The Sleaford to Bourne Branch of the Great Northern Railway nearly never happened. Planned by the Company as part of an attempt to block another railway’s scheme to intrude into what it saw as its own territory, the GN then struck a deal with its rival and tried to abandon their proposals. Fortunately for the locals of Aswarby, Scredington, Horbling, Billingborough, Rippingale and Morton, Parliament stopped them doing so.
The line was opened in January 1872, carried passengers for 58 years and finally closed to all traffic in 1965.
