Cromer Signalbox

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Newsletter: March 2011

Mrs Sheila Malkin - President of the CRSS

The Society has learnt of the death early in January of Mrs Malkin. She had been resident at the British Legion's Halsey House in Cromer for a short time after leaving her cottage in Louden Road. The granddaughter of William Marriott, whose M&GN Company built the signal box at Cromer, Sheila Malkin has maintained an interest in the renovation work from the very outset. Generous in her support for the work and always keen to hear of the progress that was being made, Mrs Malkin was an inspiration to everyone involved. As we move towards completion of the work of renovation and turn our attention to the setting up of a small museum reflecting the history of the railways of Cromer and of the legacy of William Marriott in company with our intention to open the signal box to visits by schools parties and interested members of the public, we will be mindful of the encouragement of our President that has helped to make it all possible.

Progress with the Work of Renovation

Following the snows of November and December and of necessity, the cancellation of the December working party - whilst it might have been possible for many of the working party regulars to reach the signal box site but once there the amount of work that would have been possible would have been severely limited - the emphasis since then has been on 'catch up'! The January working party Saturday was provided with good weather and our Chairman was able to practise his glazing skills and install the glass in the new window frame in the Permanent Way hut. In addition, two well-wrapped and intrepid members of the working party were able to extend the drainage channel around the hut - 1917 built, it only has a very elementary damp-course and a drainage channel around the base of the building is the only way to prevent damp seeping into the building blocks. Indoors and benefitting from the warmth of the stove, the remaining members of the working party were attaching new labels to the levers in the frame, touching up some of the paintwork and working to remove the redundant electrical fittings. A two-day session early in February along with the March working party day saw the completion of the external work on the Permanent Way hut and excellent progress with the internal woodwork and painting. Matt with help from Alan has installed new wiring and electrical fittings in the signal box and a generator has been purchased. The result - lighting! We did carry out research to ascertain whether mains electricity could be supplied to the site but the charge to be made for connection was way beyond the ability of the Society to pay. In February, the upper levels of the walls and the roof of the toilet building were rebuilt by an outside contractor as this work was needed to be done by the end of March to meet the conditions for the second tranche of the grant money from the Heritage Railway Trust. With the work that has been carried out, the Society has now met the requirements for the outstanding monies.

Do please come along on the OPEN DAY on SATURDAY 11 JUNE and share with the working party members the pleasure of a project where completion is in sight and in which you have helped!