At 22:56 on Thursday 12th March 2026, the last surviving Midland Railway signal on the national network (by an incredibly long margin), Ketton Down Starter – No.14 – was finally abolished.
While a few miniature arm MR yard signals survived into the 1980s and 90s, few if any main line signals did so – other than this remarkable exception. Quite apart from the remarkable achievement of existing through the first quarter of the 21st Century, it was an outlier in every way. While several semaphore signals survive on the Syston to Peterborough line, this was the only one east of Oakham. Not only that, but apart from being the only lower quadrant signal away from the former Western Region, it was sited on the “offside” of the line – per Midland practice for sighting from the right hand side of the footplate.
It owed its longevity to a succession of managers and S&T staff who regarded it as a “pet”, keeping it maintained and thus surviving, against all the odds.
Designated as an asset of historical importance by the Railway Heritage Trust, it is to be preserved. Our good friends at the Midland Railway-Butterley will be taking possession of it, with plans to display it in the Matthew Kirtley Building at Swanwick Junction.
