New future signalled for historic building
A historic piece of infrastructure that was an important part of the lower North Island’s rail network is being restored to its former glory.
The Feilding and District Steam Rail Society has been donated an old signal box that was originally on the rail lines near the overbridge in Longburn in the first half of the 20th century.
After being decommissioned, the twostorey Longburn signal box had been split into two single-storey buildings and used as farm accommodation. It had become derelict, but now the steam rail society intended to restore it.
The signal box was commissioned in 1906 and was at the junction of the Wellington and Manawatū Railway Company northern terminus, and the Foxton line. It controlled the stretch of railway from Palmerston North to Linton and the Foxton line.
After the Milson deviation opened in 1959 and the rail line through Palmerston North was moved from the central city to where it is today on the northern end of town, the Longburn signal box was decommissioned.
It was sold to a farmer at Glen Ōroua and was used as accommodation for farm workers and then housed calves.
The farm changed hands and the new owners Denise and Graeme Saunders recognised what it was. They offered it to Denise’s relative, steam rail society co-ordinator Gary Nichols. Nichols said the building’s structure was in good condition, but the rest needed some repair work.
“This was on the Main Trunk Line for 50 years and did a sterling service in keeping trains running on time and keeping them running safely.”
He said it had been on the edge of being salvageable, so he was happy they got it when they did and could start working on it. Chairperson John Logan said there would have been many signal boxes across the country, but now most of them had been demolished. Society members will restore the two buildings, then put back into its original condition and make it one two-storey building that will sit in the society’s yards.
The signal box will need a new steep-pitched roof to match the original and the building will be painted the appropriate red and cream colours.
Once restored the building will have a meeting room, office and a toilet.