South Western Railway (SWR) and Network Rail Wessex have formally handed over the keys of the Haslemere Signal Box to the Haslemere Signal Box Trust, marking the transfer of the Grade II listed landmark into community ownership.
The Trust will now manage the site, a unique, platform-level signal box at Haslemere station, as a railway museum for the public to enjoy.
The handover event took place on Saturday 13 June, during a special ceremony at the station, making the culmination of years of collaboration with local volunteers to preserve an important part of the town’s railway heritage.
The occasion was made especially memorable by the passage of the Clan Line steam locomotive along the Portsmouth Direct line. Guests were given a close-up view of the locomotive, before gathering for a short ceremony in the station car park.
During the event, SWR and Network Rail Wessex officially presented the keys to the Trust. Lord Hendy, Rail Minister at the Department for Transport, was also in attendance to mark the event.
Guests were also invited to tour the signal box and the newly opened railway museum located on the second floor of the main station building.
Originally constructed in 1895, Haslemere Signal Box served the railway for over 130 years before guiding its last train in October 2025 and being decommissioned as part of the Farncombe to Petersfield resignalling programme.
In recent years, the Haslemere Signal Box Trust has worked closely with SWR and Network Rail to develop plans for the building’s restoration and its transition into a heritage asset that can be enjoyed by future generations.
Over the past three months, significant restoration work has restored the signal box to its traditional Southern Railway appearance. More than 35 volunteers from SWR and Network Rail supported the internal refurbishment, while specialists carried out external restoration works to preserve the building’s historic character.
Jack Wharton, Senior Public Affairs Manager, South Western Railway and Network Rail Wessex said: “We are proud to have worked in partnership with the Haslemere Signal Box Trust to refurbish and transfer ownership of the Haslemere Signal Box into community hands, ensuring its preservation as a railway museum for future generations.
The handover event on Saturday 13 June marked the culmination of three months of dedicated work. Volunteers worked tirelessly to restore, tidy and refurbish the internal elements of the box, supported by Octavius, who carried out the external repainting.
We would like to thank the Trust and everyone involved for their commitment to delivering such an outstanding community project.”
Ken Griffiths, Chair of the Haslemere Signal Box Trust commented: “This was a tremendous day for the Signal Box Trust. Not only did we receive the key to the signal box, but we were also able to open our railway memorabilia museum to the public for the first time.
“The day was shared with the Friends of Haslemere Signal Box, who also thoroughly enjoyed Clan Line from the Railway Touring Company, stopping to take on water.
Thanks must be given to all the volunteers who helped us renovate the box and fit out the museum. They included Network Rail and South Western Railway employees and the local pool of volunteers from Haslemere and the surrounding district.
Lastly, our thanks go to Network Rail for providing us with the signal box at a peppercorn rent, thereby allowing us to save this piece of our nation’s heritage for generations to come.”
In recent years, SWR and Network Rail Wessex have transformed a total of 32 station building locations into valuable community spaces including cafes, meeting rooms, art studios and food repurposing centres.
At Camberley station, the former booking hall and two unused offices have been adopted by the Autism Trust for the Station Stop Kiosk and Polly’s Place, a flexible training and support space helping local people with autism to develop life skills and gain confidence in independent living.
A previously disused area of railway land near Brookwood Cemetery was also transformed into a reflective garden beside the former London Necropolis Railway.
Image credit: South Western Railway
