston and Heighington is a disused railway station in Lincolnshire, England, situated between the villages of Branston and Heighington. Its site was located on the former Great Northern and Great Eastern Joint Railway line between Lincoln and Sleaford.

Preceding station		Historical railways		Following station
Lincoln Central Line and station open		Great Northern and Great Eastern Joint Railway		Potterhanworth Line open, station closed

History

Opening

The station was opened by the Great Northern Railway (GNR) on 1 August 1882 as part of a rural branch line connecting Lincoln to Sleaford. It featured two platforms, a small brick station building, and a goods yard catering to local agricultural freight.

Branston and Heighington became an important stop for farmers and small-scale industries in the area, particularly for transporting grain and livestock to market. Passenger services were relatively modest but provided vital connections for local residents before widespread car ownership.

Decline and Closure

After the 1923 Grouping, the station became part of the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER), and later came under the control of British Railways following nationalisation in 1948. Passenger numbers began to decline post-World War II, and the station was earmarked for closure under the Beeching cuts.

Branston and Heighington railway station officially closed to passengers on 15 June 1963, and to freight services shortly thereafter on 5 October 1964. The line through the station was later dismantled.

Present day

Little remains of the station today. The platforms have been demolished, and the former station building was converted into a private residence in the late 1970s. A short stretch of the former track bed is now used as a public footpath.

References

1. Butt, R. V. J. (October 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. pp. 117, 42. ISBN   978-1-85260-508-7. OCLC   60251199. OL   11956311M.

53°12′37″N0°27′48″W / 53.21038°N 0.46323°W / 53.21038; -0.46323