Cranmore Signalling Project

The Signal Box.
Credit: Jim Cobb, 30/06/2001

With the expansion of facilities at Cranmore, the Signal Box was built in 1904, replacing the previous stone-built, platform-mounted signal box. After the loss of passenger traffic and with the general reduction in freight traffic, the signal box was closed in 1968 and the equipment removed. When David Shepherd and friends arrived in 1972, the signal box was converted into an Art Gallery to show off and sell some of David's paintings. It was also used for a long time as the railway museum.

In 2000, the decision was made to start the long project to put the signalling back in at Cranmore and to return the Signal Box to its original function. The Art Gallery had already been moved into Cranmore Station and the museum was moved into the original station building on the platform. Work was then undertaken to repair the physical structure of the signal box and start collecting the equipment necessary to restore it to a fully working box. As there was very little spare cash for such a project, the work to date has been with donations of money or equipment, using volunteer effort.

If you are interested in helping in this project, or have equipment you think may be useful to restoring the signalling at Cranmore, please contact us.