Signal box waits for Bury green light

SET to make way . . . the old signal box

ANOTHER piece of Oldham’s rail history could live on . . . in Bury.

The East Lancs Railway has already struck a deal to buy the Victorian canopy from Mumps railway station at a knock-down price.

Now it has been offered the signal box at Shaw station — but transporting it to Bury could prove too difficult.

The late Victorian Beal Lane box will make way for new access to the new Shaw and Crompton Metrolink stop.

It is set to be demolished during work between next Monday and March 19, which will see Beal Lane temporarily revert to a one-way system.

The railway company is now in a race against time to work out a cost-effective way of removing the box.

East Lancs general manager Andy Coward said: “We have been offered it but it’s all dependent on cost as taking it out will involve a crane and a road closure that will cause problems and then there’s getting it on to a truck and to Bury in one piece. It’s quite an expensive job. If we can tie it in with moving the canopy it might be cost-effective.”

Crompton ward councillor John Dillon said: “The signal box has been there for over 100 years and it’s a piece of history going but that’s progress. It could now live on but in another place in Greater Manchester.”

If a solution is finalised it would involve the wooden structure of the signal box but not the base.

The level crossing at Shaw is eventually set to be replaced with a traffic signal controlled junction similar to those operating in Manchester city centre.

More work on converting the train line into tram tracks for the Metrolink conversion is expected to take place there later in the year.

The Mumps canopy was saved after talks with contractors M-Pact Thales, Metrolink company Stagecoach and local transport bosses.

The iron structure, which was under threat of demolition, will be used to provide authentic shelter at the vintage railway between Rawtenstall and Heywood.

The wrought iron railings which led passengers up to the platform at Mumps station are also being retained by the railway company.

The Save Our Station Canopy appeal is continuing to raise funds to restore the canopy, which was installed in the 19th century and is a relic of the old Lancashire and Yorkshire railway.

Part of it will eventually be re-erected on platform two at the Bolton Street station in Bury and at other staffed stations run by East Lancs Railway.

Call 0161-764 7790 or visit the website at www.east-lancs-rly.co.uk to help the Save Our Station Canopy appeal.