The line opened 1867, and was 18 miles in length, from Honington, near Grantham to Pelham Street Junction in Lincoln.

Running through rural terrain, it was never heavily developed, and after nationalisation, through traffic was concentrated on a better alternative route via Newark.

In 1848 the Great Northern Railway opened part of its authorised network, from Peterborough to Lincoln via Spalding and Boston in 1848.

They were also concerned that the rival Great Eastern Railway sought to penetrate the area of Lincolnshire that the GNR dominated.

The Sleaford—Bourn part of the proposal was rejected, but the remainder of the bill became the Great Northern Railway (Lincoln to Bourn) Act 1864 (27 & 28 Vict.

There were stations at Caythorpe, Leadenham, Navenby, Harmston and Waddington, and the line joined the Lincolnshire Loop at Pelham Street junction, Lincoln.

Board of Trade sanction was given for passenger opening, provided that a 5 mph speed limit was observed over Fulbeck bank where a slip was giving trouble, and on condition that all trains over Pelham Street crossing had a pilotman.

[9][5] Construction of this branch involved provision of a new station at Honington, built slightly to the west of the old BS&MCR one, and with a refreshment room.

[12] In 1897 the line was used for an experiment with an early form of semi-automatic train control invented by Mr Wynford Brierly.

When at danger the signal rocker engaged the lever on the locomotive, ringing a bell in the cab and displaying a red disc below it.

In 1965 Leadenham yard looked busier than it had done for many years when truckloads of steel were delivered for the construction of electricity pylons in the area.