Despite the ravages of Storm Eunice, the former Network Rail Spooner Row signal box has been moved to its new home at Wymondham Abbey station on the Mid-Norfolk Railway (MNR).
The box had been identified by Network Rail as being available for donation as a gift to the Mid-Norfolk Railway.
However, until now, it had not been able to be transported 5km from its existing location at Spooner Row to Wymondham Abbey.
During a weekend line closure last September, the box was removed from the mainline and stored in playing fields at Spooner Row.
To accommodate the box, a new brick base had been constructed by MNR volunteers next to the level crossing at Wymondham Abbey station, where it has been a familiar sight to visitors for many years. The wooden top half of the box is now in place.
The transport of the signal box was made possible due to generous donations to the railway's public fund-raising appeal, a grant from Wymondham Town Council, and grants from South Norfolk District Councillors Robert Savage and Kevin Hurn.
Now that the box has arrived, the railway is relaunching its public appeal to raise £12,000 to fund the transportation and refurbish the box. The appeal currently stands at £7,500. The relaunch to coincide with the arrival of the box is looking to raise the money needed to fully fund the refurbishment that is needed.
Donations to the appeal can be made via the Mid-Norfolk Railway website
Richard Pike, the volunteer head of the Mid Norfolk Railway's Signalling and Telegraph department, said “This is a very important day for the railway, we knew this box would come to us for reuse and it has been a long wait, but we have been patient and we are extremely grateful to Network Rail for facilitating this important addition to the railway The hard work now begins however as first the box is restored and then my team can install the mechanisms that will be needed to allow the box to return to being a functioning box once again.”
Charlie Robinson, the Chairman of the Mid Norfolk Railway Preservation Trust, said “The arrival of the signal box from Spooner Row marks the first step in the development of the Wymondham end of the railway that will in due course see a new station at Wymondham Abbey. This new station is critically important to the long-term future of the railway as the railway seeks to develop its commercial activities and also build strong links with the local community in the town and surrounding area.
“All at the railway are very grateful to those who have donated or assisted so far, including George Freeman MP, to allow us to get to this stage, but I hope that the public can continue to support the railway so that we can complete the project.”
My father was a signalman at Spooner Row in the 1960s, he would be pleased to see the box is still in use.