Wigston Magna railway station

Former railway station in Leicestershire, England

52°34′49″N 1°07′24″W / 52.5802°N 1.1233°W / 52.5802; -1.1233Grid referenceSP595984Platforms2Other informationStatusDisusedHistoryOriginal companyMidland RailwayPre-groupingMidland Railway^[1]Post-groupingLondon, Midland and Scottish RailwayKey dates8 May 1857Station opened as Wigston1924Renamed Wigston Magna^[2]1 January 1968Station closed

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

History

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.

Stationmaster

James Wilkinson until 1861^[4] (afterwards station master at Foulridge)
G. Rawlings 1861 - 1862^[4] (formerly station master at Alvechurch, afterwards station master at Desborough)
F. Hessey 1862 - 1864^[4]
Alexander McCall 1864 - 1865^[4] (afterwards station master at Mountsorrell Junction)
H. Jeffries from 1865^[5] (formerly station master at Mountsorrel Junction)
John Henry Garton ca. 1871 - 1898^[6] (afterwards station master at Kettering)
Walter George Fudge 1898 - 1922^[7] (formerly station master at Sileby)
John James Wood Grundy from 1922^[8]
Harry Finch
T. Bond ca. 1936 - 1940^[9] (also stationmaster at Glen Parva and South Wigston, afterwards station master at Barking)

Route

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

References

^ Connolly, W. Philip (1976). British Railways Pre-Grouping Atlas and Gazetteer. Shepperton: Ian Allan Publishing. map sixteen. ISBN 0-7110-0320-3.
^ ^a ^b Dewick, Tony (2002). Complete Atlas of Railway Station Names. Hersham: Ian Allan Publishing. map sixteen. ISBN 0-7110-2798-6.
^ 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.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "1859-1866". Midland Railway Miscellaneous Depts: 173. 1914. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
^ "1859-1866". Midland Railway Miscellaneous Depts: 256. 1914. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
^ "Presentation to a Midland Railway Official". Stamford Mercury. England. 1 April 1898. Retrieved 5 February 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^ "A Wigston Funeral". Nottingham Journal. England. 11 July 1922. Retrieved 5 February 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^ "Midland Railway (Passenger Dept.) Staff Changes". Derby Daily Telegraph. England. 13 September 1922. Retrieved 5 February 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^ "Mr. T. Bond". Essex Newsman. England. 27 January 1940. Retrieved 5 February 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.