Historic Handforth station signs back where they belong after 40 years

Local resident Scott Dempster presented Friends of Handforth Station (FoHS) with a Handforth Station name totem dating from the era of British Railways.

Amazingly, two weeks later, a second totem was handed over by John Coghlan, chairman of the Handforth Model Engineering Society.

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John said: “This totem has been languishing in a garden shed and, when we heard of Scott’s donation, we thought that it might be of interest to those who currently care for Handforth station.”

In the British Railways era, station name totems on platforms at Handforth station were made of steel.

The front face of the signs had a background of maroon enamel with superimposed white lining and lettering.

An old station sign back where it belongs (Image: FoHS)

British Rail launched its corporate identity programme in 1965.

As a result, all the old platform name totems were changed to more modern versions, a process that neared completion in 1980.

This means that this pair of signs have been returned to their original home after a lapse of more than 40 years.

Mike Bishop, president of FoHS, said: “FoHS are very grateful for this gift from the Handforth Model Engineering Society.

“It will very usefully complement our collection of original station signs from the era of British Railways.

“We hope to display the totems at the station soon.”