Brandon signal box saviour wants a piece
A Weeting man who started the village’s steam rally 50 years ago is trying to save a signal box from demolition.
Richard Parrott heard about Network Rail’s plans to tear down the 1930’s building on the Brandon level crossing and wants to preserve the top half of it.
He said: “It is a bit of heritage, a piece of our history really and it is a very well known signal box.
“Lakenheath and Two Mile Bottom’s ones have been protected, so why can’t this one?”
The steam enthusiast’s family have been involved in this sort of thing since they started steam threshing in the 1860s and he himself organised the very first Weeting Steam Rally in July 1968 as part of The East Anglian Traction Engine Club.
He hopes to take the wooden top level of the signal box and add it to his collection on Fengate Farm, just over a mile away from where it sits now.
Mr Parrott said: “I have been speaking to the parish council as it is actually in Weeting, they all agree and think it should be saved.
“For me, there is no reason why it couldn’t stay where it is but if it is to go I could give it a good home.”
The signal box was last used in 2011 and there were attempts from the now disbanded Friends of Brandon Station to try and get the building listed, but that was never achieved.
After its closure, internal pieces, such as the levers inside were distributed out to other stations.
Mr Parrott said that both Weeting and Brandon councils have been working to try and contact Network Rail to find a solution to this but so far all efforts have come to nothing.
A Network Rail spokesperson said: “We understand community interest in old railway buildings like signal boxes, and where possible we work with heritage railways and other interested parties to distribute parts, such as the levers. Unfortunately the boxes cost a lot to maintain and we have to ensure we manage public money effectively.
“In this case, we are planning to demolish the signal box at Brandon and are currently working to confirm a date for this to take place. Anyone who wishes to retain any of the remaining parts of the signal box should call our helpline.”
