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Tuesday 10 Apr 2012

‘HORNBY’ STATION FOOTBRIDGE RESTORED

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Network Rail has restored an iconic structure that was used by world famous railway model maker Hornby as the basis for one of its construction kits.

The station footbridge in the Worcestershire village of Hagley is Grade 2 listed and was built in 1884 by the Great Western Railway, 32 years after the station opened on Saturday 1 May 1852.

Patrick Cawley, Network Rail’s route buildings engineer, said: “It’s amazing to think that people the world over ‘own’ a little piece of Hagley in the form of a footbridge on their railway layout.

“Having given the original footbridge a thorough overhaul, it will serve the people of Hagley for many years to come.”

Simon Kohler at Hornby said: “We at Hornby are absolutely thrilled to see the Hagley footbridge restored to its former glory. As a model it was one of our star items and with the actual footbridge being restored, perhaps it is time that a suitable model once more became part of the Hornby range.”

The last time the footbridge was painted, a blue and white colour scheme was chosen but after talking to the Railway Heritage Trust, Network Rail has restored it to what is known as GWR ‘light and dark stone’.

The entire structure has been cleaned, rubbed down and repainted.

Elements of the ornate metalwork that needed replacing were specially cast to match and blend in with the original.

Various parts of the structure's fabric were replaced or repaired. These included wooden dagger boards, panelling and sections of guttering, with the edges of the stair treads being coated in an anti slip resin in contrasting colours to make them stand out.

While the contractors were on site, the station buildings were also completely repainted at the request of train operator London Midland as was the platform canopy, so the entire station has a new feel to it.

The overall cost of the work was almost £50,000.