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		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. 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.