THE RAILWAY LINE Click here to view a 1945 Ordenance Survey map of the area The Railway The main road from Alford into Well (actually a one track road) had a railway crossing for the tracks from Alford to Cleethorps. In 1848 the East Lincolnshire Railway was opened from New Holland and Grimsby to Boston and Peterborough and a railway station was built in Alford (which had it’s own level crossing with gates). The direct line which ran from Peterborough to Grimsby and New Holland on the south bank of the Humber. Click here to see a 1906 map of the route of the railway through Well from Alford southwards. Railway Crossing at Well The line of the old railway can be seen on a satellite view, there is now a building where the railway crossed Low Lane, looks a bit large to be a crossing keepers cottage, but may have been put to other use since the railway closed in 1970. Mike (rootsweb) The road crosses the great northern railway, east Lincolnshire branch, it looks to be a crossing where the gates are opened for road traffic by a resident gatekeeper, his/her house being shown alongside on the map. Mike (Rootsweb) There is a sign on the cottage, which you can read on Google Street View. GREAT NORTHERN --RAILWAY-- BEWARE OF THE TRAINS LOOK BOTH UP AND DOWN THE LINE BEFORE YOU CROSS DCB (Rootsweb) Crossing keepers' cottages were large and very low rent to attract and keep staff. Resident meant 24/7 half day off for shopping a week. Redroger (Rootsweb) Winston Churchill I was told that Winston Churchill was visiting the area and his train stopped at the crossing for him to alight when he visited Well Vale Hall. That is all I know and I have not been able to find any evidence for this rumour or how he would continue his journey. But if you find any information at all please let us know.