Signs of the Times

I had a copy of a press release this morning about an appeal we are making for funds to create and install a replica of one of the original Stainmore Summit signs at the original location before the 'Stainmore 150' celebrations in August. The project has already featured in 'Steam Railway Magazine' and sufficient cash has been raised to make a start on the project.

Remember the old signs on either side of the line at the summit? The A66 was a winding and windy old 'two-laner' in those days and you could see those signs in the valley below on either side of the line just to the west  of Stainmore Box. They were cut down in October 1962, with one now a part of the National Railway Museum collection and the other at 'Head of Steam', North Road, Darlington

The replica can only go ahead if the £5000 required to fund it can be raised through our public appeal. If we can raise the money Mr. Steve Davies MBE, Director of the National Railway Museum will publicly unveil the new sign on 27 August 2011. He has kindly offered to bring one of the surviving original signs from the National Railway Museum with him  for temporary display at the summit on the day alongside the replica, the first time since 1962 that the summit will have had its full complement of signs.

There is a touch of mystery to all this and being one of nature's 'natural policemen' I DO like mysteries. David comments that "we plan to add to the new photographic opportunities the sign will present at the summit by temporarily displaying another major Stainmore relic close to it; this will however depend entirely on the success of the appeal, and will only be revealed when we reach our £5000 target".

Can't be clearer than that! We'll only find out what that other Stainmore relic is if we contribute enough to make the replica sign dream come true.

Anyone generous enough to donate £10 or over will receive a special 'Stainmore 150' commemorative certificate acknowledging their valuable contribution to the re-birth of our railway over August Bank Holiday this year. Please make cheques payable to 'Stainmore Railway Company' and send to:
Stainmore Sign Appeal

Dr Sue Jones 
Secretary to Stainmore Railway Company 
1 West End 
Sedgefield 
TS21 2BW