INTERVIEWS: Champions of Carnforth Railway Station discuss future of Brief Encounter Clock

Supporters of Carnforth Railway Station have been talking to Beyond Radio about the future of the famous Brief Encounter Clock.

The clock, which became iconic after it was featured in the classic 1945 film 'Brief Encounter', was a huge tourist attraction but was removed from the station for safety reasons several years ago.

A representative of a new steering group, set up to look after the railway station, said they want to put a replica in place if the actual clock can't be reinstalled.

But Peter Yates MBE, custodian of the Brief Encounter clock, feels there is no need for a replica and the clock can be returned.

"We're hoping that the clock will go back in its rightful place," he said.

"We had to take it out for safety reasons but there's nothing wrong with the clock and it will go back."

Mr Yates received an MBE for founding the Carnforth Station Trust and for his role in fundraising to regenerate the station in the early 2000s.

LISTEN to Peter Yates (pictured below) talking about the story of Carnforth Station's restoration and the Brief Encounter clock

Mr Yates discovered the original mechanism of the 19th century clock at a collector's house in south London, and it was restored in the station in 2003.

He removed the clock, owned by the Smith family of Guernsey, six years ago when he saw some cracking in the brackets that held it.

"We took it down, and the owners won't allow it to go back until the Station Trust is sorted out," said Mr Yates, who left the trust in 2008.

"It's looking like the station will be sorted out and hopefully the clock will go back. Meanwhile it's tucked away and it's very safe."

Mr Yates said the owners would like the clock to be insured before it can be re-installed at the station.

He also called for people to support the new steering group which was set up to help save the station's heritage centre, which was under threat of closure.

"There's a new team coming together to bring it back to life again," he said.

"There's a complete new regime starting and I hope people can give them every support and every help."

The new steering group came together to save Carnforth Station Heritage Centre after it was threatened with closure in October, as the trust was due to cease trading.

The centre celebrates the station's role in the Brief Encounter film, which starred Celia Johnson and Trevor Howard.

Iain Quinn, who runs The Snug micropub at Carnforth Station with his dad Peter, is part of the new steering group.

LISTEN to Iain Quinn (pictured below) talking about the new steering group and plans for the future of the station

Mr Quinn said "there are a few issues" with getting the clock back in place.

"It's outside the Heritage Centre's rentable area, so it's not something we have control over. It has to be done via Network and Northern Rail.

"We'd need agreement from Network and Northern Rail to put it back up where it was.

"For it to go back up, it's going to have to be quite a long process of getting the health and safety right for it, and making sure it's secure there.

"It's the first thing that comes up, where's the clock? We understand that.

"If we can't get that done quickly, we'd love to get a replica made and put back up as soon as possible under the Heritage Centre's area, so it can be looked after and maintained.

"We'd like that to be temporary but if it proves difficult to get the original clock there we'll always have something on the station that people associate with the film."

Mr Quinn said the heritage centre is "the Crown Jewel of the area".

"We've formed an interim steering group based on what's happened recently to make sure there is continuity and that the heritage centre, the station and all the businesses on the station can continue to operate," said Mr Quinn.

"Everything for the moment is business as usual.

"The station although rescued and beautifully done in the early 2000s is now in a bit of a state."

Mr Quinn said the group had been in touch with Network Rail and landlords The Arch Company.

"(Network Rail's) reaction was, we didn't realise it was this bad, we will do everything we can to help you," he said.

"We have guarantees that the businesses and heritage centre can continue trading.

"The flooding in the underpass is a big problem. I'm sure there is a plan going forward to make sure that's fixed. When there's a high tide there is a chance that the underpass will flood.

"The general state (of the station), there's been no maintenance or repairs done by Network Rail (for more than 20 years). 

"We've got Network Rail on board with what needs to be done and they've started to agree to quite a few things. It's such a shame that it's got to this state."

A Network Rail spokesperson said in September: "We recognise what the heritage centre means to the local community which is why we carry out regular safety inspections at the station. 

"Currently, our funding is focused on more safety critical sites across the North West, so we can keep trains running safely and reliably across the network.

"However, we will continue to work with third parties to identify additional funding streams for short-term and long-term enhancement projects at Carnforth.

"We currently have an issue with flooding in the (station) subway due to heavy rain and we are investigating this.”

Mr Quinn also praised the team of volunteers for the job they have done at the Carnforth Heritage Centre.

"We've got a great group of people here in terms of the volunteers," he said.

"They work for nothing but the work they do is priceless."

John Baker, one of the volunteers, said the film was still popular today, 80 years on, because "it's a classic story".

LISTEN to John Baker talking about the Brief Encounter film and the Heritage Centre

Pictured below, Carnforth Station Heritage Centre volunteers Dave Scriven, Cherry Wright, John Baker and Neil Simpson.

Here are more photos inside the Heritage Centre at Carnforth Station.

A post on the Carnforth Heritage Visitor Centre Facebook page earlier this month said: "Following several years of decline, the new steering group are going to reinvigorate and rebrand the centre. The focus is going to be on the 'Rich Heritage' of Carnforth and the surrounding area. This will not drop the links to the Brief Encounter, or to the railway history, but incorporate all aspects of the local heritage.

"We will be investing upwards of £200,000 for the improvement of the material condition of the station and its facilities and moving towards web based dissemination of information and useful data by creating a members website.

"We are now actively working with Network Rail and the Northern Group to smarten the station and supporting areas such as car parks and bring everything finally into the 21st century."