Encountering a Classic Timepiece

Famous Carnforth clock back in place

ONE of the UK's most famous clocks is now ticking away for the second time at Carnforth Station.

The clock made famous by the classic film 'Brief Encounter has been reinstated in its original position on platform one after a lengthy restoration project.

Glory

Last Friday Special guests gathered at the station to mark the latest phase in the ongoing scheme to restore Carnforth Station to its former glory and transform Carnforth into a thriving tourist town.
A train from Manchester Airport brought special guests into the station including actors dressed as Trevor Howard and Celia Johnson, who starred in "Brief Encounter"

Other passengers included Mayor of Lancaster Eileen Blamire and Chairman of Lancashire County Council, Nikki Penney.

Pupils from North Road Primary School sang a number of songs Including, some written for the unveiling. After speeches from Gordon Biddle from the Railway Heritage Trust and Paul Bunting from North West Trains, Geraldine Smith MP was assisted by Couns Penney Blamire in cutting a ribbon officially marking the clock's reinstallation

Michael Chorley chairman of the Friends of Carnforth Station (21/9/1999 to 26/9/2002) described It as a "Truly historic occasion Carnforth. the railway and indeed the history of time".

Coun George Birkett Mayor of Carnforth, thanked all the people who had worked on the clock, saying "They all gave their time and their efforts without any payment. it has been a work of love..'

Chairman of the Carnforth Station Trust Peter Yates also spoke, thanking everyone for coming, especially Miss Smith who, he said, had been the biggest supporter of he project. Miss Smith said It was great to have the clock back. I am particularly pleased because I came up here just before the General Election to have my picture taken by the clock in Carnforth because it is a local land-mark that everyone recognises, but it was missing. "It is great to see the clock back and great to see the station doing so well. "The regeneration is doing so well".

"We want to make sure that sometime In the future we get the main-line platforms back. If we keep saying it often enough then maybe Somebody will take notice. "Carnforth should be the gateway to the Lakes," she added.

Originally built in 1870 and last used at the station In the 1980's, the clock has undergone a complete refurb after missing parts were traced in the Midlands.

In the late 1880's, the clock was also one of the first to adopt British Standard Time (GMT) when local time differences in towns and cities were abolished.

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