The LNER Encyclopedia

When did the passenger service from March to Doncaster cease? ( via Spalding,Boston and Lincoln)

Stopping services from March to Doncaster ceased on 13 September 1959, at the end of the 1959 summer timetable. A train from Lincoln to Doncaster continued, departing at about 0900.

After then, there were three cross-country trains that used the Joint Line - the North Country Continental (from Gainsborough), York - Yarmouth and Newcastle - Colchester, plus additional servicies on summer Saturdays.

Joint Line trains didn't go via Boston.

November 1982 was when the line from March to Spalding was closed.

The through services were diverted to run via Peterborough.

Yes, and what a piece of strategic foresight that proved to be (along with the removal of the Lincoln avoiding line).

G'day Gents

Yes, there was a 'Few' unbelievable Stupid decisions, the March-Spalding line needs to be reinstating.

manna

They will never reinstate the line; not after spending so many millions on the Peterborough dive-under.

Pyewipe Junction said:

"Stopping services from March to Doncaster ceased on 13 September 1959, at the end of the 1959 summer timetable. A train from Lincoln to Doncaster continued, departing at about 0900".

I have to raise the question - "what exactly happened to the service on 13/09/1959?"

But - the following stations closed on 11/09/1961:
French Drove & Gedney Hill
Postland
Cowbit
Pinchbeck
Gosberton
Donington Road
Ruskington
Digby
Metheringham
Stow Park
Misterton
Finningley

So what trains stopped there after 13/09/1959 then?
Bradshaw 01/02/1960-06/03/1960, Table E44 tells us:
(This is a crude summary of a complicated table. Only stopping services are noted.)
DOWN
6.40am Lincoln-Doncaster not calling at Finningley.
6.27am March-Doncaster not calling at French Drove & Gedney Hill, Postland or Cowbit
12.15pm SO Lincoln-Doncaster all stations.
11.40am SO March-Lincoln all stations.
(A York-Sheffield through called at Stow Park at 5.54pm.)
3.40pm March-Lincoln all stations.
6.30pm Lincoln-Doncaster not calling at Finningley.
9.35pm SO Lincoln-Doncaster called only at Gainsborogh and Misterton.
On Sundays the 2.33pm Spalding to Doncaster ran via Boston and called at Stow Park and Misterton.
UP
6.0am (5.55 Fridays) Doncaster-March all stations.
7.58am Retford-Lincoln called at Stow Park at8.20am.
9.11am Doncaster-Spalding via Boston called at all stations Doncaster-Lincoln.
12.54pm SO Doncaster-March all stations.
4.35pm Doncaster-March all stations except Pinchbeck, Cowbit, Postland and French Drove & Gedney Hill.
The 7.40pm SO Doncaster-Lincoln called at Misterton at 8.2pm, as well as Gainsborough.
On Sundays the 3.55pm Doncaster-Lincoln called at Misterton and Stow Park.

(A York-Sheffield through called at Stow Park at 5.54pm.) How on earth did York get into it? "No excuse, sir!"

It was actually the 5.38 Lincoln-Sheffield.

Hope that "flies" better.

So there was good chance i did do that run pre 75

It is unlikely that you would have managed Spalding-Boston-Lincoln without changing at Boston, unless your train was diverted for some temporary reason; and even then that route would not have been possible after mid-1963 when the direct Boston-Lincoln line closed completely, and through trains between those two places were re-routed via Sleaford.