Skegness Magazine

Source: Skegness Standard 1963

Closure in two years `impossible’

THE Skegness station master, 58-year-old Mr. Jim Howden, came to Skegness 11 years ago from Langworth Junction, in Derbyshire. It was his first appointment as station master.
Mr. Howden is contemplating retirement in two years’ time, and he is confident that trains will still be arriving at his platform on the day he retires. ” They say the whole closure scheme will be completed within the next two years,” he said. ” It’s simply impossible !
“There’s still a great deal to be looked into,” he went on. ” If the line does go, and I’m far from certain that it will, I doubt whether it will happen for or several years.”

IRONIC
Ironically, Mr. Howden has had numerous opportunities to leave Skegness during the past few years, but rejected all of them. ” I never foresaw this,” he said.
” There’s never been any question of this station not paying its way,” Mr. Howden continued, ” even though the figures have declined. It’s the maintenance of the five level crossings and four signal boxes between here and Firsby which make running ‘this line costly.
“For Skegness,” he added, ” it would be disastrous. But personally, I’m not worried. If the worst comes to the worst, and they close this station tomorrow, then I shall retire tomorrow.”