by Gerry Warren
gwarren@thekmgroup.co.uk

A campaign has been launched to save an historic railway signal box at Canterbury East from being demolished.

Network Rail is planning to tear it down as part of its scheme to modernise the signalling system on the line.

But railway enthusiasts are dismayed the timber shiplap building, believed to date to 1911, could be smashed up.

The signalbox is believed to be one of only two remaining of its kind, containing a lever frame and coming from the old London Chatham and Dover Railway.

City councillor Alex Perkins (Lib Dem) is also urging the council to step in to try and halt the demolition and Canterbury MP Julian Brazier (Con) has written to tourism and heritage minster John Penrose asking him to have the signal box listed for preservation.

Network Rail spokesman Gary Gaskarth said: “The current plan is to demolish it because it is not listed and will be a redundant building which we do not want to have to pay to maintain.

“All the equipment will be taken out and recycled or used for spares but we have not been approached by anyone who has suggested an alternative use for the box or taking it off our hands.”

But Dave Harris, secretary of the East Kent Railway said the heritage charity would be very interested in having it on their site at Shepherdswell.

He added: “We are already trying to save the Shepherdswell signal box which is the oldest on the line.

“But it would be a tragedy if the Canterbury East one was smashed up because it’s an important piece of railway history.

“The trouble is that after a snowbound winter last year, we are short of funds and could not pay for it to be transported to us.

"If Network Rail can help get it here somehow, we would love to have it and put it to some use.”

Cllr Perkins said: “We appreciate it may be redundant to Network Rail’s needs but what we need from the company is time until all the options can be explored to save it.

"I have also asked the council chief executive if we can make a formal appeal to the company.”

Mr Brazier said he was alerted to the threat to the signal box by a railway buff.

In his letter to the minister he said: “Canterbury is proud to be in the forefront of railway history with the Crab and Winkle railway line, the first line taking regular passengers, and issuing season tickets as far back as 1834.

“So it would be a very sad day if we lost one of the last examples of a signal box and lever dating from around 1878 from another of our lines.

"I would be grateful if the box and its contents could be listed so that it is not destroyed.”