Lowdham Station History

Lowdham Station History. The Opening of the Railway. In 1845 the Royal Assent was given to a Parliamentary bill for the construction of the Nottingham to Lincoln railway line. This was a 33-mile extension to the Midland Railway's already existing Derby to Nottingham line. The new line would bring the railway age to Lowdham's doorstep, leading not only to the construction of Lowdham's pretty railway station, at the south end of the village, but also to the ability to travel quickly and cheaply, and for goods to arrive and depart., The Nottingham to Lincoln line was surveyed by George Stephenson who avoided engineering difficulties by following the course of the River Trent. No tunnels were required, and the only gradient was 1:330., The financial genius behind the scheme was George Hudson, Chairman of the Midland Railway Company. He raised £408,000 in shares and €136,000 in loans-a total of £544,000, a large sum even by today's standards. Unfortunately, his financial methods were dubious - he was inclined to pay one company's dividend from another company's capital. The restrictions of the 1844 Companies Act did not apply to Railways which were "specially sanctioned by Parliament.", Construction work was completed in 8 months by John Craven and Sons of Bingley, Yorks. An average length of 264 yards of track was laid each day. Few mechanical aids were used it was mostly pick, shovel, wheelbarrow and muscle power. Living conditions were atrocious in wintertime. Construction workers were nomadic--they lived in flimsy huts and tents. Hygiene was rudimentary and disease was rife. But in spite of these conditions the line was completed and examined on 31 July 1846 and opened for traffic on 3 August 1846., The official opening festivities at Lincoln were marred by a heavy thunderstorm. There was a gun salute, the gunner, a poor man named Paul Harding was struck by a piece of metal and a small boy lost two of his fingers. Paul Harding's leg was eventually amputated. During the course of the evening celebrations. George Hudson said that a pension would be paid to the unfortunate man. However, the gunner died a few days later from his injuries.