Appeal for historic signal box in Nottinghamshire launched

The box is being restored to control heritage trains on the line. In the future, when the GCR in Nottinghamshire is linked to the Leicestershire section as part of the Reunification project, it will be a key place for trains to pass.

The grant for £8,500 from the Local Community Fund run by the council will fund half the cost of running power cables to the box. Great Central Railway (Nottingham) has launched an appeal for the same amount to complete the job.

Andy Fillingham of Great Central Railway (Nottingham) said, “We’re very grateful for the grant. It unlocks further restoration work on the box itself and the scheme to re-signal the area to control trains. Volunteers who have done so much to restore the building already are now preparing for the power connection, our contractors are standing by, but we need some donations please to finish the job. This is an unusual piece of railway history and it’s wonderful to see it coming back to life.”

The signal box was built in 1946 by the London and Northeastern Railway to handle additional trains running to the British Gypsum plant opposite. The plant survives today, but after the GCR was closed, the box was eventually abandoned and for many years was a deteriorating brick shell.

Following thousands of hours of volunteer effort and fundraising, it is once again watertight; the flat roof has been re-felted and extensive concrete repairs have been completed. A new floor has been installed along with a lever frame and a signalling scheme designed to allow trains to cross or terminate with locos running round.

The box is located about 200 metres north of Rushcliffe Halt station and will control a long passing loop and separate goods loop. Derelict signals, also abandoned after the railway closed, will be reused in the new scheme.

Connecting the mains to the box will also allow future work on the station to provide platform lights and power to the two station shelters.

Andy concluded, “The more we raise with this appeal, the more we can do, potentially getting Rushcliffe Halt connected too. It’s another important step forward in the revival of the GCR in Nottinghamshire and the Great Central Railway Reunification scheme. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who supports us.”

Donations can be made via the GCR(N) supporting charity at www.lnergctrust.org