History

The station opened onto the Grand Junction Railway

Grand Junction Railway

The Grand Junction Railway was an early railway company in the United Kingdom, which existed between 1833 and 1846 when it was merged into the London and North Western Railway...

 in 1837 when the line itself was built. It opened in the town of Baldwin's Gate

Baldwin's Gate

Baldwin's Gate is a hamlet in the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire. There is a pub in the centre of the village called The Sheet Anchor, along with a Post Office & General Store, a Primary School and another small shop. There is also a Methodist church and just outside the village...

Village near the edge of Whitmore Parish. This station brought in huge amounts of people as it also served as the nearest station to Newcastle-under-lyme and the Potteries until the Stoke line opened.

Coronation Scot record

On the 29th June 1937 the Coronation Scot engine created a World record of 115 mph while travelling through Whitmore station giving it world wide fame.

Buildings and location

Whitmore station was located off Whitmore road in Baldwins Gate Village. The site of the station can still be seen when the tracks part, showing a grassy area were platforms could have been. A more likely location of the platform is where a siding of road comes down near the track, this could have led to a platform. One station building can still be seen: a building, next to a bridge spanning the track, is in the definite style of ticket office. This means that passengers could buy tickets, then wait or read information before heading down a side road to the platform.

Impact of the station

The station itself was one of the key factors affecting how Baldwins Gate village was laid out. Only two shops are in the village, and they are both situated next to the line. The line led to land being sold on each side, so the village expanded, and its appearance today is because of the impact of the railway and Station.

Closure and future

However Whitmore became less and less important when new extensions were being added left right and centre. The station slowly began to get less and less business and in 1952 the parish council closed the station.

The future

Many of the people in the village; a population of about 100, say that re-opening this station would bring in trade and help the town grow again an support sustainable transport. However plans are not definite and the fate of the station is still undecided.