An historic railway signal box has been transported more than 300 miles from Kent to Cornwall to continue its life as part of a thriving heritage railway.

Network Rail has gifted the signal box, previously located at Wye station in Kent, to Helston Railway, and it has now been transferred to Prospidnick near Sithney.

The 130-year-old signal box was due to be demolished, but after months of negotiations by one of the Helston Railway’s volunteers, Network Rail agreed to use their budget for demolishing the signal box towards its dismantling instead.

Helston Railway also received a significant grant from the Railway Heritage Trust to support the dismantling, relocation and rebuilding of the structure. The grant was supplemented by the Helston Railway.

Some 25 people were involved in the delicate operation to dismantle and remove the signal box, including ex-offenders involved in the Brighter Futures in Rail project.

The signal box being dismantled (Image: Network Rail) Terry Denyer, regional asset manager for buildings at Network Rail, said: “We were only too pleased to be able to support the Helston Railway when it became obvious that they could make better use of an otherwise redundant signal box on our network that would otherwise have been demolished.

“Our specialist contractor, Brighters, achieved the almost impossible in bringing out the historic roof structure in just two pieces, and the main structural floor section in one piece – which is quite an achievement for a structure of that age.

“They have really gone above and beyond for them to make this a success and have offered to go down and help Helston Railway rebuild signal box when they’re ready to do so.”

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Brighters has also provided Helston Railway with replacement windows and cladding that exactly match the original, due to them being too rotten to salvage.

With the parts now in situ, the process of rebuilding the signal box can begin.

The top part is now in Cornwall ready to be rebuilt (Image: Network Rail) Colin Savage, chairman of Helston Railway, said: “The intention is to site the signal box at Prospidnick, using as many of the original materials as possible.

“The structure has received little investment over the past 30 years as it was no longer needed for the modern railway, so we expect the wooden upper structure will require some significant attention.

“We’re excited not only to give our volunteers the opportunity to assist with the rebuilding of this signal box but also to have a new addition to our railway.”

Work will begin on the rebuilding of the signal box in the coming months, with the ambition to complete the project in 2025.

The remaining base of the signal box (Image: Network Rail) Tim Hedley-Jones, director of the Railway Heritage Trust, said: “We are pleased to be supporting the Helston Railway with the re-location of this historic signal box. Rebuilding it on a heritage railway will allow it to be better appreciated by more people.”

Built in 1893, Wye Signal Box is a Saxby & Farmer Type 12 design - a typical style on the South Eastern Railway and the London, Chatham & Dover Railway between 1890 and 1894.

The signal box has been disused for several years, but still contained around 20 levers that, along with the lever frame and locking mechanisms, have all been donated to Helston Railway.