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| Railway signal boxes granted Grade II listed status | Railway signal boxes granted Grade II listed status |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Twenty-six of the "rarest" signal boxes in England have been granted Grade II listed status by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. | |
| Culture minister Ed Vaizey said interest in trains and railways was one of the country's "most endearing and enduring national preoccupations". | Culture minister Ed Vaizey said interest in trains and railways was one of the country's "most endearing and enduring national preoccupations". |
| The joint venture, between English Heritage and Network Rail, is part of a 30-year plan to modernise the railways. | The joint venture, between English Heritage and Network Rail, is part of a 30-year plan to modernise the railways. |
| A number of mechanical boxes are being replaced by regional operating centres. | A number of mechanical boxes are being replaced by regional operating centres. |
| "These are very special buildings, at one time a familiar sight on our railway system," said English Heritage's senior investigator John Minnis. | "These are very special buildings, at one time a familiar sight on our railway system," said English Heritage's senior investigator John Minnis. |
| The preservation of 26 "highly distinctive" signal boxes would provide a "window into how railways were operated in the past," he added. | The preservation of 26 "highly distinctive" signal boxes would provide a "window into how railways were operated in the past," he added. |
| Hebden Bridge signal box, which was built in 1891, will be preserved as it has a "time warp quality" and has retained its original 1914 signage. | Hebden Bridge signal box, which was built in 1891, will be preserved as it has a "time warp quality" and has retained its original 1914 signage. |
| English Heritage said some of the listed buildings could be "rejuvenated" as cafes or museums, such as the 1923 signal box in Totnes, Devon. | English Heritage said some of the listed buildings could be "rejuvenated" as cafes or museums, such as the 1923 signal box in Totnes, Devon. |
| In the 1940s there were more than 10,000 signal boxes in the UK. Now fewer than 500 mechanical signal boxes are still in use, according to Network Rail. | In the 1940s there were more than 10,000 signal boxes in the UK. Now fewer than 500 mechanical signal boxes are still in use, according to Network Rail. |
| The "difficult and expensive" operating buildings limit the "potential of the rail network", it said. | The "difficult and expensive" operating buildings limit the "potential of the rail network", it said. |
| Network Rail said modernisation plans were aimed at improving railway technology so there are fewer delays and higher capacity. | Network Rail said modernisation plans were aimed at improving railway technology so there are fewer delays and higher capacity. |
| Signal platforms were first introduced in the 1840s, but British engineer John Saxby first created a building housing levers in 1857. | Signal platforms were first introduced in the 1840s, but British engineer John Saxby first created a building housing levers in 1857. |
| They were designed by private contractors and railway companies, such as Great Western Railway, leading to a huge variety of designs. | They were designed by private contractors and railway companies, such as Great Western Railway, leading to a huge variety of designs. |
| The new designations are as follows: |