Wigston Magna railway station

Wigston Magna
Location
Place Wigston Magna
Area Borough of Oadby and Wigston
Coordinates 52°34′49″N 1°07′24″W / 52.5802°N 1.1233°WCoordinates: 52°34′49″N 1°07′24″W / 52.5802°N 1.1233°W
Grid reference SP595984
Operations
Original company Midland Railway
Pre-grouping Midland Railway[1]
Post-grouping London, Midland and Scottish Railway
Platforms 2
History
8 May 1857 Station opened as Wigston
1924 Renamed Wigston Magna[2]
1 January 1968 Station closed
Disused railway stations in the United Kingdom
Closed railway stations in Britain
A B C D–F G H–J K–L M–O P–R S T–V W–Z
UK Railways portal

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		   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. ↑ 2.0 2.1 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.