Cromer Signalbox

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Newsletter: September 2009

From your Chairman ..

As I look around the signal box site, I am in awe of what has been accomplished in three years.  It wasn't until September 2006 that we were finally able to get underway with the renovation work on the empty and unkempt box and the reclamation of what was a pretty derelict and overgrown two acre surrounding area of land.  In just 36 months, a small but highly committed group of volunteers (assisted, I have to say, by the valuable work undertaken by members of the "Community Payback" scheme (please see below) has worked wonders.  Our stately signal box of 78 years is the centre-piece of an exhibition area which has a re-laid railway line (albeit fairly short but long enough to take a full-sized railway carriage when we can obtain the right vehicle, work out how to get it on site and also determine how to pay for it all!), and an excellent display of signals and points.  Linking all of these is a newly created system of paths, steps and grassed areas all backed by a delightful and colourful bank of wild flowers.  Indeed, there is a haven-like peacefulness that can be savoured when standing in the midst of the signal box site.  This, despite the fact that we are within only a few minutes walk of a busy railway station and a bustling town centre.  The signal box itself has been the object of much painstaking work and with its eye-catching green and cream woodwork (both outside and in), new ceiling, replacement diagram, repaired doorways and painted walls is beginning to look again like a working box should.  

There's plenty of work still to be done but I feel that this is a good time to say "thank you" to everyone who has been involved.  Thanks to the Network Rail folk who initially listened to our vision, agreed to our renting the site (although we do wish they'd complete their three-year-old promise regarding the paperwork!) and built the fence so that we could begin work.  Thanks to all those who have contributed money through donations and grants (with particular thanks to the Heritage Railway Trust whose promise of funding should ensure that we can complete the vision).  Thanks to the membership who have entrusted to us the task of completing the work.  Thanks to Roger Hawkes and Jason Riches and their work-force in the "Community Payback" scheme.  Very considerable thanks to my fellow working-party members, some of whom travel quite a considerable distance to help in the project.  My heartfelt thanks to the CRSS officers and committee members for all their support and encouragement. Importantly, all our thanks to Scott Petre and Canon Derek Elton for their vision and steadfastness in getting the signal box restoration project off the ground, now some six years ago.

Update on Progress

By the time that you come to read this, summer will soon give way to autumn and working party sessions will be concerned with ensuring that all buildings are water-tight and safe from whatever wind or weather the soon-to-be-upon-us winter can throw our way.  Masterminded by Keith Crane and Matt Newman and assisted by a gang of willing helpers, a monumental effort at the end of July/early August resulted in the Permanent Way hut being provided with a new roof.  Work can now begin to get the hut's interior ready to receive the first of the proposed museum displays.  This structure will really enable the Society to begin to fulfil its aim to display railway-related artefacts and to provide information about the railway history of the town and of the Midland & Great Northern Railway.  The signal and display area is now complete and will be of interest to visitors, to those who use the railway station and to travellers on the trains that pass.  The now completed pathways and steps will provide our visitors with a designated route of access and a means to tour the site which is both safe and relatively free of the vagaries of rain on unsurfaced earth paths!  The buffer-stops at the end of the siding have been exhumed and painted and now await a replacement heavyweight piece of timber so as to take the pressure should shunting ever become too overly exuberant!  The doors to both floors of the box have now been brought back into use following the erection of a security camera.  Our two (listed) signals have received a final coat of paint and the set of points will be put into working order as soon as adequate stretcher bars and suitable lengths of point rodding can be sourced.  What of the coming winter?  Well, it is possible to light the fire and as water is soon to be laid on, at least cups of tea can be made whilst work inside the box takes place!