Luffenham railway station
{{short description|Former railway station in Rutland, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2015}}
{{Infobox station
| name = Luffenham
| status = Disused
| image = Luffenham geograph-3764213-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg
| caption = Level-crossing at former station
| borough = South Luffenham, Rutland
| country = England
| grid_name = Grid reference
| grid_position = {{gbmapscaled|SK945027|25|SK945027}}
| 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.Butt, R.V.J., (1995) The Directory of Railway Stations, Yeovil: Patrick Stephens
}}
Luffenham railway station is a former station of the Syston and Peterborough Railway serving the villages of North and South Luffenham, Rutland.British Railways Atlas.1947. p.16
History
The contract for the erection of the station was obtained by Groocock and Yates of Leicester in 1847.{{cite news |author= |title=The contract for the erection of the Stamford, Ketton and Luffenham stations | url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001674/19560608/197/0011 |newspaper=Lincolnshire Chronicle |location=England |date=23 July 1847 |access-date=25 December 2021 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription }} 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.Preston Hendry, R., Powell Hendry, R., (1982) An historical survey of selected LMS stations : layouts and illustrations. Vol. 1 Oxford Publishing
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
{{div col}}
- J. Smith until 1861{{cite journal |author= |date=1914 |title=1859-1866 |url=https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/1728/images/32167_636897_0437-00098?ssrc=&backlabel=Return |journal=Midland Railway Miscellaneous Depts |volume= |issue= |pages=168 |doi= |access-date=24 December 2021}}
- Isaac Neale 1861 - 1864 (formerly station master at Saxby, afterwards station master at Yate)
- H. Simms from 1864 (formerly station master at Helpstone)
- A. Fewkes until 1872{{cite journal |author= |date=1871 |title=1871-1879 Coaching |url=https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/1728/images/32167_636897_0431-00277?ssrc=&backlabel=Return |journal=Midland Railway Operating, Traffic and Coaching Depts |volume= |issue= |pages=504 |doi= |access-date=24 December 2021}} (afterwards station master at Kildwick)
- Orlando Sims 1872 - 1877 (formerly station master at Ilkeston, afterwards station master at Denby)
- J. Camberland 1877 - 1879
- J Sampson 1879 - 1898{{cite journal |author= |date=1881 |title=1881-1898 Coaching |url=https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/1728/images/32167_626640_0604-00339?ssrc=&backlabel=Return |journal=Midland Railway Operating, Traffic and Coaching Depts |volume= |issue= |pages=667 |doi= |access-date=24 December 2021}} (formerly station master at Armathwaite)
- George Thomas Spires 1898 - 1925{{cite news |author= |title=Presentation | url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000237/19250227/090/0004 |newspaper=Stamford Mercury |location=England |date=27 February 1925 |access-date=24 December 2021 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription }} (formerly station master at Ashwell)
- Harry Aiers 1925 - 1936{{cite news |author= |title=Kettering | url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000732/19360612/379/0019 |newspaper=Northampton Mercury |location=England |date=12 June 1936 |access-date=24 December 2021 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription }} (afterwards station master at Woodville)
- J.A. Hodson ca. 1944
- Peter E. Collins 1951 - 1954{{cite news |author= |title=To Leave Luffenham Station | url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000237/19540115/002/0001 |newspaper=Stamford Mercury |location=England |date=15 January 1954 |access-date=24 December 2021 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription }}
- P.A. Jepson from 1954{{cite news |author= |title=Luffenham Stationmaster | url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000237/19540312/007/0001 |newspaper=Stamford Mercury |location=England |date=12 March 1954 |access-date=24 December 2021 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription }} (formerly station master at Edmondthorpe and Wymondham)
{{div col end}}
{{center|Former Services}}
{{Disused Rail Start}}
{{rail line two to one|previous1=Manton|previous2=Morcott|next=Ketton & Collyweston|route1=Midland Railway
Leicester to Peterborough line|route2=London and North Western Railway
Seaton branch|col=000000}}
{{end}}
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.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.railwatch.org.uk/backtrack.php?mag=rwm&issue=166 |title=The little blue link that could unlock rail services across middle and eastern England |author= |magazine=Railwatch |date=December 2020 |pages=12-13 |publisher=Railfuture}}
References
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{{coord|52.6135|-0.6044|type:railwaystation_region:GB|display=title}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Luffenham Railway Station}}
Category:Former Midland Railway stations
Category:Disused railway stations in Rutland
Category:Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 1848
Category:Railway stations in Great Britain closed in 1966
Category:Beeching closures in England
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