in 1882 the midland built a branch line from ashwell to cottesmore to service iron ore extraction with an exchange sidings. this is now the site of the rutland railway museum. of note also are the stations at helpston and walton. when the gnr built its line north from peterborough to grantham in 1853, it ran next to the midland line but, in return for the latter's transport of materials, agreed not to build competing stations.