Swanwick Junction railway station
Encyclopedia
Swanwick Junction railway station is a heritage railway
station
situated on the former Ambergate to Pye Bridge Line
which closed in 1968, but has been partially reopened by the Midland Railway - Butterley
. Despite the station's name it is some distance from Swanwick
.
There was originally no station here, only a junction with the Swanwick Colliery Branch Line. However, when the line was restored, Swanwick campus was the centre for the main activities of the Midland Railway - Butterley
, and the station gives access to the attractions there. The station itself is within walking distance of Butterley railway station
to the west.
The station has four platforms, though only one is in use by passengers. Platform No. 1 is the southernmost and is a bay platform
currently occupied by coaching stock in use as a shop. Platform No. 2 is the main platform in use and is a side platform
. On platforms 1 and 2, the ex-Midland station building from Syston railway station
in Leicestershire
is being rebuilt. Presently, an old signal box
from Desford
Colliery Sidings is used as an office. In addition, there is an island platform
with Platform Nos 3 and 4. The building here is a replica of that at Broom Junction railway station
. Platform No. 4 is the only platform which can serve the Swanwick Colliery Branch, it being intended to run DMU
shuttles from this platform up the branch on gala days. Presently, platforms 3 and 4 are out of use, there being no access to it. When two trains are running, trains cross here, but the eastbound service does not stop. A footbridge to platforms 3 and 4 has been partially completed; this was originally located at Belle Vue railway station
, but disabled access will also need to be fitted.
The signal box comes from Kettering railway station
in Northamptonshire
.
There is no station further east of Swanwick, though trains continue to a run-round loop at Riddings
situated on the northern branch of a triangle with the Midland Main Line
. The Centre has stated an ambition to reopen a new station on the site of Pye Bridge railway station as an eastern terminus.
Heritage railway
thumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
station
Train station
A train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
situated on the former Ambergate to Pye Bridge Line
Ambergate to Pye Bridge Line
The Ambergate to Pye Bridge Line is a partially disused, partially restored, and partially developed for other uses railway line in Derbyshire, England...
which closed in 1968, but has been partially reopened by the Midland Railway - Butterley
Midland Railway - Butterley
The Midland Railway – Butterley is a heritage railway, formerly known until 2004 as the Midland Railway Centre, at Butterley, near Ripley in Derbyshire.-Overview:...
. Despite the station's name it is some distance from Swanwick
Swanwick, Derbyshire
Swanwick is a village in Derbyshire, England, also a Parish within the Amber Valley district, with a population of 5,316 at the 2001 census.It has a number of shops, pubs and other businesses, a Church of , as well as Methodist and Baptist churches...
.
There was originally no station here, only a junction with the Swanwick Colliery Branch Line. However, when the line was restored, Swanwick campus was the centre for the main activities of the Midland Railway - Butterley
Midland Railway - Butterley
The Midland Railway – Butterley is a heritage railway, formerly known until 2004 as the Midland Railway Centre, at Butterley, near Ripley in Derbyshire.-Overview:...
, and the station gives access to the attractions there. The station itself is within walking distance of Butterley railway station
Butterley railway station
Butterley railway station is a heritage railway station within the Midland Railway - Butterley in Derbyshire. Originally located on the Midland Railway's Ambergate to Pye Bridge Line, the station opened on 1 May 1875 as Butterley, being renamed Butterley for Ripley and Swanwick on 29 July 1935...
to the west.
The station has four platforms, though only one is in use by passengers. Platform No. 1 is the southernmost and is a bay platform
Bay platform
Bay platform is a railway-related term commonly used in the UK and Australia to describe a dead-end platform at a railway station that has through lines...
currently occupied by coaching stock in use as a shop. Platform No. 2 is the main platform in use and is a side platform
Side platform
A Side platform is a platform positioned to the side of a pair of tracks at a railway station, a tram stop or a transitway. A pair of side platforms are often provided on a dual track line with a single side platform being sufficient for a single track line...
. On platforms 1 and 2, the ex-Midland station building from Syston railway station
Syston railway station
Syston railway station is a railway station serving the town of Syston in Leicestershire, England. The station is located on the Midland Main Line between Leicester to Loughborough, 103¾ miles from London St Pancras....
in Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
is being rebuilt. Presently, an old signal box
Signal box
On a rail transport system, signalling control is the process by which control is exercised over train movements by way of railway signals and block systems to ensure that trains operate safely, over the correct route and to the proper timetable...
from Desford
Desford
Desford is a village and civil parish in the North West Leicestershire district, west of the centre of Leicester. The parish includes the hamlets of Botcheston and Newtown Unthank and a scattered settlement at Lindridge.-Manors:...
Colliery Sidings is used as an office. In addition, there is an island platform
Island platform
An island platform is a station layout arrangement where a single platform is positioned between two tracks within a railway station, tram stop or transitway interchange...
with Platform Nos 3 and 4. The building here is a replica of that at Broom Junction railway station
Broom Junction railway station
Broom Junction was a railway station and interchange between the Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway and the Barnt Green to Ashchurch line. Although initially only an exchange station, it was opened to the public from 1880 and remained in service until 1963...
. Platform No. 4 is the only platform which can serve the Swanwick Colliery Branch, it being intended to run DMU
Diesel multiple unit
A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:...
shuttles from this platform up the branch on gala days. Presently, platforms 3 and 4 are out of use, there being no access to it. When two trains are running, trains cross here, but the eastbound service does not stop. A footbridge to platforms 3 and 4 has been partially completed; this was originally located at Belle Vue railway station
Belle Vue railway station
Belle Vue railway station serves Gorton and Belle Vue in Manchester.It was built by the Sheffield and Midland Railway Companies' Committee in 1875, on the line between New Mills and Manchester London Road ....
, but disabled access will also need to be fitted.
The signal box comes from Kettering railway station
Kettering railway station
Kettering railway station is to the south-west of the Kettering town centre in Northamptonshire, England. It lies on the Midland Main Line, north of London St...
in Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
.
There is no station further east of Swanwick, though trains continue to a run-round loop at Riddings
Riddings
Riddings is a village in Derbyshire, England. It is located 2 miles south of Alfreton near the hamlet of Golden Valley. The name derives from Ryddynges, a clearing or riding in a wood. This was the ancient forest known as Alfreton Grove within the manor of Alfreton...
situated on the northern branch of a triangle with the Midland Main Line
Midland Main Line
The Midland Main Line is a major railway route in the United Kingdom, part of the British railway system.The present-day line links London St...
. The Centre has stated an ambition to reopen a new station on the site of Pye Bridge railway station as an eastern terminus.