Historic Northumberland Line railway equipment saved from scrapyard by community groups

Historic Northumberland Line railway equipment that was destined for the scrapyard has been saved by three community groups.

Passenger services are set to run on the Northumberland Line by the end of the year after a near £300 million upgrade of the former branch line between Newcastle and Ashington. With signalling to be controlled from Newcastle, it means that lineside signal boxes are no longer required.

Kit that could be used for spares in other locations was safely sent into Network Rail storage, but it means lots of old equipment was set to be lost from the railway forever. However, three Northumberland community groups - Woodhorn Narrow Gauge Railway, Northumberland Line Heritage Community Group and Choppington Parish Council - jumped at the chance to grab a piece of history.

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Woodhorn Narrow Gauge Railway and Northumberland Line Heritage Community Group each picked up two diagrams from Marcheys House and North Seaton signal boxes and Choppington Parish Council got a sign from Marcheys House signal box. The Northumberland Line Community Heritage Group hope that the signal panel from Marcheys House will be displayed in the restored station building at Bedlington.

Choppington Parish Council plan to display the signal box sign in their local community centre, while Woodhorn Narrow Gauge Railway plan to display the North Seaton signal box in their remodelled station as part of the restoration and reopening of the railway. The three groups had worked in partnership with Northumberland County Council and Network Rail to acquire the items.

Fiona Blyth, sponsor for Network Rail's North and East route, said: "There’s always a clamour to get hold of pieces of railway heritage, particularly in the north east, and while for practical and operational reasons we can’t keep or donate every piece of equipment that comes out of now-redundant signal boxes, we’re always thrilled when we can pass items over to groups who will lovingly preserve them."

Coun Richard Wearmouth, deputy leader of Northumberland County Council, added: "While the Northumberland Line is very much looking to the future, it's important to remember the proud history and heritage of the railway both in our county and the wider North East. We're pleased to have been able to help these three local groups secure items from the old signal box as we look ahead to passenger trains running along the line once again in the very near future."

The final stages of the Northumberland Line's redevelopment are thought to be progressing well, and it is predicted that every £1 spent on the line will return a benefit of £1.50 to the region. Rail operator Northern has recruited 20 new drivers and 18 new conductors to work on the line as its opening draws ever closer.