Wigston Magna railway station

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Wigston Magna
LocationWigston Magna, Borough of Oadby and Wigston
England
Coordinates52°34′49″N 1°07′24″W / 52.5802°N 1.1233°W / 52.5802; -1.1233Coordinates: 52°34′49″N 1°07′24″W / 52.5802°N 1.1233°W / 52.5802; -1.1233
Grid referenceSP595984
Platforms2
Other information
StatusDisused
History
Original companyMidland Railway
Pre-groupingMidland Railway[1]
Post-groupingLondon, Midland and Scottish Railway
Key dates
8 May 1857Station opened as Wigston
1924Renamed Wigston Magna[2]
1 January 1968Station closed

Wigston Magna railway station was a railway station serving Wigston Magna in Leicestershire.

In 1857 the Midland Railway opened its new main line to Hitchin, diverging from the Midland Counties Railway main line at a junction slightly north of its Wigston station. A new Wigston railway station was opened on the new main line, and the Midland Counties station was renamed Wigston South to reduce confusion.[2]

In 1860 the Midland acquired running powers to Nuneaton on the South Leicestershire Railway, which was later extended to Whitacre Junction. In 1872 a south chord was added to Wigston Junction, creating a direct link between Wigston Magna and Glen Parva stations.

In its heyday Wigston was an important interchange with large sidings and wagon repair shop. A motive power depot (MPD) was added in 1873.

In the 1923 grouping the Midland became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway and later the second Wigston station was renamed Wigston Magna for further clarity. The London, Midland and Scottish Railway closed the MPD in 1934 but reopened it in the Second World War while Leicester MPD was being rebuilt.

British Railways closed the MPD again in 1955.[3] By 1968 BR closed all Midland Main Line stations between Leicester and Market Harborough, including Wigston Magna.


Preceding station   Disused railways   Following station
Great Glen
Line open, station closed
  Midland Railway
Midland Main Line
  Welford Road
Line open, station closed
  LNWR
South Leicestershire Railway
  Wigston Glen Parva
Line open, station closed

References[]

  1. ^ Connolly, W. Philip (1976). British Railways Pre-Grouping Atlas and Gazetteer. Shepperton: Ian Allan Publishing. map sixteen. ISBN 0-7110-0320-3.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b Dewick, Tony (2002). Complete Atlas of Railway Station Names. Hersham: Ian Allan Publishing. map sixteen. ISBN 0-7110-2798-6.
  3. ^ Radford, B (1988) [1983]. Midland Line Memories: a Pictorial History of the Midland Railway Main Line Between London and Derby. London: Bloomsbury Books. p. not cited. ISBN 1-870630-21-1.


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