Midland Counties Railway

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Introduction

Most of this line is still open. This railway ran from Derby to Rugby with a branch to Nottingham.

It ran in competition with the Birmingham and Derby Junction Railway and was continued north to Leeds by the North Midland Railway and even further north by the York and North Midland Railway. It was one of the founders of the Midland Railway.






Dates

  /  /1839Midland Counties Railway
Opened from Derby (temporary) to Nottingham.
  /  /1840Midland Counties Railway
Opened from Rugby (London and Birmingham Railway) to triangular junction at Long Eaton.
02/01/1842Railway Clearing House
The Railway Clearing House is established. Birmingham and Derby Junction Railway, Great North of England Railway, Hull and Selby Railway, Leeds and Selby Railway, London and Birmingham Railway, Manchester and Leeds Railway, Midland Counties Railway, North Midland Railway and York and North Midland Railway join.
10/05/1844Midland Counties Railway Birmingham and Derby Junction Railway North Midland Railway Midland Railway
George Hudson encourages the Midland Counties Railway, Birmingham and Derby Junction Railway and North Midland Railway to merge to become the Midland Railway.
  /  /1962Midland Counties Railway
Closed from Wigston North Junction (excluded) to Rugby, Wharf Junction (excluded).
  /  /1965Midland Counties Railway
Closed from Rugby (excluded) to Wharf Junction and Newbold Canal Basin.

Locations along the line

These locations are along the line.




Rugby

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See also
London and Birmingham Railway
A blanket of freezing fog covers much of the West Midlands on the morning of 11 February 1979, together with the remains of the previous days ...
John Furnevel 11/02/1979
66536 pierces the dawn as it heads for the Northampton Loop with 4L52 from Garston to London Gateway on 13th October 2022. Another Freightliner with ...
Ken Strachan 13/10/2022
The lights are on, and someone is home - 57308 'Jamie Ferguson' didn't seem to be going anywhere, but its engine was running for some 15 minutes - ...
Ken Strachan 13/10/2022
When I first visited Rugby station, this platform did not exist. Down slow trains are not as glamorous as fast, so I have neglected photographing it ...
Ken Strachan 28/10/2011
4 of 44 images. more





Ullesthorpe

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Old railway, or canal? Ironically, this stretch of the Midland Railway Rugby-Leicester line at Willey, near Ullesthorpe, approaching the level ...
Ken Strachan 01/04/2011
1 of 1 images.





Leire Halt

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A view north west of Frolesworth Road over-bridge, to the west of Ashby Parva village, over the former Leicester Wigston North Junction to Rugby ...
David Pesterfield 14/06/2018
A north easterly view from Frolesworth Road over-bridge, to the west of Ashby Parva village, along a tree free section of the solum of the former ...
David Pesterfield 14/06/2018
2 of 2 images.





Broughton Astley

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Countesthorpe

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Wigston South

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Wigston Central West Junction

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See also
Wigston Curves (Midland Railway)





Knighton North Junction

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See also
Burton to Leicester Line (Midland Railway)





Welford Road

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Leicester

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A Robel track maintenance machine awaits its next turn of duty at Leicester in January 2023. The two gents on the left, however, are hard at work. ...
Ken Strachan 13/01/2023
This aubergine coloured Voyager is the 9.20 to Nottingham. It is still heading South at Leicester at 10.26. 13th January 2023 not the best day on EMR. ...
Ken Strachan 13/01/2023
Mid-morning on the Midland Main Line at Leicester on 8th May 1980. A down Inter City service from St Pancras is calling, hauled by a smartly turned ...
Mark Dufton 08/05/1980
If you like classic diesel traction, a ride past Leicester's Locomotive Inspection Point is recommended. Classes 37, 47, 56, 58, and 60 were on view ...
Ken Strachan 13/01/2023
4 of 17 images. more





Humberstone Road

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Syston

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See also
Syston to Peterborough Line (Midland Railway)
A building by the road leading to the platform at Syston Station. ...
Brad Payne 09/02/2005
Looking south at Syston station ...
Brad Payne 9/2/2005
Poorly sign at Syston ...
Brad Payne 09/02/2005
3 of 3 images.





Syston North Junction

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See also
Syston to Peterborough Line (Midland Railway)





Cossington Gate

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66559 at Cossington on 17th August 2023 with the 6Z45 1415 Norwich Trowse to Tunstead stone empties. ...
Roger Geach 17/08/2023
The retro look for 69007 on the 6L15 1754 Toton - Whitemoor service, with only one wagon on this occasion, at Cossington just north of Syston ...
Roger Geach 17/08/2023
47727 seen in a view looking north at Cossington, north of Syston on 17th January 2023. The locomotive was running light engine to Derby.
...
Roger Geach 17/01/2023
3 of 3 images.





Sileby

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An East Midlands Leicester - Lincoln service calls at Sileby on 22 June. ...
Peter Todd 22/06/2009
EWS 66017 takes a train of Lafarge aggregates south on the Midland Mail line through Sileby on 22 June. ...
Peter Todd 22/06/2009
Scene just south of Sileby station on the Midland main line on 22 June 2009. EWS 66067 with a northbound freight passes East Midlands Trains ...
Peter Todd 22/06/2009
3 of 3 images.





Barrow-upon-Soar

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Barrow-on-Soar and Quorn

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Loughborough

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45119 southbound XP through the Midland station. Notice the old track layout and the Brush factory. ...
Peter Todd 28/04/1979
45108 northbound XP through the Midland station. ...
Peter Todd 28/04/1979
The famous neon sign, framed by the steelwork of the recently erected Loughborough station footbridge. View east in October 2013. ...
Ken Strachan 25/10/2013
A dramatic difference see image 56066 from the empty space of the last 37 years. These two girders, in modern Rail Girder Green, were installed ...
Ken Strachan 09/09/2017
4 of 5 images. more





Loughborough Watertroughs

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Hathern

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Kegworth

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Fast moving service runs north past the remains of Kegworth station. ...
Ewan Crawford 12/09/2006
1 of 1 images.





East Midlands Parkway

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East Midlands Parkway - change here for Ratcliffe on Soar power station. View looks East. ...
Ken Strachan 11/09/2009
1 of 1 images.





Trent Junction

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Sheet Stores Junction

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See also
Stenson Junction to Chellaston West Junction and Chellaston East Junction to Trent Sheet Stores Junction (Midland Railway)





Long Eaton

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Sawley

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Borrowash [1st]

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Borrowash [2nd]

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Spondon

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Here is an update to my previous image 42222 from 2013. The train is still a Nottingham to Matlock service, but the two tracks into the former ...
Ken Strachan 03/03/2023
The Spondon station building (red brick) and station master's house (rendered, and complete with stopped clock) have both been converted to new uses ...
Ken Strachan 21/02/2013
View west at Spondon towards Derby on 21 February see image 42222 in an area full of history. The Derby-Nottingham canal survives as a path beyond ...
Ken Strachan 21/02/2013
3 of 3 images.





Spondon Junction

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Derby South Junction

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Derby Junction (MCR)

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See also
North Midland Railway





Deby North Junction

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See also
North Midland Railway





Trent

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An unidentified Class 44 Peak brings a long coal train from Toton over the 1901 goods flyover at Trent and down past the back of the power box. ...
Mark Bartlett //1975
Brush Type 4 No. 47189 brings a long MGR service past Trent Power Box (just out of sight beyond the railway cottages) in September 1981. The train is ...
Mark Bartlett 01/09/1981
2 of 2 images.





Platt Crossing

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Long Eaton Junction

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See also
Erewash Valley Line (Midland Railway)





Long Eaton Junction

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Attenborough Junction

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See also
Long Eaton to Langley Mill Quadrupling (Midland Railway) and Toton Marshalling Yard (British Railways)





Draycott and Breaston

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Attenborough

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Beeston

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Platform shelters (with compartments) at Beeston station, looking to Attenborough Junction. ...
Iain Steel /04/2008
The fine 1847 Midland Railway building on the Nottingham bound platform at Beeston station. ...
Iain Steel /04/2008
2 of 2 images.





Lenton South Junction

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Mansfield Junction

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Nottingham [1st]

This was the terminus of the Midland Counties Railway branch from Long Eaton.
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Books


The Midland Counties Railway

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