A PART of a railway station's history is being restored.

Enamel totem station signs could be found on almost every British railway platform between the late 1940s and the mid 1960s

However, starting in 1965, all of the old signs were replaced by more modern versions.

At that time, some of the original Handforth totems, although damaged, escaped the scrapping process and were taken into private ownership.

In February 2024, the Friends of Handforth Station (FoHS) managed to acquire two of these signs.

FoHS has now decided to have the two totems partially restored with the aim of putting them on display in the ticket office at Handforth Station.

Hugh Everett, secretary of Handforth Station, said: “We received quotations from experts relevant to the totem restoration process, and then started a fund-raising campaign.

“We were delighted to receive grants from the Railway Heritage Trust, from Frank McCarthy on behalf of Wilmslow and District Rotary, and from the Handforth Town Council ‘Chair’s Allowance’."

FoHS member Helen Thomason, Frank McCarthy of Wilmslow and District Rotary, FoHS president Mike Bishop and FoHS chair Rosemary ThomasonFoHS member Helen Thomason, Frank McCarthy of Wilmslow and District Rotary, FoHS president Mike Bishop and FoHS chair Rosemary Thomason (Image: Supplied)

Handforth station was in British Railways’ London Midland Region until 1992, so its emblems had a maroon background with white lining and lettering.

FoHS were given one of the station’s former totems by Scott Dempster, in memory of local resident Mrs Jean Smith.

The second was presented to FoHS by John Coghlan, chair of the Handforth Model Engineering Society (HMES).

On Sunday (August 18), FoHS and HMES put on miniature train rides at Meriton Road Park to help raise money for the restoration fund.

Thanks to their efforts, the two totems, measuring three feet long and ten inches high, are now being restored.

They are expected to be revealed inside the station’s ticket office in October.

FoHS chair Rosemary Thomason, HMES secretary Ian MacKay, FoHS president Mike Bishop, HMES members Andrew Wood and Harry Colville, and FoHS secretary Hugh EverettFoHS chair Rosemary Thomason, HMES secretary Ian MacKay, FoHS president Mike Bishop, HMES members Andrew Wood and Harry Colville, and FoHS secretary Hugh Everett (Image: Supplied)