Title: Honouring the History and Legends of Crowle Moor’s Peatland Railway
Crowle Moor, cradled in North Lincolnshire, is renowned both for its natural splendour and historical fascination. As the lifeblood of a national nature reserve for over two decades, the moor is saturated with narratives from its industrial and cultural legacy. This Halloween, these stories will be vivaciously reanimated. From remnants of extensive peat extraction activities to chilling folk tales of ghosts and mythical creatures, Crowle Moor offers a wealth of heritage.
One man pivotal to the preservation of this historical tapestry is Angus Townley, a trustee of the Crowle Peatland Railway. He shares the tale of ‘Little Peat’, a Simplex locomotive that was abandoned on the moors for a quarter of a century. Since 2013, Townley, alongside a team of passionate supporters, has been dedicated to conserving the railways integral place in the history of the moor, safeguarding the tales of yesteryears from eventual extinction.
The folklore affiliated with the moors is equally enthralling. Central to the legends is the Tiddy Mun, a mythical entity believed to have governed the health and destiny of the locale’s inhabitants — further enriching the moor’s historical intrigue. This Halloween, the Crowle Peatland Railway will be at the forefront of a ghost train experience, weaving these storied threads into an engrossing narrative.
Co-managed by the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, the larger Humberhead Peatlands nature reserve, incorporating Crowle Moor, is a sanctuary for an array of indigenous wildlife. Simultaneously, it serves as a dynamic archive of peatland history, with hands-on volunteers like Anne-Marie who contribute significantly to the preservation and operation of the heritage locomotives.
As the reserve welcomes the public for Halloween festivities on 25 and 26 October, guests will have an unprecedented opportunity to explore the diverse natural and cultural gems of Crowle Moor. Ranging from the lovingly restored historical locomotives to the enduring local myths, there is an abundance of lore and culture to uncover and appreciate.
This story has been derived from the original report by www.bbc.com, and recreated for The Lincoln Post.
