Plate 155 is a context view of Culgaith station from the north at the turn of the 19th/20th century. The Passenger Platform (Down) is on the right of the image.
Early plans precluded a station at Culgaith, but the local vicar, Revd G W Atkinson, together with some local landowners, wrote to Derby requesting a station.
The request was at first refused but, as the residents persisted, Crossley was asked to discuss the matter with the vicar. The negotiations must have been favourable, but were dependent upon the local authority constructing and maintaining a suitable road to the village. This they promised to do in 1875 although Imlementation was obviously delayed.
It seems that there was some form of track down the hill from the village, for which a level crossing and crossing keeper’s house were provided. Indeed it was this house that formed the basis of early plans for the station’s building, although eventually the station that finally opened on 1 April 1880 had the building illustrated here.
In the plate can be seen the first signal box, which was subsequently replaced in 1908. Official records indicate that, at the new station, ten levers were provided for signalling, etc but no mention of a signal box was made.
For most part, platforms were of timber construction, unusual for that time. Again there are tall posted oil lamps ranged along the platforms. The fencing was of vertical paling type, later to be replaced.
At the other side of the level crossing the small goods yard (284640) can be seen. The local community expected a goods shed, but the Midland Railway declined to provide one.
Plate 159 is a view of the timber waiting shed on the down platform taken in 1962. The building is more reminiscent of Midland practice elsewhere, particularly in the Derby/Trent area.