More information on this Station
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The original intention was to site the station where it is today, but in response to a request from Lord Howe of Gopsall Hall, the Committee agreed to move it north of the junction and call it "Gopsall"; but soon altered their minds and moved it back to the obvious place, the junction. Land for this purpose was bought from Lord Howe, who in 1877, was allowed to plant trees along the approach road to the station.
Its position made Shackerstone strategically important in the operation of the line, and it seems to have been selected as the headquarters of the inspector (Manning by name) in charge of the working of the line. Probably he combined the post with the stationmastership (as was done on the GN-LNWR Joint Line in East Leicestershire at Melton Mowbray) for no stationmaster is named at Shackerstone in the first staff list, and Manning’s pay, 50 shillings per week, was much higher than any other member of the ANJR’s staff. It must also have ranked in the top class of three varieties of station planned by the Committee, for constructional purposes, the estimated cost being £1,300 plus £350 for the stationmaster’s house. The building of Shackerstone Station was under taken by Messrs. J. & E. Woods of Derby, as part of a contract that also included the stations of Measham, Snarestone, Heather and Hugglescote, for which the contract price was £12,826.15.0. On this basis the price of Shackerstone should have been about £3,500. One thing remains at present unknown: the name of the architect. As the stations on the ANJR. are similar to a few on the Midland system, it is likely that they are the work of a member of the Midland Railway’s staff, as there is no reference in the minutes to payments to any outside architect in this connection. It is a great pity that we cannot attach the name of any individual to these charming little buildings, which are among the most delightful small stations anywhere on our railways.
Located on the Platform 1 side of the main station
building, the tea rooms provides a selection of light refreshments, meals, hot and cold
drinks in a historically flavoured setting.
Linking the two platforms is the only
footbridge built at any station on the line. Originally made from wood it was replaced by
the metal girder construction that stands today. It was necessary to build a bridge here,
because of a footpath that crossed the line at this busy junction. The footpath still
exists and makes up part of the "Leicestershire Round" walk.
Set in to the brickwork of the footbridge
on Platform 1 is a Midland Railway logo. This was removed from Coalville Station chimney
breast before the demolition of the building. On the opposite side of the tracks can been
seen the remains of another set of steps that once ran down on to Platform 2.
From the top of the footbridge
Shackerstone Junction is clearly visible. The left fork (now the car park) would take you
to Moira, the right one (now a siding) was the Coalville Branch. Both of the lines from
the junction then went on to join the Leicester - Burton line. Located to the right of the
tracks, just before the road bridge, stood the original signal box. Unfortunately when the
line was closed the junction signal box was demolished. On the opposite side of the track
bed, beyond the farm road, was the site of the water pumping station, its blue brick
flooring is still visible. It provided water from the River Sence, renown for its quality
of purity. The river can be seen passing directly under the Junction at this point. The
water was pumped up to the columns at the ends of the platforms.
The Station Shop is located on
Platform 2, over the footbridge. It is a reconstruction of the original waiting room that
once stood on the same site, but was demolished during the Second World War. It now houses
a selection of souvenirs and goods for both children and adults alike. Behind the original
building, under the eaves, the long station ladder was kept. At the southern end of
Platform 2 stands the water column. It was removed from Hams Hall power station where its
was maintained by BR and dates from the 1950's. The water used at Shackerstone was pumped
from the River Sence
before the ANJR closure. Engines would come from as far afield
as Nuneaton to "take the waters" at Shackerstone. The water column has only been
connected to the mains supply since 1993 and was previously supplied from a near by
spring.
The loco shed is signposted from Platform 1 and is only a short walk from the
Station through the original goods yard. Access to parts of the shed and workshops are
restricted for reasons of safety. The shed is made up of various sections of local NCB
buildings and even part of a Nuneaton cinema!
Within its confines can be found the various steam locos that run the passenger services. The odd diesel loco can aslo be found inside which is undergoing some restoration or maintenance.
The Midland Railway Square Box is one of the oldest types of its
kind still in existence. The wooden bodied box was rescued from Measham, where it was
being used as a Canal Inspectors Office. It was transported to Shackerstone and placed on
to its present brick base on New Years Day 1978, allowing us to start the season with a
working Signal Box. 
The frame has sixteen levers and was made for the North
Staffordshire Railway Company by the Mackenzie and Holland Company.
It was removed from Uttoxeter North Signal Box by members of the Society. In the interests of safety the Signal Box is not open to the public.
Also to be found in the confines of Shackerstone Station is the Museum - such a wonderful place it gets its own page!!!
Open for Goods 18.8.1873
Open for Passengers 1.9.1873
Closed for Passengers 13.4.1931
Closed for Parcels 2.7.1951
Closed for Goods 2.3.1964
Signal Box Opened 1872
Re-framed 1881
Replacement Box Opened 24.6.1890
Signal Box Closed 29.11.1964
Shackerstone Junction to Snarestone reduced to single line 1.4.1934
Hill Bridge Crossing north of Shackerstone (Gopsall Hall Sidings)
Hill Bridge Crossing Signal Box Opened before 1.11.1875
Hill Bridge Crossing Signal Box Closed by 16.9.1877
Current State of Site
Still in action! The Stationmasters house is a private residence.