THE NRHA CRAFT SKILLS AWARD: APPLEBY NORTH SIGNAL BOX

Despite its superficial Midland Railway appearance, as befits its prominent position on the Settle-Carlisle Line, the signal box at Appleby North is actually an LMS type 11C and was not erected here until 1951, so it is not listed.

However, its condition was fast becoming parlous. It was sinking at the north end (it was discovered that the foundations were virtually non-existent), while the massive corner posts were badly rotted at the base and partway up.

In such a sensitive location (visible from the footbridge at Appleby station), replacing it with a temporary structure was not an option. Also, great care had to be taken not to compromise the workings of the mechanical interlocking, which would happen if the box were to be lifted up.

Network Rail and its contractor Colt Construction came up with the solution: to encase the structure in a heavy steel girder frame which enabled the corner posts, plus the two midway either side, to have new timber spliced in (accoya treated timber with a much longer lifespan was used), and new large ground beams slid underneath, resting on galvanised steel pillars.

As the water table is so high here, remedial measures were put in place to prevent it building up under the locking room floor, while outside a new toilet block (in the same style), was erected. A lot of work was also done on the Welsh slate roof and the timber cladding.

Over the summer, ‘Staycation Expresses’ ran regularly between Skipton and Appleby, recessing on the connection to the former Warcop branch. Class 47 47593 Galloway Princess brought up the rear of one such service on August 11, and is seen from the footbridge beside the newly repaired and refurbished box.