Friends of Carrog Restoration Policy

Carrog Station and its environs to be rebuilt as closely as possible to its mid-1950 condition.

This period is chosen as it can more authentically accommodate the Railway’s mix of stock than an earlier period and yet avoid reflection of the decline of the later, 1960’s period. The chosen period also corresponds nicely with a rich pool of photographic and written evidence and personal recollection from which authentic information can be garnered.

Where changes from the original layout are considered necessary to meet present day and future operational demands, additional construction to be accomplished as far as possible using the materials, designs and methods that the original companies (the L&CR and its successors) would have employed.

The list of main items required for the Station re-opening was as follows:

Booking Hall and Tea Room - Existing buildings restored/reverted for Railway use.

Signal Box - Rebuilt on original footings. Materials from donor building Houghton Halt Signal box.

Platform 2 waiting room and urinal - Rebuilt on original footings. Materials from donor buildings, Weston Sub-Edge waiting room, Corwen and Trefor station sites.

Tin Sheds (2). Rebuilt on Platform 1 but re-positioned slightly to respect the present-day property boundaries. Materials from Lewis Yates and Bala Lake Railway.

Toilet block. New building west of existing station. Materials from donor buildings Weston Sub-Edge and Corwen East signal box.

Station signs and lamps. (re-cycled from other sites and/or remanufactured as GWR original).

Construction of six sets of wood post signals and token apparatus.

Re-build upper brick courses of platforms and reset coping edge slabs to line and level. Install drainage.

Re-instate public entrances and accesses through Station House freehold to platform. Remove the Station House fences and garden areas previously subdividing the platform.

All new electrical, water and drainage installations/connections. These were generally buried or otherwise concealed to fit in with the period of the restoration (when there were little or no cables).

Car park area created and surfaced, fenced and with tarmac surfaced entrance road and paths.

Refurbishment/replacement of boundary walls and fences.

Wood sleepered track installation within the station area. This approach was made as these were available and provided period authenticity and quieter running within the residential area.

Where the above related to the Private Properties and grounds (ie not covered by the Light Railway Order) local authority planning/building regs approval was applied for and secured by the Station House owner before work could start. The Friends of Carrog group applied for and secured grant funding and also administered a shares sales scheme which boosted input from numerous benefactor parties and individuals.

The concept of a ‘frozen moment of history’ has resulted in a unique collection of period features and atmosphere. This has attracted much favourable commentary from visitors and parties (both lay and enthusiast), repeat business to the Station and major benefits to the Railway as a whole.