A major step forward was the removal of the Woolsthorpe railway embankment in 1992. This followed years of negotiation with British Rail and permission was finally granted to allow the disused ironstone railway embankment to be removed. The embankment cut across the canal between Woolsthorpe Top Lock (lock 18) and Willis’s Lock (lock 17), and had been used to transport ore from the quarries around Harlaxton and Harston, joining the Nottingham- Grantham line at Muston. Quarrying had ceased in the area in 1974 and the branch line closed by 1977. All the track had been removed by 1980. Originally the line crossed the canal by means of a trestle bridge, but when this became unsound, it was totally enshrouded within a large embankment. Two large pipe culverts allowed for water flow, but the canal was now completely blocked to navigation at this location. Negotiations were ‘interesting’ at times to say the least. At one point British Rail insisted that if they ever needed to re-open the line, then the canal society would have to foot the bill for a bridge over the canal to the tune of £1.5m. Clearly this was not possible, and it took the intervention of Quentin Davies MP. to arrive at a more favourable solution! The society now had the go ahead to remove the embankment. This was a huge project for a comparatively small volunteer workforce to undertake. Despite the enormity of the task work commenced! An excavator was hired from British Waterways and three big dumpers were obtained from a plant hire firm. The Waterway Recovery Group were also on site and assisted in breaking up the concrete culverts in the embankment. This was a real team effort: local farmers helped by carting away the spoil – 10 tons at a time – 600 tons a day – the whole operation taking 3 weeks! No mean achievement. For further details of the Woolsthorpe and Harston Iron Stone railways take a look at Minerals on the Home page.

WOOLSTHORPE EMBANKMENT

The bridge and embankment removed

The original bridge.

The Great Northern Line mineral railway crossed the A52 near Muston. The sign indicates double bends, locally know as the “Muston Bends” and scene of several accidents. The bridge was dismantled in 1982. Full details can be found on the Bottesford Living History website: https://www.bottesfordhistory.org.uk/content/catalogue_item/bottesford-local- history-archive/pictures-from-mr-melvin-bradburys-collection/mineral-line-bridge- over-a52-at-muston