page_title: Charnwood Forest Railway
section_title: Structures
hierarchical_section_title: Charnwood Forest Railway / Remains of the line / Structures
caption_attribution_description: English: Whitwick station at trackbed level. Originally built by the Charnwood Forest Railway and opened in 1883, it was owned successively by the LNWR (London and North Western Railway), LMS (London, Midland and Scottish Railway), and BR (British Railways). Passenger services on the line ceased to operate in 1931, with freight services ceasing to operate in 1963. It is now used by the Whitwick Historical Group. A railway-related mural covers the lower wall.
context_page_description: The Charnwood Forest Railway was a branch line in Leicestershire constructed by the Charnwood Forest Company between 1881 and 1883. The branch line ran from Coalville to the town of Loughborough.
  It should not be confused with the much earlier railway that was part of the Charnwood Forest Canal.
  Stations on the Charnwood Forest Railway were located at Coalville East, Whitwick, Shepshed and Loughborough Derby Road. By 1885, the company had been placed in receivership; under this supervision, in 1907 three halts were opened, these being Thringstone Halt, Grace Dieu Halt and Snells Nook Halt. These were an attempt to improve the profitability of the line by increasing the customer base. The line was worked by the London and North Western Railway and was taken over by the London Midland & Scottish Railway in 1923.
  Passenger services ceased to operate on 13 April 1931, with freight services ceasing to operate on 12 December 1963. The line was known as the 'Bluebell Line' due to the flower growing along much of the length of the line during the spring.
context_section_description: There are very few buildings still in existence which were once used by the railway. However, one still exists in Whitwick, and now serves as the home of the "Whitwick Historical Group". This is in the old station building near the market place.
  The goods shed at Loughborough Derby Road stood until 2018, albeit in use with the rest of an industrial estate, when it was demolished to make way for a supermarket.
  The only other buildings still standing (and this is a tenuous link) are the numerous bridges still carrying road traffic dotted amongst the local countryside. One of the best still remains intact within Thringstone woods, near Grace Dieu Priory ruins. This is the Grace Dieu Viaduct, a grand and imposing structure for such a small line. 
  The station buildings at Coalville East have been built upon (housing estate). The same has happened in Shepshed (industrial estate) and Loughborough. There is still a post near the site of Grace Dieu halt. The site of the halt itself was removed completely when the A512 was realigned and the CFR 3 arched bridge over the old road was demolished.
caption: Whitwick station at trackbed level
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