Friday 16 July 2010

The restoration of the fan window at Buxton railway station by DB Schenker Rail (UK) Ltd has been highly commended at Network Rail's Partnership Awards.

The Awards, which celebrate excellence and best practice in the last year by partners, suppliers and organisations who work with Network Rail, were presented in Birmingham on the evening of Thursday 15 July.

The judges presented the project with Highly Commended status in the Heritage category of the awards ceremony.  The restoration project on this prominent Buxton landmark took place over the summer of 2009, managed by DB Schenker with local firm Buxton Building Supplies, supported by the Railway Heritage Trust.

The large fan window formed part of a pair of stations at Buxton, which were opened in 1863 by the London & North Western and Midland Railway companies.  The fan window, with its associated screen wall, is listed Grade II and is all that remains of the original London & North Western station.

The restoration work involved removing all the remaining glass, rubbing down the existing metal frame, repainting this frame and installing new toughened glass.  DB Schenker also arranged to have a nearby door which had graffiti on it repainted.

The completion of work was celebrated on Thursday 08 October 2009 with the unveiling of special commemorative plaques.  A party of school children from St Anne's RC School in Buxton also attended the ceremony as they took a special interest in the history and preservation of the fan window.

David Litherland, Project Manager for DB Schenker, who planned the works, said:  "We are honoured that the restoration work on the fan window has been highly commended at Network Rail's Partnership Awards.  Through the joint efforts of DB Schenker, the Railway Heritage Trust and Buxton Building Supplies we are proud of this recognition.  This impressive icon stands at the heart of the community, providing a striking welcome to visitors using the train station."

Andy Savage, Executive Director of the Railway Heritage Trust, said:  "The Railway Heritage Trust was pleased to help support DB Schenker in this restoration project and celebrate its success in being highly commended.  Part of role of the Trust is to support with grants the conservation and restoration of historic railway buildings and structures.  We are delighted to have helped restore the important fan window at Buxton station."

Tony Kemp, Executive Councillor for Regeneration at High Peak Borough Council, said he was delighted that the quality of the restoration had been recognised officially.  He said:  "As a local authority, we're investing heavily in Buxton as a destination of major importance to the regional economy. Against this backdrop of investment, it's most pleasing to see that other organisations are committed to the preservation of Buxton's special built environment: something that makes it so attractive to visitors and potential inward investors".