Bridge No.61a - Railway Embankment

The railway line crossing the canal at Woolsthorpe was constructed to carry iron ore mined from local pits in the area. The original bridge here was a timber trestle construction, designed to carry locomotives of standard rail gauge. The line was closed in 1973 and the bridge was replaced with the embankment shown below

View either side of the embankment

View on top of the embankment

When restoration gained momentum, British Rail were approached to seek permission for removing the embankment. They agreed, but only on condition that if they needed to re-open the line, the canal society had to provide funds for a replacement bridge. This was not acceptable, considering that the construction of the A52 Bottesford By-Pass obliterated the railway line at Muston.

With the start of restoration of the locks at Woolsthorpe, BR was again approached, with added support of local authorities. They eventually agreed that the society could permanently remove the blockage.

As reported by the Grantham Journal

So, in 1992, the Grantham Canal Restoration Society with assistance from the Waterways Recovery Group and International Voluntary Service completely removed the embankment - in ONE week! 

View of the reconstructed channel

During removing of the embankment, parts of the old trestle bridge were found:

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