Oulton Broad North railway station signal box, an iconic piece of railway infrastructure and familiar landmark to both rail and road users, is to be preserved for future generations following a major overnight exercise to relocate it to a nearby museum.

In the early hours of Sunday 8 June, volunteers from Network Rail, the Wherry Lines Community Rail Partnership (CRP), Norfolk Railway Foundation and the Lowestoft Central Project worked to lift and transport the signal box situated on the line between Lowestoft and Norwich, relocating it to the East Anglia Transport Museum at nearby Carlton Colville. Once restored, the artefact will provide another important heritage attraction for museum visitors.

Built in 1905 and extended in 1927, the box was an important part of railway operation, signalling trains and controlling the level crossing gates at Oulton Broad’s northern entrance.

Following a multi-million-pound scheme by Network Rail to modernise signalling along the route, manually operated signal boxes became redundant. Oulton Broad North is the second signal box to be successfully relocated from the Wherry Lines, with Reedham Junction previously transported to Holt on the North Norfolk Railway, where it has now been fully restored as a signalling education centre.

The relocation had been planned for several years following agreement by Network Rail to gift the signal box to the museum. Prior to the relocation, substantial preparatory work had to be undertaken, including stripping the box of its equipment including the lever frame and other components, cutting the box ‘in half’ to enable it to be lifted and conveyed by road to the museum, obtaining a host of permissions and arranging the craneage, transport and police escort.

Following preparation of the signal box for the move, a road closure was put in place and after the last train ran on Saturday night, the team had just a five-hour window to complete the task before the road closure ended, and the railway re-opened on time for trains to run on Sunday.

Check out this video detailing a section of the move.

Martin Halliday, development officer at the Wherry Lines CRP, said: “Oulton Broad North signal box is an iconic piece of rail infrastructure and following its decommissioning, the challenge had been to find a viable use and new home for this much-loved historic building.

“We are delighted that this has been achieved and that the partnership was able to support the project both financially and logistically.

“Our sincere thanks and congratulations go to Matt Newman at Network Rail who organised this entire, technically complex project and his colleagues who gave up their time to volunteer, ensuring a safe and timely relocation.”

A spokesperson for the museum added: “We are very pleased to confirm the safe arrival of the Oulton Broad North signal box from its location at Oulton Broad North station on the Wherry Lines, ready to become part of our East Suffolk Light Railway and a huge step forward for our new land development.

“A massive thank you to everyone who helped with the project, especially to those who stayed up throughout the night to assist with the move.”

Keep up to date with future news, projects and events from the Wherry Lines CRP via their website.