My Top 5 stations in the East Midlands

Stuart Boyd • 10 February 2021

When ever I do a Q&A on Twitter one of the questions I always get is "Which is your favourite station so far?" It is very tough to choose a top 10 nationwide... So I have decided to split it up into a collection of Top 5's...

So we've done the South West, and the South East. It's now time to head a little north and focus on the East Midlands...

5. Market Rasen

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Station: Market Rasen

Line: Newark to Grimsby Line

County: Lincolnshire

Managed By: East Midlands Railway


This is a station that took me a couple attempts, with a pretty poor service (which matches most of Lincolnshire to be fair) it made visiting here quite challenging.


On the final day of Lincolnshire I decided to visit this station. It would be my final station in Lincolnshire. I was extremely pleased I had saved this to last as it was absolutely beautiful. Although it was clearly a station that had been much more important and better served and connected in years gone by.


I'm baffled this station doesn't have a better service. I have been told that this is planned to happen in the future, I keep my fingers and toes crossed and look forward to returning in the future!

4. Elton & Orston

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Station: Elton & Orston

Line: The Poacher Line

County: Nottinghamshire

Managed By: East Midlands Railway


After a day of cancellations and delays I was over the moon to reach Elton & Orston. Before I arrived, I was thinking this would be perfect so I could have an hour sitting and chilling while waiting for the train. After arriving I did very little sitting and chilling. I spent the hour taking dozens and dozens of photos!


The peaceful station, the oddly lovely stone shelters, the wind in the trees really sorted out what had been a stressful afternoon!


I recommend to anyone who visits the station to use the bus from Bingham to Orston. The drive through the Nottinghamshire countryside is beautiful. If you're lucky enough like I was, you'll get a driver who will tell you about the villages and points of interest on the route!

3. Kirton Lindsey

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Station: Kirton Lindsey

Line: The Brigg Line

County: Lincolnshire

Managed By: Northern


A station I wasn't expecting to be anything special turned out to be incredibly special. Earlier in the day I visited Brigg, which I was expecting to be a really nice station due to the mass of people saying things like "Brigg is lovely, you'll love Brigg" As it happened I didn't love Brigg, I found the station rather functional, which is funny as it has a very non functional service.


So, on a little downer, I headed off to a couple more stations before heading back through Brigg to Kirton Lindsey. I alighted and was met by a lovely station building. A long platform with an interesting looking tunnel in the distance. A walk around the village showed me the village was equally lovely. I agree with the #VisitBrigg... But I might add, #VisitKirtonLindsey while your at it!

2. Havenhouse

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Station: Havenhouse

Line: The Poacher Line

County: Lincolnshire

Managed By: East Midlands Railway


Havenhouse was stunning! I visited in the early evening and it was dark, it was cold... But the darkness and the clear cold sky made my heart really warm! I loved it. Part of me really wants to return to the station in daylight, but another part of me doesn't. I don't want to lose the warm feeling that the station gave me when I visited on a cold winters evening...


I visited here after a cold hour at Thorpe Culvert where the light in the waiting room wasn't working, after Havenhouse I took the walk by torchlight to the main road to catch a bus to Skegness where I then headed to Sleaford where I spent the night in possibly the worst Travelodge I've ever stayed at. But thankfully my mind was full of the starry sky at Havenhouse.

1. Thornton Abbey

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Station: Thornton Abbey

Line: Barton Line

County: Lincolnshire

Managed By: Northern


Thornton Abbey needs zero introductions. I could just type 'WOW' 100 times and it still wouldn't cover my love for this station!


When I visited this station I had alighted at Ulceby and took the walk down narrow country lanes, saw lots of fields, a disused station and even an Abbey... The I arrived at the station via a walk across a field and through a small gate.


I remember standing there, open mouthed and thinking 'Yep, this is definitely one of my favourite stations... It might even give Nethertown a run for it's money as my overall favourite station! 

My day on the Talyllyn Railway

by S Boyd • 20 April 2025
The day started with myself meeting Rob and Jan at Machynlleth station before hoping into Robs car and driving to Tywyn. We decided to arrive in plenty of time as we knew there was a cafe at the station that had a reputation as been very good for a fry up. Given I love a good old fry up I was never going to turn down trying one of these out! I can confirm it was rather brilliant. A nice little surprise was that the fry up was under a tenner! We also got a free drink each as we chose to gift aid our ticket purchase for the trains that day. After we had all devoured our breakfasts we went for a little wander around Tywyn Wharf station before then boarding a train and setting ourselves in for the journey to the other end of the line, Nant Gwernol! Along the way we got to grips with the line, what the other stations looked like from the train, and most importantly, what the footpaths alongside the railway looked like. Footpaths later in the day would turn out to be a bit of a problem.

Every Last Station on the Llangollen Railway

by S Boyd • 11 April 2025
After hearing about the Steam Gala on the Llangollen Railway I simply had to see if I could make it work to visit. The day started at the awful time of 0645 with a train from Liverpool Lime Street to Chester. I hopped off at Frogsham on the way in the hunt of a cap in the Morrisons next to the station. Annoyingly thought he supermarket had zero mens clothing. So hopped on the next train to try my luck in Chester. Result, I got a cap! Hopefully this one lasts longer than this trip. I have a habbit of loosing hats! Aftert he great hat hunt I headed back to the station in order to catch the train down to Gobowen where I was meeting my good friend Rob. After the hellos we headed in car to Llangollen and started the great car parking space hunt which was followed by spending 10 minutes trying to work out how to pay for a car park ticket! After all that we headed down to the station and went straight to the platform. Couple of photos taken followed by boarding the first train of the day which would take us the full length of the line to Corwen station. We spent 20 minutes at Corwen before heading back to Glyndyfrdwy station and went for a short walk and took some photos. It was at this point we realised that every service on the line was running late. We boarded our third train and headed to Carrog where we alighted. Took some more photos and then went in search of a pub! The Grouse Inn to be precise. After a 5 minute walk we came across the pub and plonked ourselves in the beer garden with a drink and promply orders some grub! Was rather tasty! After this we headed back to the station, had a look around, bought some gifts in the shop and then headed over to the next train. On the way we asked a member of staff/volunteer what was happening with the timetable and their words was "the timetable is a work of fiction" so from this point we played it by ear with trains. The next stop was Berwyn which is quite possibly the best station on the line! The setting with the river next to the station was super and you simply couldn't stand on the platform and not be impressed! Given the timetable was completly out of the window we decided to just stay at the station and wait for the next train. This arrived and took us back to where we started: Llangollen. The line is a thing of beauty. The scenery was breathtaking, and every member of staff/volunteer we spoke to was great. After a walk around Llangollen we headed for the car and then drove to Machynlleth where i am based for the next few nights. Enjoy below some photos from today. And until next time... Ta for now

Stations to visit: KILDALE

by Stu • 28 April 2024
Kildale station is located on the very scenic Esk Valley Line that runs from Middlesborough to Whitby. From the June 2024 timetable change the station will see 8 trains per day, 4 in each direction! Although this is a limited service it does give you the opportunity to do some exploring of the area.

Afternoon walk with Bailey

by Stuart • 27 January 2024
I set of on a walk with my sisters dog and headed for the disused canal from Kendal. I followed along disused canal to the village of Natland. I then swapped the disused canal for the river. After following the riverside path, I came across a footbridge that I had planned to use, annoyingly it was closed! Annoyingly I was planning to use this footbridge, due to this there was a lenghty diversion. Thankfully the diversion wasn't a total waste of time, I was able to walk through the beautiful Sizergh Castle and then head back up to my original route plan and headed to Helsington church and view point. After spending a little time chatting with my Dad (who's ashs was scattered there) me and Bailey then headed up to Scout Scar before setting of back down towards Kendal. Upon reaching the River Kent I decided that my feet was still feeling good and I headed back along the river to Hawes Bridge. I then headed up into the village of Natland and then up to Oxenholme where my walk came to an end!

The Northumberland Line

by Stuart • 21 January 2024
A blog about the new Northumberland Line that is scheduled to start opening in the Summer of 2024.

Walking the Great Western Railway - Day 4

by Stu • 6 September 2023
This walk was a tail of two halves! The day started with walking through Reading suburbs and then through the city centre. Things mid morning took a positive turn as we headed to the The Kennet and Avon Canal which I then followed for the remaineder of the day. Only hopping away from the canal to go on to station platforms. A very enjoyable walk, even in the scorching heat! Stations visted today was: Reading, Reading West, Theale, Aldermaston & ended the day at Midgham. By walking between Aldermaston and Midgham I actually have managed to get a station ahead on my plan which can only be a good thing as I head down to the more difficult reagions of Somerset & Devon next week. Until tomorrow :)

Walking the Great Western Mainline gallery - Day 3

by Stu • 4 September 2023
Todays walk was a little bit of a tough one, mainly due to the excessive heat which is only going to get worse as the week goes on. Thinking there will be some early starts coming up to try and miss the worst of the heat! Today was a mixture of roads and walks across fields. Discovered there is some beautiful countryside between Maidenhead and Twyford. I strongly encourage you to take this walk! Stations visited today: Burnham, Taplow, Maidenhead and ended at Twyford. Was great to have Nick Badley along with me today. Make sure to check out and subscribe to his YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@NickBadley . After the walk myself and Nick headed to Windsor where we met up with Coastway Will and had a Nandos dinner where the unlimited refils was very much used again and again! Until tomorrow :)

Walking the Great Western Mainline gallery - Day 2

by Stu • 3 September 2023
Todays walk saw me starting at Southall and heading straight to The Grand Union Canal. We followed this for most of the walk today. Stations called at today was: Hayes & Harlington, West Drayton, Iver, Langley before finishing the walk at Slough. Was great to have pals Jack and Dave with me today. Laughed for the most part, especially when we got the wrong place for the London/Buckinghamshire borders. That video on twitter got filmed twice lol. Massive thank you to everyone supporting the event via donations to either/both: Donate to Samaritans: https://justgiving.com/page/greatwesternwalk Support me with the challenge: https://www.gofundme.com/f/GreatWesternWalk My photos from today are below. Daves photos from today can be found here on his Flickr photostream: https://flic.kr/ps/3ppCTV Until tomorrow :)

Walking the Great Western Mainline gallery - Day 1

by Stu • 2 September 2023
The first day of the walk from London Paddington to Southall saw me call at Acton Mainline, Ealing Broadway, West Ealing & Hanwell. On the way we saw unexpected viaducts, fancy McDonalds, pretty gardens & nice market squares. Today I was joined by a couple of friends who can be found online at the following places, Please do check their accounts out. Jack All Station: twitter.com/JackAllStations Midland London: youtube.com/@MidlandLondon Below is a selection of photos from today.

Gallery: Weekend Walking around Windermere & Oxenholme

by Stu • 20 August 2023
Walk around Windermere:
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