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The Syston and Peterborough Railway: The Midland Railway cross country line described and illustrated
- By Peter Smith
Published by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform - ISBN-13: 978-1493769759 - 122 pages, paperback, £12.95
This
book
describes
and
illustrates
the
Midland
Railway
cross
country
line
from
Syston
to
Peterborough,
with
photographs,
track
plan
and
building
drawings.
It
is
the
first
book
devoted
entirely to this railway, which has been undeservedly overlooked for so long.
The
Syston
to
Peterborough
Railway
Act
was
passed
on
30th
June
1845,
and
the
line
was
opened
to
passengers
on
1st
May
1848.
This
first
railway
line
through
Rutland
had
much
distinctive
architecture
and
many
of
the
smaller
stations
were
so
little
used
that
they
remained
largely
unchanged
until
they
closed.
The
line
remains
in
use
today,
not
only
as
a
link
between
Leicester
and
Peterborough,
but
also
as
an
essential
part
of
the
route
between
Birmingham
and
Stansted
Airport.
It
is
busier
than
ever,
particularly
with
freight
traffic.
However
it
did
suffer
under
the
‘Beeching
Axe’,
loosing
Ashwell,
Manton,
Luffenham
and
Ketton
stations.
Oakham
is
now
the
only
station in Rutland.
I
was
delighted
to
be
told
about
this
book
because
I
have
an
interest
in
steam
trains,
but
more
particularly
because,
as
a
schoolboy,
I
travelled
this
line
twice
a
day
for
four
years
in
the
late
1950s
-
from
Luffenham
to
Oakham
and
return.
I
wasn't
aware
of
it
then,
but
these
were
some
of
the
last
days of steam.
My
journey
to
school
would
today
be
a
steam
enthusiast's
dream.
Having
cycled
from
near
Glaston,
I
caught
the
Uppingham
to
Stamford
two-carriage
push-pull
train,
which
we
called
'The
Doz',
at
Uppingham
Station.
This
then
took
me,
at
a
very
sedate
pace,
first
to
Seaton,
where
we
had
to
wait
for
a
connection
on
the
Rugby
to
Peterborough
line,
then
on
to
Morcott
and
Luffenham.
Here
I
changed
to
the
Peterborough
to
Syston
train
for
the
rest
of
my
journey
to
Oakham.
Happy
days!
Peter
Smith's
well
researched
and
illustrated
book
brings back many happy memories of these times, as well as being a very interesting read. There is a good accompanying website too.
Robert Ovens
Book Review
Researching Rutland
© Rutland Local History and Record Society
Registered Charity No 700273
Book Review
The Syston and Peterborough Railway
Published by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN-13: 978-1493769759 - 122 pages, paperback, £12.95
This
book
describes
and
illustrates
the
Midland
Railway
cross
country
line
from
Syston
to
Peterborough,
with
photographs,
track
plan
and
building
drawings.
It
is
the
first
book
devoted
entirely
to
this
railway,
which
has
been undeservedly overlooked for so long.
The
Syston
to
Peterborough
Railway
Act
was
passed
on
30th
June
1845,
and
the
line
was
opened
to
passengers
on
1st
May
1848.
This
first
railway
line
through
Rutland
had
much
distinctive
architecture
and
many
of
the
smaller
stations
were
so
little
used
that
they
remained
largely
unchanged
until
they
closed.
The
line
remains
in
use
today,
not
only
as
a
link
between
Leicester
and
Peterborough,
but
also
as
an
essential
part
of
the
route
between
Birmingham
and
Stansted
Airport.
It
is
busier
than
ever,
particularly
with
freight
traffic.
However
it
did
suffer
under
the
‘Beeching
Axe’,
loosing
Ashwell,
Manton,
Luffenham
and
Ketton
stations.
Oakham
is
now the only station in Rutland.
I
was
delighted
to
be
told
about
this
book
because
I
have
an
interest
in
steam
trains,
but
more
particularly
because,
as
a
schoolboy,
I
travelled
this
line
twice
a
day
for
four
years
in
the
late
1950s
-
from
Luffenham
to
Oakham
and
return.
I
wasn't
aware
of
it
then,
but
these
were
some
of
the
last days of steam.
My
journey
to
school
would
today
be
a
steam
enthusiast's
dream.
Having
cycled
from
near
Glaston,
I
caught
the
Uppingham
to
Stamford
two-
carriage
push-pull
train,
which
we
called
'The
Doz',
at
Uppingham
Station.
This
then
took
me,
at
a
very
sedate
pace,
first
to
Seaton,
where
we
had
to
wait
for
a
connection
on
the
Rugby
to
Peterborough
line,
then
on
to
Morcott
and
Luffenham.
Here
I
changed
to
the
Peterborough
to
Syston
train
for
the
rest
of
my
journey
to
Oakham.
Happy
days!
Peter
Smith's
well
researched
and
illustrated
book
brings
back
many
happy
memories
of
these
times,
as
well
as
being
a
very
interesting
read.
There
is
a
good
accompanying website too.
Robert Ovens