Historic railway equipment that was removed from the Northumberland Line during its multi-million-pound upgrade and was originally set to be sold for scrap has been saved by three groups of enthusiasts in Northumberland.

With the reopening of the Northumberland Line, services will once again run between Ashington and Newcastle for the first time in over 60 years.

However, unlike previously, trains will no longer be controlled from lineside signal boxes but from a state-of-the-art control centre in Newcastle.

Many items removed during the upgrade are still suitable for use as spares in other locations and were placed into safe storage by Network Rail.

But that would have resulted in old pieces of equipment being lost from the railway until the three groups of enthusiasts offered to look after them.

Network Rail duly offered to donate signal box diagrams from Marcheys House and North Seaton signal boxes to Woodhorn Narrow Gauge Railway and the Northumberland Line Heritage Community Group, and a sign from Marcheys House signal box to Choppington Parish Council.

The three groups have a good record of working with Northumberland County Council, and were pleased to save the items so that they would continue to be on public view.

Test trains have already started trial runs along the line, ahead of its opening later this year.

Initially, trains will call at Ashington, Newsham, Seaton Delaval, and Manors, and other stations will be opened next year at Bedlington, Blyth Bebside, and Northumberland Park.

Ahead of the line’s opening, train operator Northern and its partners have conducted safety lessons for thousands of schoolchildren on how to stay safe on the new line.

“There’s always a clamour to get hold of pieces of railway heritage, particularly in the north east, and while for practical and operational reasons we can’t keep or donate every piece of equipment that comes out of now-redundant signal boxes, we’re always thrilled when we can pass items over to groups who will lovingly preserve them.”

Fiona Blyth, sponsor for Network Rail’s North and East route