After crossing Olney Lane at SP 5166 7252 the trackbed is
part of the Great Central Way, a well-maintained cyclepath and footpath, for
the next 3km. The line of the former railway is unbroken north of here until
the point that Abbey Street, Rugby is reached, just before the West Coast Main
Line.
{…..detail to come on the bit between Olney Lane and
Ashlawn Road}
The trackbed runs under the Ashlawn Road overbridge at SP
5159 7319, and from here until the West Coast Main Line is reached at SP 5160
7569 it is part of National Cycling Network Route 41. Continuing just west of
north from Ashlawn Road in a deep cutting (Figure 1)
the trackbed passes under the footbridge between Pytchley Road and Catesby Road
at SP 5148 7394 (Figure
2).
After this the trackbed approaches the site of the former Rugby Central
Station. The surface has been well-maintained throughout this walkway, but
until a few years ago it had been very muddy in places. Much work has been done
to improve the drainage, so now we have good walking/cycling surfaces with
areas of wetland to the sides (Figure
3).
In places the footpath/cyclepath meanders slightly to move around the wet areas
on opposing sides of the path, even though the line of the trackbed is very
straight (Figure
4).
There are numerous access points for walkers along this stretch.
Figure 1 Looking south along the Great Central
Walkway, with the B4429 Ashlawn Road overbridge ahead (SP 5155 7353).
Figure 2 Looking south along the Great Central
Walkway, towards the footbridge connecting Pytchley Road and Catesby Road (SP
5147 7400).
Figure 3 Looking north along the Great Central
Walkway, showing some of the nearby wetland (SP 5145 7406, or close).
Figure 4 Looking south along the Great Central
Walkway at the southernmost extent of the raised station platform. It shows how
the walkway has been created to meander with vegetation and wetland in pockets
on each side (SP 5139 7445).
At SP 5141 7438, shortly before Rugby Central Station is
reached, the cutting widens out slightly. I think this was probably railway
sidings. At the station site itself, the central island platform is still in
evidence, and the footpath/cyclepath is carried along the length of the platform
while the trackbeds on either side are mainly full of water and vegetation (Figure 5,
Figure 6,
Figure 7).
Figure 5 Detail of the wetland that has been
established in part of the trackbed at the site of Rugby Central Station (SP
5137 7461).
Figure 6 Looking north towards Hillmorton Road
bridge from the platform at Rugby Central station (SP 5137 7461).
Figure 7 A closer look at the platform at the former
Rugby Central station. Looking north from the trackbed (SP 5139 7447).
The trackbed passes underneath Hillmorton Road bridge at SP
5137 7464. It is at this point that there would have been passenger access to
Rugby Central Station, although the only access now is via switchback footways
on the north side of Hillmorton Road bridge.
At various points on this stretch the local Rotary Club has
carried out maintenance on self-seeded and dead trees, as well as installing
some short stretches of old railway track in order to add to the interest on
this section.
Just north of Hillmorton Road bridge the footpath drops down
to track level as the northern end of the island platform is reached (Figure 8).
The trackbed continues in a cutting towards Abbey Street and the West Coast
Main Line, passing under bridges at Lower Hillmorton Road (SP 5137 7490),
Clifton Road (SP 5142 7523) and Bridge Street (SP 5146 7535).
Figure 8 Looking south at Hillmorton Road
bridge and the northern extent of the Rugby Central station platform (SP 5137
7467).
North of Bridge Street the
surrounding land falls away and the cutting becomes shallower. The trackbed
passes between rows of houses until it reaches Abbey Street at SP 5160 7570. At
this point the trackbed is above street level and this section of the Great
Central Way comes to an end. A bridge would have taken the track across Abbey
Street and further north across the West Coast Main Line, but the bridge has
been removed (Figure
9).
It is possible to view some of the bridge supports that are still in place when
looking north across the West Coast Main Line from the point at which the Great
Central Way comes to an end (Figure
10).
Figure 9 Remains of the bridge taking the GCR
across Abbey Street just before it reaches the West Coast Main Line (SP 5161
7570).
Figure 10 Looking at the gap across Abbey
Street to the bridge support before the West Coast Main Line is reached by the
GCR. Taken from the raised trackbed, at the northernmost walkable extent of
this portion of the Great Central Walkway, looking north (SP 5161 7570).
For the pdf with photos please email richard.erta@gmail.com
