Stop & Examine
Carnforth station clock.
For a brief period, visitors to Carnforth station will not be able to encounter its most iconic feature, after its famous clock was removed in August for renovation and repairs.
The clock, manufactured by Joyce of Whitchurch, first graced the station in 1895. Hand-wound, it is one of the last examples of its kind and featured prominently in the famous 1945 David Lean film Brief
Encounter - the outdoor station scenes were filmed at Carnforth.
The clock’s original faces and mechanism were lost in the 1970s, but were tracked down some 20 years ago after much detective work and a few strokes of luck. It was restored to its original condition by a team of local volunteers and rehung in 2002.
Now, a full renovation is under way, carried out locally by members of the original restoration team in the team’s own workshops. The mechanical and metal works will be done in motor engineer Peter Yates’ workshop, and the woodwork by cabinet maker Terry Boxford.
The work involves stripping down and repainting all the woodwork, while the metal work involves the removal and replacing of the main mounting brackets.
The main bearing bush on the south-facing clock face, which is open to the weather, also has to be remade. And the clock’s works in general are being examined.
It is not anticipated that the work will take long. However, it is subject to COVID restrictions and Network Rail working practices.
No date has been given for when the clock will be back in situ. As for cost, it is anticipated that this will be minimal as most of the work will be done voluntarily.
Owner Michael Smith said: “Sadly my father died in November last year, and purely by coincidence on that same day, the clock was stopped to preserve its deteriorating mechanism.
“He would have been very proud to see the volunteers putting in so much effort to restore its workings.
“Our thanks go to Network Rail and Northern, without whose help and support these actions would not have been possible.”