Closed originally in 1943, the ex-North Staffordshire Railway signalbox at Waterhouses had been disused and deteriorating for almost six decades when it was rescued in 2001 by the Staffordshire Narrow Gauge Railway Ltd.
The work in restoring the structure and integrating it into the operation of the railway at Amerton was long but the resulting project was named as one of the joint winners of the Hendy and Pendle Trust Volunteers Award at the National Railway Heritage Awards in December 2022.
On Sunday 30 April 2023 the plaque awarded to the railway for the restoration work was officially unveiled by His Honour Simon Tonking DL, the Resident Judge of Stafford Crown Court. Unfortunately, neither Peter, Lord Hendy, nor Sue Pendle were able to be present but representing them was Vicky Stretch on behalf of the National Railway Heritage Awards.
Waterhouses box had originally been opened in 1905 and was extended to cater for the opening of the Leek & Manifold narrow gauge line a decade later. Following closure, the box was moved on several occasions before being rescued at the start of the century. Work on its restoration was completed in the spring of 2022.
The unveiling of the plaque by His Honour Simon Tonking DL
The unveiling group with – from left – Vicky Stretch, a trustee of the National Railway Heritage Awards, Peter Gully, chairman of the Staffordshire Narrow Gauge Railway Ltd, and His Honour Simon Tonking.
The restored signalbox on the Staffordshire Narrow Gauge Railway Ltd – a far cry from the condition it was rescued from the old vicarage at Weeton on 2001 and one of the worthy winners of the Hendy and Pendle Trust Volunteers Award at the 2022 National Railway Heritage Awards.