Luffenham railway station explained

Luffenham
Status:Disused
Borough:South Luffenham, Rutland
Country:England
Grid Name:Grid reference
Platforms:2
Pregroup:Midland Railway
Postgroup:London, Midland and Scottish Railway
London Midland Region of British Railways
Years:20 March 1848
Events:Opened
Years1:2 June 1851
Events1:Seaton branch opened.
Years2:6 June 1966
Events2:Station and Seaton branch closed.[1]

Luffenham railway station is a former station of the Syston and Peterborough Railway serving the villages of North and South Luffenham, Rutland.[2]

History

The contract for the erection of the station was obtained by Groocock and Yates of Leicester in 1847.[3] The station was opened on 20 March 1848 by the Midland Railway and situated adjacent to a level crossing on the North Luffenham to Duddington road. It was about 0.8 miles from each village by road, although only 0.5 miles from South Luffenham by the public footpath that was soon established (and which still exists). It also became the junction for the London and North Western Railway's Rugby and Stamford Railway in 1850.

The substantial station buildings were of Italianate design and there was a goods shed next to the platform. There were three lines through the station, that for the main platform being a loop. There were sidings to both sides and originally two signal boxes, one of which was removed in the early 20th century. All of the local trains and many of the semi fasts called at the station. It closed to goods in 1964 and to passengers in 1966.[4]

At grouping in 1923 it became part of the London Midland and Scottish Railway.

The line from Seaton was closed and lifted in 1966, but the main Midland line is still in operation for trains from Leicester to Peterborough.

Station masters

Reopening proposal

The Welland Valley Rail partnership has proposed the reopening of Luffenham station and reinstating the 3.5 mile section of track between Seaton and South Luffenham on the Rugby and Stamford Railway route. This would enable a service to be introduced from Kettering, through Corby, Luffenham, Stamford, Peterborough, Whittlesea, March and terminating at a rebuilt station at Wisbech.[12]

References

52.6135°N -0.6044°W

Notes and References

  1. Butt, R.V.J., (1995) The Directory of Railway Stations, Yeovil: Patrick Stephens
  2. British Railways Atlas.1947. p.16
  3. News: . The contract for the erection of the Stamford, Ketton and Luffenham stations . Lincolnshire Chronicle . England . 23 July 1847 . 25 December 2021 . British Newspaper Archive . subscription .
  4. Preston Hendry, R., Powell Hendry, R., (1982) An historical survey of selected LMS stations : layouts and illustrations. Vol. 1 Oxford Publishing
  5. . 1914 . 1859-1866 . Midland Railway Miscellaneous Depts . 168 . 24 December 2021.
  6. . 1871 . 1871-1879 Coaching . Midland Railway Operating, Traffic and Coaching Depts . 504 . 24 December 2021.
  7. . 1881 . 1881-1898 Coaching . Midland Railway Operating, Traffic and Coaching Depts . 667 . 24 December 2021.
  8. News: . Presentation . Stamford Mercury . England . 27 February 1925 . 24 December 2021 . British Newspaper Archive . subscription .
  9. News: . Kettering . Northampton Mercury . England . 12 June 1936 . 24 December 2021 . British Newspaper Archive . subscription .
  10. News: . To Leave Luffenham Station . Stamford Mercury . England . 15 January 1954 . 24 December 2021 . British Newspaper Archive . subscription .
  11. News: . Luffenham Stationmaster . Stamford Mercury . England . 12 March 1954 . 24 December 2021 . British Newspaper Archive . subscription .
  12. The little blue link that could unlock rail services across middle and eastern England . . Railwatch . December 2020 . 12-13 . Railfuture.