Restored Carnforth Station celebrates fifth anniversary

10:54am Wednesday 22nd October 2008

IMPORTANT dignitaries, staff and friends of Carnforth Railway Station gathered together to celebrate the fifth anniversary of its grand re-opening.

To mark this major milestone, Morecambe and Lunesdale MP, Geraldine Smith, the mayor of Lancaster, Coun Keith Budden and the mayor of Carnforth, Coun Tony Johnson attended a special ceremony organised by the dedicated steam enthusiasts, volunteers and station staff that pioneered the restoration project.

“It was a fantastic event,” said Mr Johnson. “I would not have missed it for the world. It was really informative and you could tell everyone involved in the project was really passionate.”

Carnforth Railway Station was opened in 1846 but, despite being extended and rebuilt over the years, the decline of steam and radical reorganisation of the railways in the 1960s led to its demise.

However, However, determined to see this historic development restored, in 1996 the Carnforth Station and Railway Trust was formed and in October 2007 the results of a £1.5 million project to restore the derelict buildings was unveiled.

After an informative presentation by members of the board of trustees about the restoration project, George Nightingale, one of the last shed masters and the president of the Friends of Carnforth Station, gave a humorous speech about his experiences at the station.