Words and pictures kindly supplied by Chris Bates.
I was always deeply fascinated
by Barrow Haven – a remote halt on the banks of the River Humber with,
when I first saw it, narrow
gauge railways serving the tile works going under the standard gauge line
linking New Holland Town
to Barton. A sturdy wooden building without a platform faced the single
platform across the track
– I learned later this had been moved from Brocklesby in the early 1900’s
and the building was saved
from demolition by being taken to a private railway museum at Kirton
Lindsey. It was later moved
to the Burgh le Marsh railway museum, but since that museum
closed its present whereabouts
is unknown.
LEFT: Close up of the station name board and station garden!
View of the waiting room and ticket office – note the creosoted
hut containing the staff toilet, the smoke issuing from the
stove chimney and the weather beaten enamel station name board of
this true branch line halt.
From the village side of the station both the platform, the
"thunder box" hut and the station building are visible.
End view of the station building revealing a more modern staff
convenience.
The crossing was really an occupation crossing serving the
Humber Bank and a wharf,
here seen with a delivery lorry crossing the track.
LEFT Interior view of the railman’s catering facilities –
kettle, hotplate and water heater as well an internal phone.
RIGHT This view of the interior gives some idea of the rudimentary
clerical area and sturdy woodwork., notices, etc.
LEFT The waiting room gave few concessions to comfort but
would have been infinitely preferable to the
open sided bus shelter which replaced it -- at least in the
wooden building there was shelter from the howling
gale from the adjacent Humber.
RIGHT A fine pot bellied stove and a good supply of coke kept
the passengers (what passengers?) warm – again,
a facility totally absent once “modernisation” and “progress” had
left their mark.