The East Midlands Transport Heritage Trust has launched an appeal to raise funds towards parts required for the restoration of the former London and North Eastern Railway Hotchley Hill signal box on the Great Central Railway (Nottingham).

The funds are required to produce replica indicators made from bakelite that show the signalman how points are set and which signal aspects are being displayed.

Although the railway has found many original parts for the box, the bakelite box indicators are proving elusive.

Instead, the railway has turned to modern technology and 3D printing to produce accurate replicas that are expected to be more durable.

It will require 50 replicas for the complicated block shelf inside the box, with a pair of replicas costing £25 to purchase.

The signal box was built in 1946 and is of brick and concrete construction.

It is located just north of Rushcliffe Halt station on the Great Central Railway in Nottinghamshire, and until a few years ago it was derelict.

Major work has now seen the roof repaired, and new downpipes, windows, and a working stove installed.

The floor has also been replaced, and thanks to British Gypsum, which has a factory opposite the signal box, the interior has been fitted with plasterboard and painted.

A lever frame has been fitted, and for the first time in many years, the signal box has a block shelf and enamel lighting shades, with one of the shades being rescued from a ditch behind the building.

Volunteers are now in the process of installing the remaining levers before they install signals and remodel the associated railway track.

With the signal box situated about halfway along the nine-mile section of the Great Central Railway (Nottingham) between Loughborough and Ruddington, when the Great Central’s reunification project is complete, it will be a key passing point for trains.

The passing loops will be around ¾ mile long, and have the appearance of a double-track main line in an industrial setting. Signalling equipment appropriate to the period has been purchased at auction, and will one day be controlling trains again.