Signal Box at Loughborough Central Station, Great Central Road, Loughborough (Grade II)

Railway signal box. 1898 for the Great Central Railway. Red brick and timber framing with a Welsh slate roof. Red brick locking room with four 2x2 pane windows with stone cills. Upper floor with external timber staircase at the south end. The upper floor has 6 x 3 windows, each window has 2 x 3 panes in two sliding sashes. Bargeboarded gable with spike finial. Red brick stack in centre of rear wall. Interior not inspected, but it is reported to have the original locking frame; this remains in use for the working of Loughborough Central Station.
HISTORY: Loughborough Central Station, of which this is the signal box, was opened by the Great Central Railway on what was originally the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway's London Extension when it was promoted in 1893. It became the GCR in 1897. Loughborough Central was opened on 15th March 1899 and closed on 5th May 1969. It was reopened on 23rd March 1974 as headquarters of the Great Central Railway (a private steam preservation line. It forms part of a unique group.
References: Information from Martin Hammond, Honorary Architect, Great Central Railway.