‘Mini museum’ opens at Liverpool Lime Street to celebrate bygone railway era

A section of the original signalling equipment, a signal box panel diagram, an early 20th century railway trolley and luggage scales have been put on display from today (18 January), as part of the station’s £140m redevelopment.

The exhibits are a nod to the past as the station and passengers look forward to better, more reliable journeys, thanks to the upgrades of track, platforms and signalling between 2016 and 2018.

Fully completed in October 2018, these vital upgrades form part of the Great North Rail Project – a rail industry team effort to transform train travel for customers across the North through track and train improvements.

A ceramic display of the station, created by pupils from St Vincent’s school, was also presented as part of the exhibition.

St Vincent’s is a school in Liverpool for sensory impairment and children other specialist needs. Headteacher Dr John Patterson joined some of the school’s teachers and pupils at the mini-museum launch.

Paul Spiers, station manager at Liverpool Lime Street, said: “These key items in our new ‘mini museum’ pay homage to Lime Street’s past, after millions of pounds have been invested to make it fit for the future.

“It’s important that we remember our railway’s rich history, and I’m pleased that thousands of passengers will be able to enjoy a slice of the station’s heritage for years to come.”

Dame Louise Ellman, MP for Liverpool Riverside, said: “It is exciting to see these items about Liverpool’s railway history on display as Lime Street invests for the future.”

Councillor Liam Robinson, transport portfolio holder for the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, said: “This is a great idea and offers passengers the opportunity to look back at the station’s history, giving a glimpse of times gone by. I am sure that the ‘mini museum’ will prove to be very popular with passengers.”

More information on the new mini museum items:

Liverpool Lime Street signal box equipment

Original ‘miniature lever frame’ equipment from Liverpool Lime Street signal box, which opened in January 1948.

Lime Street signal box closed and signalling control was moved to Manchester Rail Operating Centre on Monday 30 July 2018. This followed the successful completion of the second phase of the station’s £140m major upgrade. Some of the equipment was transferred to Maidstone East which is Network Rail’s last remaining signal box to use the miniature lever frame system.

Above the signalling equipment, the original signal box panel diagram is also displayed.

LMS trolley

The LMS trolley, named after the London, Midland and Scotland railway company, which operated from 1923 until 1947.

Trolleys like this would have been used on the station to transport parcels and other goods across the station concourse to the train, ready for their final destination.

Station luggage scales

Avery Autoprecision luggage scales which were known to be used on the station in the early 20th century, weighing items up to 135lbs.

St Vincent’s ceramic display

The ceramic artwork of Liverpool Lime Street station is a gift from the young people of St Vincent’s School, and is one of three pieces created by its students.

The three creations, one gifted to the Palace of Westminster, one to be gifted to the City of Liverpool on 22nd April and one presented in Lime Street station today, are to commentate those who lost their sight in the First World War.

It is hoped this piece will welcome visually impaired young people who will attend the disability games in Liverpool in 2021, and visually impaired choirs from Sierra Leone and Indonesia, who will be performing at the Philharmonic on Thursday 22 June.