In the 1860s the Great Eastern Railway was pressing for powers to build northwards from March, to increase its share of the lucrative transport of Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire coal to the south.

[4] The GNR paid the Midland and Eastern, the actual owners of the Bourn and Lynn section, £25 per annum for use of 143 yards of its line.

[3] Goods trains, worked by the contractor's engines, began operating between Sleaford and Billingborough on 10 October 1871 and the line was opened throughout on 2 January 1872.

[4][5][3][6][excessive citations] Complaints were immediately made about timing because the first train from Sleaford did not make a useful onward connection.

[3] The branch only served rural communities and was never commercially successful, Bus services proved more convenient, and on 22 September 1930 it was closed to passenger trains.

The southern end, from Bourne to Billingborough, was cut back to Haconby siding after 15 June 1964, and the line was completely closed on 2 April 1965.