Charnwood Forest Railway
Encyclopedia
The Charnwood Forest Railway was a branch line in Leicestershire
constructed by the Charnwood Forest Company between 1881 and 1883. The branch line ran from Coalville
(joined from the Ashby and Nuneaton Joint Railway
(ANJR)) to the town of Loughborough
.
It should not be confused with the much earlier railway that was part of the Charnwood Forest Canal
.
Stations on the Charnwood Forest Railway were located at Coalville East, Whitwick
, Shepshed
and Loughborough Derby Road
. By 1885, the company had been placed in receivership; under this supervision, in 1907 three halts were opened, these being Thringstone
Halt, Grace Dieu Halt and Snells Nook Halt. These were an attempt to improve the profitability of the line by increasing the customer base. The line was worked by the London and North Western Railway
(LNWR) and was taken over by the London Midland & Scottish Railway (LMS) in 1923.
Passenger services ceased to operate on 13 April 1931, with freight services ceasing to operate on 12 December 1963. The line was known as the 'Bluebell
Line' due to the flower growing along much of the length of the line during the spring.
to Loughborough where it could then be transferred on to boats which would bring the coal into Leicester
at West Bridge Wharf. Not to be deterred, the thwarted coal owners then promoted a Bill in 1829 which resulted in the construction of the Leicester and Swannington Railway
, opened in 1832 - Leicestershire's first railway.
Interest then came from LNWR as a way of getting a foothold in the coal mining area. It was incorporated by an Act of 1874 to lay a single-track railway from Nuneaton
Junction near on the Ashby & Nuneaton Joint Railway to Loughborough. The intention was to link it to the [Midland Main Line]], this however never happened and the terminus was at Loughborough Derby Road.
A ceremony marking the beginning of work was held on a very rainy day, 31st August 1881. The first turf was cut by Lady Packe (wife of Hussey Packe) of Prestwold Hall
. Squire de Lisle of Garendon Hall
wheeled the first barrow load of soil over a plank, but due to the rain he slipped and spilled the lot, causing great amusement.
The line was 10¼ miles long with four stations serving Coalville (East), Whitwick, Shepshed and Loughborough (Derby Road). There was a rock face of 20 yards to go through at Thringstone and in order to swing the curve at Grace Dieu a cant of 6" was required. The line also had a severe gradient of 1 in 66 between Whitwick and Coalville East.
The line opened on 16 April 1883. and was worked by the London & North Western Railway who had subscribed a third of the capital in exchange for 50% of the gross receipts.
On leaving the hands of the receiver in 1909 it remained a separate company until it was absorbed into the LMS in the Grouping of 1923. Passengers trains were operated by an LNWR steam railcar
, though 2-4-2 tanks. 0-6-0 freight and 0-6-2 'Coal Tanks' also worked passenger services as well as freights. The LNW provided nine passenger trains from Derby Road station in Loughborough with most going through to Shackerstone and two continuing to Nuneaton. In 1922 you could leave Euston at 5.35, change at Nuneaton and Shackerstone and be in Whitwick at 8.32.
The never successful line went into a decline after World War I
and passenger traffic was withdrawn on 13 April 1931.
the line became of paramount importance as large amounts of road stone from quarries could be conveyed to new aerodromes throughout the country. Additionally, the line served a number of ammunition dumps, the army ambulance train was kept at Loughborough, rubber was stored at Shepshed and the USA Post Office was based at Coalville East.
After the war excursion trains ran on the line until 1951 and Loughborough goods yard closed on 31st October 1955. On the 14th April 1957 "The Charnwood Forester" was the last train to run through to Loughborough. The last excursion on the line occurred in 1962 when the Manchester Railway Society ran a series of excursions. Pulle dby loco '43728' the service ran from Charnwood Junction to Shepshed and back.
The remaining goods services closed on 7th October 1963, except for Shepshed quarry traffic which lasted to 12th December 1963.
, which was a mass of bluebells in the Spring resulting in the epithet "The Bluebell Line" in passengers days, although it was not the only line to be so termed. It was also known as the 'Bread and Herring Line' by the drivers and firemen.
The halts, opened in 1907, at Thringstone, Grace Dieu and Snells Nook were a desperate attempt to attract passengers and enable effective competition with new omnibus services. All of the halts were merely platforms six feet wide, thirty-three inches high and sixty feet long, and made up of old sleepers. Waiting huts were added later. Originally, passengers boarding at the halts paid on the train but when the huts were provided the guard issued the tickets from the huts. It was also the guard's duty to tend the oil lamps at the platforms.
Route of the Charnwood Forest Line continuing from the Ashby
& Nuneaton
Joint Railway (ANJR)):
No to be confused with Coalville Town Station
.
For more see Whitwick Railway Station
Thringstone halt was located only three quarters of a mile from the Station at Whitwick, in a cutting on the south side of the Gracedieu Road Bridge. The short platform was on the village side of the line and reached by steps down from the road. In 1914, some seven years after the halt had been opened, a hut was provided at the back of the platform following several requests by local residents. This was a standard LNWR 'portable' type, 16ft x 18ft, of timber construction and with a plain pitched roof. Following its closure in 1931, the hut was rented by a Mr Ottey of Bauble Yard, Thringstone, for use as a Cobbler's shop.
Undoubtedly, the most impressive feature along the route is the Six Arch Viaduct in Gracedieu wood, spanning 40 yards long with 3" by 15" coping stones from nearby Mountsorrel.
For more see Loughborough Derby Road
There are very few buildings still in existence which were once used by the railway. However, one still exists in Whitwick
, and now serves as the home of the "Whitwick Historical Group". This is in the old station building near the market place.
The goods shed at Loughborough
Derby Road also still stands, albeit in use with the rest of an industrial estate
The only other buildings still standing (and this is a tenuous link) are the numerous bridges still carrying road traffic dotted amongst the local countryside. One of the best still remains intact within Thringstone woods, near Grace Dieu Priory
ruins. This is the Grace Dieu Viaduct, a grand and imposing structure for such a small line.
The station buildings at Coalville
East have been built upon (housing estate). The same has happened in Shepshed (industrial estate) and Loughborough. There is still a post near the site of Grace Dieu halt. The site of the halt itself was removed completely when the A512
was realigned and the CFR 3 arched bridge over the old road was demolished.
. Alterations to the surroundings make it hard to tell. The trackbed can be readily picked up near Thringstone
Wood, which will take you across the aforementioned viaduct, and bring you past the priory and to the edge of a missing bridge, and a busy road below. The bridge here was demolished in 1967. Across this gap, the trackbed continues and soon turns into private land owned by a nearby farm. Large parts of the trackbed are used by the farm as roads for their machinery, though it is still an obvious railway trackbed (there is no ballast here). West of Shepshed
the trackbed has been converted to a footpath, popular with dog walkers and boys practicing their skills on mountain bicycles. The footpath starts at Charnwood Road in Shepshed and finishes in a dead-end about 2 km to the west . In places along the way, derelict remains of the Charnwood Forest Canal
can be identified
Through Shepshed the trackbed has been obliterated, but to the east it is distinguishable again and passes behind a lorry park before the M1 motorway cuts across the path of the line. After the motorway the line has again been converted to a footpath and cycleway near Old Ashby Road, with a dead-end at and on towards Loughborough
. The footpath along the trackbed leads all the way to Thorpe Hill where a community centre has been constructed over the trackbed. After the community centre the trackbed is followable again down to Loughborough Fire Station, which again has been built on the trackbed, from here the route of the line is difficult to follow, but the footpath follows the course of the line closely. A care home and industrial estate have been built upon the rest of the former trackbed to Loughborough Derby Road station.
The goods warehouse at Loughborough Derby Road station, along with the Station Hotel are the only two remaining structures of the small terminus constructed at this location.
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
constructed by the Charnwood Forest Company between 1881 and 1883. The branch line ran from Coalville
Coalville
Coalville is a town in North West Leicestershire, England, with a population estimated in 2003 to be almost 33,000. It is situated on the A511 trunk road between Leicester and Burton upon Trent, close to junction 22 of the M1 motorway where the A511 meets the A50 between Ashby-de-la-Zouch and...
(joined from the Ashby and Nuneaton Joint Railway
Ashby and Nuneaton Joint Railway
The Ashby and Nuneaton Joint Railway was a pre-grouping railway company in the English Midlands. It was jointly owned by the Midland Railway and the London and North Western Railway and linked Nuneaton and Coalville....
(ANJR)) to the town of Loughborough
Loughborough
Loughborough is a town within the Charnwood borough of Leicestershire, England. It is the seat of Charnwood Borough Council and is home to Loughborough University...
.
It should not be confused with the much earlier railway that was part of the Charnwood Forest Canal
Charnwood Forest Canal
The Charnwood Forest Canal, sometimes known as the "Forest Line of the Leicester Navigation", was opened between Thringstone and Nanpantan, with a further connection to Barrow Hill, near Worthington, in 1794...
.
Stations on the Charnwood Forest Railway were located at Coalville East, Whitwick
Whitwick railway station
Whitwick railway station was built by the Charnwood Forest Company, serving the Charnwood Forest Railway, and was officially opened with the rest of the completed line on April 16, 1883. Following the closure of passenger traffic in 1931, the station building became a blacksmiths...
, Shepshed
Shepshed
Shepshed, often known until 1888 as Sheepshed, is a town in Leicestershire, England with a population of around 14,000 people...
and Loughborough Derby Road
Loughborough Derby Road railway station
-History:The station was opened by the Charnwood Forest Railway on 16 April 1883. It was the terminus of their line from Coalville. The CFR was operated by the London and North Western Railway from the outset, but remained independent until absorbed into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway ,...
. By 1885, the company had been placed in receivership; under this supervision, in 1907 three halts were opened, these being Thringstone
Thringstone
Thringstone is a village in north-west Leicestershire, England about north of Coalville. It lies within the area of the English National Forest and is part of the East Midlands region....
Halt, Grace Dieu Halt and Snells Nook Halt. These were an attempt to improve the profitability of the line by increasing the customer base. The line was worked by the London and North Western Railway
London and North Western Railway
The London and North Western Railway was a British railway company between 1846 and 1922. It was created by the merger of three companies – the Grand Junction Railway, the London and Birmingham Railway and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway...
(LNWR) and was taken over by the London Midland & Scottish Railway (LMS) in 1923.
Passenger services ceased to operate on 13 April 1931, with freight services ceasing to operate on 12 December 1963. The line was known as the 'Bluebell
Common Bluebell
Hyacinthoides non-scripta, commonly known as the common bluebell, is a spring-flowering bulbous perennial plant. -Taxonomy:...
Line' due to the flower growing along much of the length of the line during the spring.
Formation
According to Hadfield, in 1828 the owners of the disused Charnwood Forest Canal turned down an approach by Leicestershire coal owners for permission to lay rails along the now dry canal bed. The idea was to bring coal by this rail route from Whitwick and SwanningtonSwannington, Leicestershire
Swannington is a former mining village in Leicestershire, England. It was a terminus of the early Leicester and Swannington Railway that was built to carry away its pits' output...
to Loughborough where it could then be transferred on to boats which would bring the coal into Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
at West Bridge Wharf. Not to be deterred, the thwarted coal owners then promoted a Bill in 1829 which resulted in the construction of the Leicester and Swannington Railway
Leicester and Swannington Railway
The Leicester and Swannington Railway was one of England's first railways, being opened on 17 July 1832 to bring coal from collieries in west Leicestershire to Leicester.-Overview:...
, opened in 1832 - Leicestershire's first railway.
Interest then came from LNWR as a way of getting a foothold in the coal mining area. It was incorporated by an Act of 1874 to lay a single-track railway from Nuneaton
Nuneaton
Nuneaton is the largest town in the Borough of Nuneaton and Bedworth and in the English county of Warwickshire.Nuneaton is most famous for its associations with the 19th century author George Eliot, who was born on a farm on the Arbury Estate just outside Nuneaton in 1819 and lived in the town for...
Junction near on the Ashby & Nuneaton Joint Railway to Loughborough. The intention was to link it to the [Midland Main Line]], this however never happened and the terminus was at Loughborough Derby Road.
A ceremony marking the beginning of work was held on a very rainy day, 31st August 1881. The first turf was cut by Lady Packe (wife of Hussey Packe) of Prestwold Hall
Prestwold Hall
thumb|Prestwold HallPrestwold Hall is a country house in Leicestershire, England, and in the parish of Prestwold. As presently exists, it is a remodelled by William Burn incorporating the fabric of mid 18th Century H-plan house.It was Grade I listed in 1951....
. Squire de Lisle of Garendon Hall
Shepshed
Shepshed, often known until 1888 as Sheepshed, is a town in Leicestershire, England with a population of around 14,000 people...
wheeled the first barrow load of soil over a plank, but due to the rain he slipped and spilled the lot, causing great amusement.
The line was 10¼ miles long with four stations serving Coalville (East), Whitwick, Shepshed and Loughborough (Derby Road). There was a rock face of 20 yards to go through at Thringstone and in order to swing the curve at Grace Dieu a cant of 6" was required. The line also had a severe gradient of 1 in 66 between Whitwick and Coalville East.
The line opened on 16 April 1883. and was worked by the London & North Western Railway who had subscribed a third of the capital in exchange for 50% of the gross receipts.
Decline
As a result of being unable to pay the interest on debenture stocks and partly due to financial malfeasance by the Secretary, the line went into bankruptcy in 1885. In 1906 there was a move to join up with the Central Line at Loughborough but nothing came of it and the terminus remained at Loughborough's Derby Road. The Company then came up with two initiatives designed to improve profitability; Cheap-to-run motor rail services, which were introduced between Loughborough and Shakerstone, and on 2nd April 1907 three halts were opened for use with these vehicles. The LNW provided nine passenger trains from Derby Road station in Loughborough with most going through to Shackerstone and two continuing to Nuneaton.On leaving the hands of the receiver in 1909 it remained a separate company until it was absorbed into the LMS in the Grouping of 1923. Passengers trains were operated by an LNWR steam railcar
Railmotor
Railmotor is a term which was used by several British railway companies for a steam railcar.-Overview:William Bridges Adams started building railmotors as early as 1848, but only in small numbers...
, though 2-4-2 tanks. 0-6-0 freight and 0-6-2 'Coal Tanks' also worked passenger services as well as freights. The LNW provided nine passenger trains from Derby Road station in Loughborough with most going through to Shackerstone and two continuing to Nuneaton. In 1922 you could leave Euston at 5.35, change at Nuneaton and Shackerstone and be in Whitwick at 8.32.
The never successful line went into a decline after World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and passenger traffic was withdrawn on 13 April 1931.
Final Days
During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the line became of paramount importance as large amounts of road stone from quarries could be conveyed to new aerodromes throughout the country. Additionally, the line served a number of ammunition dumps, the army ambulance train was kept at Loughborough, rubber was stored at Shepshed and the USA Post Office was based at Coalville East.
After the war excursion trains ran on the line until 1951 and Loughborough goods yard closed on 31st October 1955. On the 14th April 1957 "The Charnwood Forester" was the last train to run through to Loughborough. The last excursion on the line occurred in 1962 when the Manchester Railway Society ran a series of excursions. Pulle dby loco '43728' the service ran from Charnwood Junction to Shepshed and back.
The remaining goods services closed on 7th October 1963, except for Shepshed quarry traffic which lasted to 12th December 1963.
Route
The branch was a very picturesque passing, following within the boundary of the north-west portion of Charnwood ForestCharnwood Forest
Charnwood Forest is an upland tract in north-western Leicestershire, England, bounded by Leicester, Loughborough, and Coalville. The area is undulating, rocky and picturesque, with barren areas. It also has some extensive tracts of woodland; its elevation is generally 600 ft and upwards, the area...
, which was a mass of bluebells in the Spring resulting in the epithet "The Bluebell Line" in passengers days, although it was not the only line to be so termed. It was also known as the 'Bread and Herring Line' by the drivers and firemen.
The halts, opened in 1907, at Thringstone, Grace Dieu and Snells Nook were a desperate attempt to attract passengers and enable effective competition with new omnibus services. All of the halts were merely platforms six feet wide, thirty-three inches high and sixty feet long, and made up of old sleepers. Waiting huts were added later. Originally, passengers boarding at the halts paid on the train but when the huts were provided the guard issued the tickets from the huts. It was also the guard's duty to tend the oil lamps at the platforms.
Route of the Charnwood Forest Line continuing from the Ashby
Ashby
-Surname:* Alan Ashby , American baseball player* Alexander Essebiensis , English theologian and poet* Andy Ashby , American baseball player* Carl Ashby , American abstract expressionist artist...
& Nuneaton
Nuneaton
Nuneaton is the largest town in the Borough of Nuneaton and Bedworth and in the English county of Warwickshire.Nuneaton is most famous for its associations with the 19th century author George Eliot, who was born on a farm on the Arbury Estate just outside Nuneaton in 1819 and lived in the town for...
Joint Railway (ANJR)):
- Charnwood Junction
- Coalville East Station
No to be confused with Coalville Town Station
Coalville Town railway station
Coalville Town was a railway station at Coalville in Leicestershire on the Leicester to Burton upon Trent Line. The Midland Railway opened the station in 1894 and British Railways closed it on 7th September 1964....
.
- Whitwick Station
For more see Whitwick Railway Station
Whitwick railway station
Whitwick railway station was built by the Charnwood Forest Company, serving the Charnwood Forest Railway, and was officially opened with the rest of the completed line on April 16, 1883. Following the closure of passenger traffic in 1931, the station building became a blacksmiths...
- Thringstone Halt
Thringstone halt was located only three quarters of a mile from the Station at Whitwick, in a cutting on the south side of the Gracedieu Road Bridge. The short platform was on the village side of the line and reached by steps down from the road. In 1914, some seven years after the halt had been opened, a hut was provided at the back of the platform following several requests by local residents. This was a standard LNWR 'portable' type, 16ft x 18ft, of timber construction and with a plain pitched roof. Following its closure in 1931, the hut was rented by a Mr Ottey of Bauble Yard, Thringstone, for use as a Cobbler's shop.
- Grace Dieu Viaduct
Undoubtedly, the most impressive feature along the route is the Six Arch Viaduct in Gracedieu wood, spanning 40 yards long with 3" by 15" coping stones from nearby Mountsorrel.
- Grace Dieu Halt
- Snells Nook
- Shepshed Station
- Loughborough Derby Road
For more see Loughborough Derby Road
Loughborough Derby Road railway station
-History:The station was opened by the Charnwood Forest Railway on 16 April 1883. It was the terminus of their line from Coalville. The CFR was operated by the London and North Western Railway from the outset, but remained independent until absorbed into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway ,...
Structures
Whitwick
Whitwick is a village in Leicestershire, England and is an ancient parish which formerly included the equally historic villages of Thringstone and Swannington. It was an important manor in the Middle Ages, which once included Bardon and Markfield, parts of Hugglescote, Donington le Heath, Ratby,...
, and now serves as the home of the "Whitwick Historical Group". This is in the old station building near the market place.
The goods shed at Loughborough
Loughborough
Loughborough is a town within the Charnwood borough of Leicestershire, England. It is the seat of Charnwood Borough Council and is home to Loughborough University...
Derby Road also still stands, albeit in use with the rest of an industrial estate
The only other buildings still standing (and this is a tenuous link) are the numerous bridges still carrying road traffic dotted amongst the local countryside. One of the best still remains intact within Thringstone woods, near Grace Dieu Priory
Grace Dieu Priory
The Grace Dieu Priory was an Augustinian priory near Thringstone in Leicestershire, England. It was founded around 1235-1241 by Roesia de Verdon and dissolved in October in 1538. It was dedicated to the Holy Trinity and St Mary.-History:...
ruins. This is the Grace Dieu Viaduct, a grand and imposing structure for such a small line.
The station buildings at Coalville
Coalville
Coalville is a town in North West Leicestershire, England, with a population estimated in 2003 to be almost 33,000. It is situated on the A511 trunk road between Leicester and Burton upon Trent, close to junction 22 of the M1 motorway where the A511 meets the A50 between Ashby-de-la-Zouch and...
East have been built upon (housing estate). The same has happened in Shepshed (industrial estate) and Loughborough. There is still a post near the site of Grace Dieu halt. The site of the halt itself was removed completely when the A512
A512 road
The A512 is an A road entirely in Leicestershire, UK. It links the primary destination of Loughborough with the M1, A42 road, and the town of Ashby de la Zouch....
was realigned and the CFR 3 arched bridge over the old road was demolished.
The Trackbed
The trackbed remains remarkably intact, although some is now on private land. The most convenient place to start is near Coalville's Morrisons outlet (at ) where the trackbed into Whitwick has been made a public right of way. This footpath meanders along the edge of the Hermitage Lake (a former clay quarry), past the modern leisure centre and then under the South Street bridge before passing the Whitwick station building and platform (although unfortunately the platform is unkempt and overgrown). This footpath along the trackbed ends at a T-junction just after Whitwick station, while the line went straight on over another bridge. The trackbed is less clear here, as it is now under someone's garden, who has carried out many alterations. At the other side of the garden however, the trackbed still retains its original ballast and is in remarkably good condition for a short distance, passing through an area known as 'Happy Valley', until the growth of vegetation starts again. It is still clear where it went, but less easy to follow due to vegetation. The line still has ballast here. For reference, we are now passing under Whitwick's "Dumps Road" bridge. The trackbed is still obvious here, yet it becomes less clear as we pass through ThringstoneThringstone
Thringstone is a village in north-west Leicestershire, England about north of Coalville. It lies within the area of the English National Forest and is part of the East Midlands region....
. Alterations to the surroundings make it hard to tell. The trackbed can be readily picked up near Thringstone
Thringstone
Thringstone is a village in north-west Leicestershire, England about north of Coalville. It lies within the area of the English National Forest and is part of the East Midlands region....
Wood, which will take you across the aforementioned viaduct, and bring you past the priory and to the edge of a missing bridge, and a busy road below. The bridge here was demolished in 1967. Across this gap, the trackbed continues and soon turns into private land owned by a nearby farm. Large parts of the trackbed are used by the farm as roads for their machinery, though it is still an obvious railway trackbed (there is no ballast here). West of Shepshed
Shepshed
Shepshed, often known until 1888 as Sheepshed, is a town in Leicestershire, England with a population of around 14,000 people...
the trackbed has been converted to a footpath, popular with dog walkers and boys practicing their skills on mountain bicycles. The footpath starts at Charnwood Road in Shepshed and finishes in a dead-end about 2 km to the west . In places along the way, derelict remains of the Charnwood Forest Canal
Charnwood Forest Canal
The Charnwood Forest Canal, sometimes known as the "Forest Line of the Leicester Navigation", was opened between Thringstone and Nanpantan, with a further connection to Barrow Hill, near Worthington, in 1794...
can be identified
Through Shepshed the trackbed has been obliterated, but to the east it is distinguishable again and passes behind a lorry park before the M1 motorway cuts across the path of the line. After the motorway the line has again been converted to a footpath and cycleway near Old Ashby Road, with a dead-end at and on towards Loughborough
Loughborough
Loughborough is a town within the Charnwood borough of Leicestershire, England. It is the seat of Charnwood Borough Council and is home to Loughborough University...
. The footpath along the trackbed leads all the way to Thorpe Hill where a community centre has been constructed over the trackbed. After the community centre the trackbed is followable again down to Loughborough Fire Station, which again has been built on the trackbed, from here the route of the line is difficult to follow, but the footpath follows the course of the line closely. A care home and industrial estate have been built upon the rest of the former trackbed to Loughborough Derby Road station.
The goods warehouse at Loughborough Derby Road station, along with the Station Hotel are the only two remaining structures of the small terminus constructed at this location.
Also See
- Loughborough Derby RoadLoughborough Derby Road railway station-History:The station was opened by the Charnwood Forest Railway on 16 April 1883. It was the terminus of their line from Coalville. The CFR was operated by the London and North Western Railway from the outset, but remained independent until absorbed into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway ,...
- Whitwick railway stationWhitwick railway stationWhitwick railway station was built by the Charnwood Forest Company, serving the Charnwood Forest Railway, and was officially opened with the rest of the completed line on April 16, 1883. Following the closure of passenger traffic in 1931, the station building became a blacksmiths...
- London and North Western RailwayLondon and North Western RailwayThe London and North Western Railway was a British railway company between 1846 and 1922. It was created by the merger of three companies – the Grand Junction Railway, the London and Birmingham Railway and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway...
- Ashby and Nuneaton Joint RailwayAshby and Nuneaton Joint RailwayThe Ashby and Nuneaton Joint Railway was a pre-grouping railway company in the English Midlands. It was jointly owned by the Midland Railway and the London and North Western Railway and linked Nuneaton and Coalville....
- Charnwood Forest CanalCharnwood Forest CanalThe Charnwood Forest Canal, sometimes known as the "Forest Line of the Leicester Navigation", was opened between Thringstone and Nanpantan, with a further connection to Barrow Hill, near Worthington, in 1794...