The Great Central Railway (Nottingham) has launched an appeal to match fund a grant to enable a historic signal box to be brought into operation.

Hotchley Hill signal box is currently being restored and will play a key role in future following the completion of the Great Central Reunification project.

Located 200 metres north of Rushcliffe Halt this box will eventually control a long passing loop and a goods loop. Along with this, the box will also be responsible for the lighting of the platforms and waiting shelters at Rushcliffe Halt.

Before this can happen, the signal box needs to have power cables installed so it can be brought into operation to allow for the controlling of points and signals to enable future trains to run through the local area.

The cost of laying power cables to Hotchley Hill Box is £17,000, this has already been half funded by a grant of £8,500 which has been secured from the Local Community Fund. The Great Central Railway Nottingham is now appealing to fundraise the remaining £8,500 to cover the cost of power cable installation.

“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 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. ”

Andy Fillingham, Great Central Railway (Nottingham)

Built by the LNER in 1946, the signal box was used to control the movement of trains to and from the British Gypsum plant opposite its present location. Following the closure of the Great Central Railway in 1969, it was abandoned and fell into disrepair.

Following an acquisition by the Great Central Railway Nottingham, several hours of volunteer labour and fundraising have transformed the signal box. It is now watertight with a felted roof, while major repairs undertaken on the concrete have also been repaired. New floors have been installed, along with a lever frame, which will eventually enable trains to terminate at Rushcliffe Halt or the goods loop if need be and allow run-round procedures to take place.