The station was opened by the South Leicestershire Railway in 1864, for two years prior trains terminated at London Road to the West of the current station site [1], the line being completed through to South Wigston in 1864. The original station building dates from then though is no longer purely in use as a station with small businesses occupying part of the building, though the ticket office remains staffed at times.
The original footbridges were replaced in 1983 [2] by a stepless one, this also allows for a pedestrian right of way across the railway line. The station had extensive goods handling facilities including two separate goods sheds but, as with most station goods facilities, are now long gone.
The station is managed by East Midlands Railway though all services, usually one an hour in each direction, are run by Cross Country.
View down the platform
Station frontage
An XC train under the footbridge
View from the footbridge
XC 170 523 heads off towards Leicester
[1] Vic Mitchell & Keith Smith, Coventry to Leicester (Middleton Press, 2017) Map. XVII
Derby is one of the great railway centres on the network. It is still a junction of the Midland Main Line and the lines to Birmingham New Street, Nottingham and Matlock, and also adjacent to the Railway Technical Centre. One of the largest remaining British railway manufacturing centres at Bombardier Derby is also nearby.
ROG 57 312 at Derby with a special excursion
Information
Type:
National Rail (Midland Main Line)
Station code:
DBY
Opened:
1839
Platforms:
7
Derby first got a station when the Midland Counties Railway station opened in 1839, though this was only a temporary structure with the first permanent station opening the following year, which was known as Derby Station Street.
Derby, which between 1950 and 1968 was known as Derby Midland [1](this name is still displayed on the front of the main station building), has been extended and rebuilt a number of times. The latest change being in 2018 when the station layout was remodelled to remove bottlenecks and improve line speeds, the station was also resignalled with a new gantry to the South of the station. A bay platform was removed and replaced by a new through platform which is one side of a new island. There is a seventh platform (the other side of the new island) though it is not usually in public use.
It is hoped that one day the lines will also be under the wires thanks to Midland Main Line electrification (though this project is subject to delays and may not take place for a long time).
Derby is served by East Midland Railway and Cross Country services between the North East and South West as well as links to destinations such as Crewe. There are two entrances to the station with a second entrance added at the Pride Park development in the 2001 along with a new overbridge [2].
XC 43 303 at Derby
An EMT 153 enters the station under the new signal gantry
View down the platform
An EMT 222 leaves the station
Derby is still host to interesting traction
[1] Vic Mitchell & Keith Smith, Derby to Stoke-on-Trent (Middleton Press, 2016) Fig. 5 [2] Vic Mitchell & Keith Smith, Derby to Chesterfield (Middleton Press, 2017) Fig. 9
Maida Vale is one of the stations built for the Bakerloo Line's extension from Paddington to Queen's Park, the station opening in 1915.
When the station opened it was the first station (and uniquely at the time) to be staffed entirely by women [1] who were being hired to roles previously reserved by men to replace men who had gone to the war.
The station building is to the common, of the time, Leslie Green design though was designed by his assistant Stanley Heaps. Inside the ticket foyer is an interesting mosaic of the London Underground "bullseye" logo, built not long before the logo changed to the one used ever since. The station is Grade II listed.
A Bakerloo Line 72ts train stands at Maida Vale
Station exterior, with original signage
Bullseye mosaic
Analogue time keeping between the platforms
Main entrance
[1] Paul Moss, London Underground (Haynes, 2014) p. 56
Cradley Heath is a stop on the Birmingham Snow Hill to Worcester line in the West Midlands between Old Hill and Lye.
A WMR service prepares to depart for Stourbridge Junction
Information
Type:
National Rail
(Snow Hill Lines)
Station code:
CRA
Opened:
1863
Platforms:
2
The station was opened as Cradley in 1863 by the Stourbridge Railway, this was later taken over by the Great Western Railway. The station platforms were originally staggered either side of the level crossing but following a rebuild of the station in 1984 both platforms were put on the same side of the crossing [1].
Being in a heavily industrialised area the station was flanked by a large number of sidings. These have now all gone (though much industry remains). The station has gained a bus station next to the main building instead. Access between the platforms is via a footbridge (or the road). The station is managed by West Midlands Railway. There are up to six trains an hour in each direction. Mostly by WMR though some peak time trains are by Chiltern Railways.
Main station building
Station sign, the bus station is behind
Footbridge
View down the platforms
WMR 172 333 arrives with a Birmingham bound service
[1] Vic Mitchell & Keith Smith, Worcester to Birmingham (Middleton Press, 2007) Fig. 75
Solihull is a stop on the Chiltern Main Line in the West Midlands between Olton and Widney Manor.
WMR 172 339 departs with a Birmingham bound service
Information
Type:
National Rail
(Chiltern Main Line)
Station code:
SOL
Opened:
1852
Platforms:
2
The station was opened in 1852 by the Great Western Railway on it's line from London Paddington to Birmingham Snow Hill. The station originally had a pair of platforms [1] but in the 1930s the line was quadrupled between Olton and Lapworth. Solihull was rebuilt to have two island platforms. The line began to be run down in the late 1960s and one island platform was taken out of use when the line was reduced back down to a pair of lines, the disused platform still exists but is decayed and very overgrown now.
One island platform remains in use though the platform buildings have been reduced to a single structure, the original GWR canopies removed by British Rail [2]. New canopies have been restored around the building during improvements to the station in recent years.
The station platforms are on an embankment with the ticket hall and station entrance on the ground level. The station is managed by Chiltern Railway and served by them and West Midlands Railway.
Station entrance
Stairs (and lift) down to ground level
Between the platforms, the disused island platform can be seen in the background
Platform building
Chiltern 168 003 arrives with a London Marylebone service
[1] Vic Mitchell & Keith Smith, Banbury to Birmingham (Middleton Press, 2004) Map. XXI [2] Ibid. Fig. 76
