SLC, an infrastructure development and delivery specialist, has supported the preservation of a Grade II listed Victorian signal box in Surrey, which is now open to the public as part of the Haslemere Railway Museum.
The Haslemere signal box directed its last train at the end of October following an upgrade to the signalling system. However, this was not the end of the signal box as a dedicated team of volunteers has restored the building to reflect how it looked in the 1930s, helping to preserve an important piece of Britain’s railway heritage.
To help transform the signal box into a heritage attraction and educational resource, the project team turned to SLC for support. The SME is a corporate member of the Community Rail Network and provides pro bono professional expertise to a number of community rail members each year. SLC was asked to undertake a full condition survey of the signal box, assessing the state of the building, identifying urgent repairs and helping the project meet a tight deadline.
The survey reviewed both the internal and external condition of the structure, including timber deterioration, windows, historic fixtures and the basement signalling mechanisms that once powered railway operations above.
Jade Masih, Project Engineer at SLC, said: “We believe the railway is at the heart of the community, so supporting the Community Rail Network and projects like this is one way we can give back.
“While much of my work is normally on looking at the future of our transport network to support existing and growing communities, this project offered a rare opportunity to step back in time and really appreciate our railway history.
“When you walk into the signal box and see the original equipment, photographs and stories connected to it, you realise how important it is to preserve places like this. It was exciting to play even a small role in helping protect that history.”
David Goddin, a trustee of Haslemere Signal Box, said: “We are very grateful for the help and support from SLC and others in the railway family who have breathed new life into the signal box. We believe it looks at least as good as when it opened in 1895, and it is well-prepared for its new life in preservation as a showcase of historical technology.”
An event took place on Saturday, 13 June to mark the handover of the Signal Box. Guests at the event had the opportunity to preview the museum. The aim is to open the Signal Box and museum for public visits from July 2026.
