As part of the Trust’s longer term plan to return the Midsomer Norton station buildings back to their 1950s appearance, the first of several replica signs have been erected over the entrance door to the station building at Midsomer Norton South Station.

The work now taking place to tidy up and enhance the station building and surrounding areas has already had a good start with replacement green shutters for the station building. The new signage which will include numerous information signs is aimed at visitors to make it easier for them to find the facilities around the site.

Replacement signs have also been obtained for the large station name boards and will be fitted over the coming weeks to further improve the appearance of the platforms.

All the signs will be completed to the original British Railways Gill Sans font of the 1950s period, and be in Southern Region green – including directions to the buffet car, toilets and other buildings at the station.

Trustee, Barrie Papworth, after considerable research from himself and Trustee, Phil Jones, ordered the signs after consulting with others on the railway. He said: “We are very pleased with this first one, and hope that visitors will find all the others helpful when they come here. Come and see for yourself by joining us for a cream tea on June 15th!

“In order to reduce the cost to the charitable Trust, we have had them made from aluminium composite with UV resistant printing to ensure a long life instead of the enamel used on the originals.

“We did look at the possibility of using enamel signs but these are prohibitively expensive and are much more prone to theft.”

Visitors will be able to inspect the signs and shutters for themselves at the next event at the station on June 15th and 16th. Joyce, the steam Sentinel Locomotive, will be hauling trains and there will be cream teas in the buffet car. For the first time there will be sunset train rides to honour the approach of the summer solstice.