Aylestone Junction Leicester

It's not listed in the signal box register - could it perhaps have had another name? I'm not sure how complete the register is though.

The 1972 Sectional Appendix shows the box but it had closed by the time of 1980 Sectional Appendix. While this does not give an exact date for closure is does narrow it down to an 8 year period.

Europe Intelligence Wire
| November 23, 2009 | COPYRIGHT 2003 Financial Times Ltd.

(From Leicester Mercury)

Mrs Doris Blower's reminiscences of living near the railway line in Burnside Road, Saffron Lane, brought several responses.

Mr Roger Chapman said her story was very interesting, but he added: "The signalbox that she could see from her house on Burnside Road was Aylestone Junction, which was on the east side of the Midland Main Line just above the end of Hylion Road, Brookfield Rise being on the west side of the line. This box was in existence until July 22, 1973.

"Brian Bassford's photograph of Saffron Lane crossing signalbox was on the Knighton Junction to Burton line and was in existence until December 13, 1970, although the crossing itself had been replaced by the present bridge many years before." Mr Vince Lowe pointed out that in Brian Bassford's photo, which accompanied Mrs Blower's story, one of the cooling towers on Rawdykes Road could be seen in the distance, just to the right of the signal box.

"This is approximately three-quarters of a mile from Brookfield Rise," says Mr Lowe, "and Brookfield Rise dead end is at the Midland main line and not on this mineral line, which was used to transport coal from Coalville and granite from Bardon, which it still does to this day.

"The lady also mentions the mail train rushing past at four o'clock. Again, this would be main line and not mineral line." And Derek Rowley, formerly of Saffron Lane and now of Eyres Monsell, also pointed this out.