Two heritage railway signs located at Handforth Station have been recognised as being of sufficient interest to warrant preservation.
As part of their role to safeguard Britain's railway heritage, the Science Museum Group has designated the Regional Railways sign on the Manchester platform and the British railways enamel sign on the Crewe platform.
These are part of the Friends of Handforth Station's unique collection of railway signs which includes over 20 modern International Railways 'Handforth' signs.
The designation requires Network Rail and the train operating company to retain the signs and prevents them from removing the designated items without agreement from the Science Museum - which will help ensure the continuing exhibition of the signs.
Lord Faulkner of Worcester, Chairman of SMG said "We are delighted to be able to support the designation of these two signs so ably cared for by the Friends of Handforth Station group. This unique collection, as far as we are aware is not represented anywhere else and the enthusiastic work of this group has returned the station to one of the best in the Cheshire area. We commend their commitment to the cause of safeguarding and protecting Britain's railway heritage."
Andy Savage, Executive Director, Railway Heritage Trust, who recognised the significance of these signs, explained "These two signs represent the first and last eras of branding of the nationalised rail industry. The maroon sign is a classic example of the BR 'Gill-Sans' style used from 1948 to 1964, with different coloured branding for each geographical region, whilst the Regional Railways sign shows how, right at the end of its existence, BR moved from a geographical to a business and customer led railway, with separate, distinctive brands for each business.
"The Regional Railways brand was particularly worth keeping an example of, as that team finally got local railways working again, after the massive drops of traffic before, during and long after the Beeching era."
Mike Bishop, Chair of FoHS added "We are very proud to receive this recognition of our heritage signs, and hope our unique collection of over 20 modern International Railways 'Handforth' signs will be similarly recognised in the future. "
Photo: The British Railways sign with students from Wilmslow High School who are working on the planter. Plus one of the international signs, this one from Hong Kong.
