Essendine railway station

Essendine railway station was a station in Essendine, Rutland. It was situated on the East Coast Main Line of the Great Northern Railway.[2]

Essendine
Site of former goods yard, from Leeds-bound train, 2010-08-11
LocationEssendine, Rutland
England
Grid referenceTF046124
Platforms4
Other information
StatusDisused
History
Pre-groupingGreat Northern Railway
Post-groupingLondon North Eastern Railway
Eastern Region of British Railways
Key dates
2 October 1853Opened
15 June 1959[1]Closed
The location of Essendine Station within Rutland. It served the village of Essendine from 1853-1959.

Overview

The main line and the station opened in 1853. The Stamford and Essendine Railway branch line to Stamford and the line to Bourne were opened in 1856 and 1860.[3] Due to its status as a junction, it was served by some express trains as well as by stopping trains. For many years a commuter train left King's Cross at around 5pm and terminated at Essendine, before returning the next morning.[4] The Bourne branch closed in 1951. The Stamford branch closed in 1959 along with Essendine station itself and the Peterborough to Grantham local services. Peterborough to Grantham is the longest distance between adjacent stations in England.

The 'South' Signal-box at Essendine was enlarged, not long after it was built, and by the time the station closed, had well over a hundred levers. Many of these, however had become 'spare' by that time. About the first 21 or 22 were for working the Bourne Branch and some related sidings.

Record

The world speed record for steam locomotives at 125.88 mph (202.58 km/h) was achieved on 3 July 1938 by LNER Class A4 4468 Mallard. Taking place on the slight downwards grade of Stoke Bank south of Grantham on the East Coast Main Line, the highest speed was recorded at milepost 90¼, between Little Bytham and Essendine. It broke the German (DRG Class 05) 002's 1936 record of 124 mph (200.4 km/h).

Summary of former services
Preceding station   Historical railways   Following station
Line open, station closed
Great Northern Railway
Line open, station closed
Disused railways
Great Northern Railway
Stamford branch
Terminus
TerminusGreat Northern Railway

London services

In 1863 there were 5 services to London with a best time of 2 hours 30 min via the York - London train at 13.30. In April 1910 this had improved to 10 services, although some required a change at Peterborough, and the best time was 1 hour 46 mins via the Nottingham - London express at 08.54. By July 1922, this had reduced to 7 services, with the best time now being 2 hours 10 mins via the Leeds - London express at 10.10. In 2009, it is possible to travel to London by public transport in under 2 hours. The fastest route is by bus to Stamford and then train to London, changing at Peterborough.

Train timetable for July 1922

The table below shows the train departures from Essendine on weekdays in July 1922.[5]

Departure Going to Calling at Arrival Operator
06.35 York Grantham, Newark, Retford, Ranskill, Bawtry, Doncaster, Selby, York. Also through coaches to Leeds and Bradford 09.18 GNR
06.40 Stamford East Ryhall & Belmesthorpe, Stamford East 06.50 GNR
07.59 Retford Little Bytham, Corby, Great Ponton, Grantham, Barkston, Hougham, Claypole, Newark, Carlton, Crow Park, Dukeries Junction, Tuxford, Retford 09.45 GNR
08.10 Stamford East Ryhall & Belmesthorpe, Stamford East 08.20 GNR
08.30 Bourne Braceborough Spa, Thurlby, Bourne 08.50 GNR
08.54 London Kings Cross Peterborough North, Yaxley, Holme, Huntingdon, Offord, St Neots, Sandy, Biggleswade, Hitchin, Finsbury Park, London Kings Cross 11.15 GNR
08.56 Stamford East Ryhall & Belmesthorpe, Stamford East 09.06 GNR
09.52 Grantham Little Bytham, Corby, Great Ponton, Grantham 10.35 GNR
10.05 Stamford East Ryhall & Belmesthorpe, Stamford East 10.15 GNR
10.05 Bourne Braceborough Spa, Thurlby, Bourne 10.25 GNR
10.10 London Kings Cross Tallington, Peterborough North, Finsbury Park, London Kings Cross 12.20 GNR
11.07 Grantham Little Bytham, Corby, Great Ponton, Grantham 11.40 GNR
11.27 Peterborough North Tallington, Peterborough North 11.46 GNR
11.30 Bourne Braceborough Spa, Thurlby, Bourne 11.45 GNR
11.35 Stamford East Ryhall & Belmesthorpe, Stamford East 11.45 GNR
13.25 Peterborough North Peterborough North 13.41 GNR
13.30 Stamford East Ryhall & Belmesthorpe, Stamford East 13.39 GNR
13.58 York Grantham, Newark, Retford, Ranskill, Bawtry, Doncaster, Selby, York 16.22 GNR
14.08 Retford Little Bytham, Corby, Great Ponton, Grantham, Barkston, Hougham, Claypole, Newark, Carlton, Crow Park, Dukeries Junction, Tuxford, Retford 15.48 GNR
14.10 Stamford East Ryhall & Belmesthorpe, Stamford East 14.20 GNR
14.22 Bourne Braceborough Spa, Thurlby, Bourne 14.37 GNR
15.50 Grantham Grantham 16.11 GNR
15.59 London Kings Cross Peterborough North, Huntingdon, Sandy, Biggleswade, Hitchin, Finsbury Park, London Kings Cross 18.20 GNR
16.05 Stamford East Ryhall & Belmesthorpe, Stamford East 16.15 GNR
16.05 Bourne Braceborough Spa, Thurlby, Bourne 16.25 GNR
17.17 Peterborough North Tallington, Peterborough North 17.36 GNR
17.17 Retford Little Bytham, Corby, Great Ponton, Grantham, Barkston, Hougham, Claypole, Newark, Carlton, Crow Park, Dukeries Junction, Tuxford, Retford 19.00 GNR
17.25 Stamford East Ryhall & Belmesthorpe, Stamford East 17.35 GNR
17.25 Bourne Braceborough Spa, Thurlby, Bourne 17.40 GNR
18.48 Grantham Little Bytham, Grantham 19.13 GNR
18.58 London Kings Cross Peterborough North, Huntingdon, Sandy, Biggleswade, Hitchin, Finsbury Park, London Kings Cross 11.46 GNR
19.09 Stamford East Ryhall & Belmesthorpe, Stamford East 19.19 GNR
19.12 Bourne Braceborough Spa, Thurlby, Bourne 19.26 GNR
21.05 Peterborough North Tallington, Peterborough North 21.24 GNR

References
  1. Passengers No More by G.Daniels and L.Dench second edition page50
  2. Historic England. "Essendine Station (509049)". PastScape. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
  3. "Opening timetable". Archived from the original on 9 March 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2010.
  4. Shown in Bradshaw's Feb 1863, April 1910 and July 1922 railway guides.
  5. Bradshaw Railway Guide, July 1922
  • Rhodes, John (1986). Bourne to Essendine. KMS Books. ISBN 978-0-948017-03-2.

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