This signal box has been restored by the trust for use as a toy
museum, having previously been used for various purposes down in what is now the locomotive
yard at Toddington. It was originally built for use at Honeybourne North Loop Junction and
was opened on 1st August 1904 when the first section of the Honeybourne Line was opened through
to Broadway. It was made redundant by the GWR in March 1933 when control of the junction was
transferred to Honeybourne Station South box. It was then purchased by a local man, erected in his
garden and used as a garden shed until 1981, when it was no longer needed and was donated to the
Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway. One of our founding trustees, Audie Baker, was heavily
involved in its acquisition, dismantling & re-erection at Toddington.
Audie unfortunately passed away at the early age of 53 in August 2009 and his widow Helen asked for a commemmorative plaque to be placed somewhere at Toddington as he had also been a founding member of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway Society, joining at its inaugural meeting in Willersey Village Hall in 1976 as member no. 5. In addition he was the author of a comprehensive book on the line 'An Illustrated History of the Stratford on Avon to Cheltenham Railway' published by Irwell Press ISBN 1-871608-62-7. After his illness had forced him into a more sedentary lifestyle, Audie took on the role of photo archivist at Kidderminster Railway Museum which was located nearer his home in Redditch.
Above left : Helen Baker is about to unveil the plaque to her husband Audie
as his parents Maurice & Sue stand by whilst above Audie is seen holding a copy of his book at
the time of its publication in 1994.Below is a photograph as it was in 1967 still in use as a garden shed taken by G H Tilt. The ground floor section was not re-used at Toddington as it was deemed to be too rotten. Other pictures follow of the top half after re-erection in the locomotive yard in 1983 and of the move taking place to relocate it in its current location.
Current facilities in and around the box
One of the larger features inside the box is this 1920s
built Wendy House seen in the picture above left; whilst one of the many glass
cases displaying different categories of toys is seen to the left.Above right is one of the former Great Western blue enamel running board signs from Malvern Wells. Vehicles are featured below with the restored Morris Commercial lorry owned by Greg Wigg standing beyond the box which is displaying the replica cast iron nameplate now fitted to the side. On the right below stands the Scammell Scarab unit donated by Nick Bailey coupled to the box van trailer that was already owned by the Trust.
