Billingham Signal Box Demolition About to Start

rob_fmttm

rob_fmttm

Administrator
Starting tomirrow I think.
It is a bitter pill to swallow but we have to think ahead to conserve what is special about our towns/villages.
In hindsight it seems obvious that the old station part of Billingham should have been a conservation area.
Am not sure a great deal will really be gained by demolishing the signal box and footbridge. But the loss is forever.
 
Blakeston Lane signal box (Norton West) has been flattened. The box in Station Road in Norton is closing but the building staying.
 
They have always got rid of old signal boxes though haven’t they? I suppose you have to maintain a redundant building and keep it secure so kids don’t get in and come to harm.

Our railway history is superb though, we should make more of it and preserve what we can. Some stations in this area are around 100 to 150 years old and they aren’t even the originals.
 
rob_fmttm said:
We havent been very "lucky" compared to the rest of the country with railway architecture being preserved.
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Beeching took a big toll but we should keep what we have - Middlesbrough Station is a magnificent building, pity the Nazis got rid of the roof.
 
Remember that the original NER ironwork survives on the platforms above George Stephenson's Albert Bridge. The only survival of the Luftwaffe raid.
 
rob_fmttm said:
Remember that the original NER ironwork survives on the platforms above George Stephenson's Albert Bridge. The only survival of the Luftwaffe raid.
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It’s incredible to think that those old cottage like buildings near Halfords at the top of Stockton was the site of the worlds first ticket office. As used in the Darlington and Stockton railway.

the first in the world

www.hidden-teesside.co.uk

Stockton & Darlington Railway Ticket Office - Hidden Teesside

St Johns Well (48 Bridge Road) is said to be the first railway ticket office in the world, although there are some doubts to the truth of this claim as passengers may have bought their tickets at inns, as they … Continue reading →
www.hidden-teesside.co.uk
 
rob_fmttm said:
Remember that the original NER ironwork survives on the platforms above George Stephenson's Albert Bridge. The only survival of the Luftwaffe raid.
Click to expand...
There is an excellent photograph of half the roof which was left after the bombing raid, it really was a majestic structure. I can only assume it was removed for structural issues.

I think the age of some of these buildings can be a problem, they are expensive to maintain or refurbish. It’s worth it though in my opinion.
 
I must be the only person who doesn’t rate the signal box certainly on the exterior . It’s brickwork is hideous and it’s all UPVC windows . Naturally inside it’s a differing story but they’re preserving any instruments of note .

If Teesside’s railway history and heritage was in the USA it would be mega celebrated and commemorated . Our council leaders and dignatories quietly shrug their shoulders and say “ oh yeah that “ .
 
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junos_boots said:
Still get sad, remembering what BR did to Thornaby station and DB Schenker demolishing round house depot.
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wow yeah I can just remember thornaby having a proper station, when was that demolished mid 70’s ?

*googled and it was 81 ! *

got me thinking about the teessider pub and the other old buildings now
 
I’m sad about this. Used to walk past this a lot in my youth. What’s going in it’s place? Another B&M?
 
Borobarmy said:
I must be the only person who doesn’t rate the signal box certainly on the exterior . It’s brickwork is hideous and it’s all UPVC windows
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Not just you 😂 I think it looks chuffin’ awful. Nearly as bad as Npower old office in scarcroft which was 3 stories high and a proper 70’s monster that was wider at the top than the bottom

About the only pic I can find:

www.alamy.com

aerial view of the large offices, formerly occupied by Yorkshire Electricity just off the Wetherby Road, Scarcroft, Leeds 14 Stock Photo - Alamy

Download this stock image: aerial view of the large offices, formerly occupied by Yorkshire Electricity just off the Wetherby Road, Scarcroft, Leeds 14 - RRDJP8 from Alamy's library of millions of high resolution stock photos, illustrations and vectors.
www.alamy.com www.alamy.com

The windows were like portholes, awful building. Surreal too as connected to an old building also used for offices but parts were closed off and you could see vines and trees growing in through the windows

Sometimes you’d find a wall that has been plastered over but from outside you can see the corridor continued on so whole areas that were just sealed off from the inside that were just decaying away!
 
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