Opening
The station was opened in 1856 as the terminus of the line to Essendine on the Great Northern Railway main line. The line was mainly intended for passengers travelling north, however through bookings were possible to Peterborough in direct competition with the Midland Railway.
In 1867, the S&ER opened a line to Wansford on the London and North Western Railway Nene Valley line from Northampton to Peterborough. The Wansford line ran east immediately adjacent to, on the north side, of the Midland line for over 2 miles, before gaining height and crossing over the Midland and curving south just before Uffington & Barnack station. This section is now part of the Torpel Way public footpath.
The Essendine line was built single track with provision for double tracking, and at one time it was double tracked, but the signalling arrangements did not meet with Board of Trade approval. Rather than make the necessary alterations, it was single tracked again except for the section between Stamford East and the Martin's Cultivators works. This section was left as two tracks but was operated as two single track lines, with one a running line and the other an industrial siding. This siding, known as Priory Siding, also served Priory Lime Works and the Blackstones works.
Read more about this topic: Stamford East Railway Station
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