The line cut the village in two connecting the halves with a substantial stone bridge.
There were complaints from local residents about the facilities provided at the station. In 1897 the parish council were petitioning the company for improvements, but the Midland Railway company were resistant.[2] By 1910 the council raised a petition to the company to resolve 5 issues[3]
The dangerous level crossing, stating the several accidents had been narrowly avoided.
The need of better accommodation for vehicular traffic. The number of vehicles using the station had increased and blocking of the road, especially by milk carts, was a danger as well as an inconvenience
The want of a comfortable waiting room on the up platform. There was only an open shelter with no provision for a fire in cold weather.
The lowness of the platforms, which were thought to be the cause of a passenger suffering a fractured ankle when alighting from a train.
The need for an entrance from Brook Street.
This time the council were more successful as early in 1912 they received a letter from the Railway Company confirming the improvements which would be made.[4]
Access from King Street to the up-platform without passengers having to cross the running lines.
Improved vehicular access to the station
The additional waiting room
Raising and lengthening the platforms
Footpath access from Brook Street.
The platform structures were of timber and very little remains after closure in 1968 apart from the station house.[5]
It reopened on 27 May 1994 as part of phase one of the Ivanhoe Line.
Station masters
William F. Jacques until 1861[6]
Benjamin Preston 1861 - 1874[7]
W. Mee 1874 - 1876[7]
Eli Crofts 1876[7] - 1888
William J. Martin 1888 - 1892
Walter George Fudge 1892 - 1898[8] (formerly station master at Wixford, afterwards station master at Wigston Magna)
Henry Dring 1898 - 1907
Thomas William Bloore 1907 - 1915[9]
Edward Arnold ca. 1920 (afterwards station master at Whittington Moor)
Arthur Fourt 1922[10] - ???? (formerly station master at Borrowash)
J.W. Flint 1937[11] - ????
Facilities
The station is unstaffed and facilities are limited although there is a self-service ticket machine for ticket purchases and shelters on both platforms.[12]
Step-free access is not available to either of the platforms at the station.
Fast trains on the Midland Main Line pass by the station but do not stop.
The station is closed on Sundays.
References
^Higginson, M, (1989) The Midland Counties Railway: A Pictorial Survey, Derby: Midland Railway Trust.
^"Sileby Parish Council". Leicester Chronicle. England. 30 October 1897. Retrieved 10 February 2020 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^"Sileby Parish Council. Suggested improvements at the Railway Station". Uppingham News. England. 24 November 1910. Retrieved 10 February 2020 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^"Sileby Railway Station". Leicester Daily Post. England. 23 February 1912. Retrieved 10 February 2020 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^Radford, B., (1983) Midland Line Memories: a Pictorial History of the Midland Railway Main Line Between London (St Pancras) & Derby London: Bloomsbury Books