Belgrave & Birstall

Ok thanks - I wasn't aware of that.

 

A similar situation happened at Broadfield on the ELR's Bury to Heywood line. The line was never officially shut by whoever and Broadfield goods yard had housing built on it. The bridge at Pilsworth Road had even been taken out and this had to be rebuilt. It was quite a shock to the householders when the ELR took the line over and started running services.
I reckon that the solicitors, in both cases, never did the searches thoroughly.

 

If the GCR wanted to go ahead with building the 'grand' terminus station that they originally foresaw could they not have re-routed said gas/water main? I appreciate this is probably very unlikely now given what has been spent on canopies etc with the current station.

Also would the gas/water main ever prevent track from being relaid across it should a southern extension ever happen? And as another pie in the sky idea - given the problems at East Leake could the station there be moved to Leicester as a replacement for Belgrave and Birstall? Then the present Leicester North can move southwards to form the future terminus and the original plans can go ahead! (I did say it was pie in the sky!)

 

If we're really talking pie in the sky, why not keep Leicester North where it is, build a second platform with a through track in the middle, build walls and false station building frontages down the sides, put the biggest canopy ever built in preservation over the lot, and re-create this kind of scene?

Nah, didn't think so!!

 

I thought they ought to save that for a northern extension! Come to think of it, I believe in the grand scheme of things the terminus at Ruddington is supposed to be quite impressive when it is completed.

I did think my idea may be vaguely possible if all of the GCR board and GCR supporters win euromillions sometime in the future.

 

If the London Bridge remodelling gets the green light then there'll be a trainshed looking for a new home. Would look rather nice at Ruddington!

Chris

 

There's nothing left of East Leake other than the platforms, so you can forget that idea...

 

That's that idea shot down in flames then. It's not looking at all good for East Leake at all then if there's little left of the station anyway and it cannot be re-opened due to the nearby housing. Are there any future plans for the station? Are the remains maintained in the current state they're in or are they just been left to deteriorate?

 

The weeds get strimmed occasionally. I don't think there is any definite plan at present, there are many more important things to do first. It's still in a better state than, say, West Hoathly.

 

although the goods yard is sadly lost to development, there are a couple of big houses, on both sides of the line, one of which I assume (on the east side) is the station master's house, around which there is enough space to put a few car parking spaces. Put in a foot crossing or even a subway and you gain access to the platforms. Rebuild the station buildings. The problem as ever would be is funding; buying the house is going to cost 1/2 million to million quid (it's a big house), assuming it's for sale. And the T&W order would have to be amended...

 

East Leake Station Master's house survives but isn't next to the line, it's the other side of the access road which was put in to the new housing estate.

Has it occurred to people that the owners of these houses might not be too impressed if we discuss buying their houses and either knocking them down or building car parks on the garden? It sounds nice in theory but it just might not ever be possible, indeed they may well go out of their way to stop such a scheme if they ever got wind of it. A far better approach would be to try to get on with the neighbours rather than potentially alienating them.

By the way I mentioned West Hoathly for a good reason. I gather that having fought the Bluebell extension when it first happened, the people of that village now rather regret the lack of a station and would quite like it back. Maybe the same shift in opinion will happen in East Leake one day - it would be far better if the locals fought to have their station re-opened, than fought against it as might well happen at the moment.

I think waiting and seeing is the best policy here.

Phil

 

I believe the problem with East Leake station is the pedestrian access in that access is from the road under the railway and the path is very narrow.

Steve

 

Even putting that track layout and a second platform, and associated buildings, into place would dramatically improve the site. I'd also be looking at double tracking to past the old B and B station, so it gives the impression of a mainline terminus, even if it doesn't have a canopy. Suitably set up, the station could be an interesting place to visit.
Daniel