New set of crossing gates installed at historic Middleton Towers railway station
A historic railway station has been given a new lease of life thanks to a fresh set of crossing gates - and even more exciting plans are in the pipeline.
At the start of November, the former Middleton Towers station marked the 100th anniversary of its renaming by receiving the new gates from Network Rail.
It was back on November 1, 1924 that it was re-branded from Middleton to Middleton Towers following a takeover of the line.
A century later, the Middleton Towers Restoration Group enlisted the work of Blackborough End-based William George Sand & Gravel, which operated a grab lorry to remove rubble from land opposite the station.
The rubble was a result of recent clearance works, ranging from wood and render to an old tabletop cooker and office chair.
The gates needed to be replaced after one of them was destroyed in an accident earlier this year.
On November 3, a team from Network Rail installed the pair of replacements, giving the station’s crossing a new lease of life.
Alex Brammer, founder of the Restoration Group, said: “I am ever so grateful for William George’s incredible work on removing the rubble. I met the director Jonny George, who was incredibly generous in doing this work for free.
“Thank you so much to the team at Network Rail for supplying and installing the brand new crossing gates.”
The group is currently in the midst of a project to restore the platform buildings.
Mr Brammer has confirmed that members are now awaiting a quote for the platform canopy work, while a grant request has been submitted to Railway Heritage Trust to consider funding the scheme.
“The plan is still to introduce a tea room inside the former waiting room, but a lot of work is needed before the buildings are safe to enter and work on,” Mr Brammer added.
“A quote has been received from a reputable local roofing firm, with a local scaffolding firm in tandem.
“We have brought hope and willpower in droves. We’re now in a position to say that we, as the custodians of our great British railway history, are bringing back a piece of history that we must never let go into disrepair again.”
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