A construction of a new much needed station was agreed in 1881. The first part of the plan necessitated the Station Bridge to be constructed to join the top of Cat Street (Station Street) to Borough Road, prior to which, there was only a foot crossing. The new station was built 150 yards down the line. It was built as an island platform with bays at each end, with substancial buildings along its length. At the same time, the number of tracks was quadrupled to cater for much greater needs.
Buildings, including freight handling and a booking hall, were built at the upper bridge level. They were built in early English retro-style, partly timbered to look older than they actually were. Access down to the platforms was reached by a wide flight of steps with one side for ascending, the other for descending.
The new station was opened in 1883 and the old station was demolished. It had much larger buildings at the upper level and a large canopy provided shelter at the front.
The distinctive canopy survived pretty much unchanged by the time the above 1910 photograph was taken. Trams had by now replaced horse drawn hanson cabs. The canopy was eventually removed to meet the demand for car parking.
Still little changed by 1960. The tramlines were of course, long replaced by a suitable surface for cars together with improved street lighting. The lattice work of the canopy had been replaced with simpler boarding.
A restoration of an early photo showing locomotive 64354 sitting at Burton Station – enough to bring the out the schoolboy in anyone!
Views of either side of the platform looking in the Branston direction from viewpoints at the upper level which used to be inside the station buildings but now form part of the car park.
And a marvellous wider view to put everything in perspective.
A posed picture by some of the senior staff from the Bass Brewery prior to a trip financed by the company.
And a slightly busier picture of one of the Bass trips, financed by the company for its employees, that became legendary with numerous trains being specially commissioned for trips to various seaside resorts. This image shows the 1909 trip to Great Yarmouth.
Other breweries were to following suit in the coming years.
A view of the distinctive platform clock which I am sure I can remember, together with the news kiosk which did a brisk trade in newspapers, confectionery and cigarettes.
Before being whisked away in old fashioned style. Burton Station still very recognisable as the express train heads south towards Branston.
A late 1950s image shows that the site of the old station has been taken over by new brewery buildings.
Just down the line, visible from the station platform in its day, in front of what was Ind Coope Ltd, bottling store (now IMEX Business Park) was a typical signal box.
Only just about making it through quality control – but two photos too good to omit showing the north-bound platform.
Finally, a few more photos towards the end of its life.
One of the very last photographs taken of the distinctive platform building.
Most of the private brewery railway lines were closed between 1963 and 1968 and the tracks were removed, with road transport now far more preferred.