The 100-year-old North Eastern Railway war memorial in York has undergone a huge transformation.
The memorial, located on Station Rise, bears the names of the 2,236 rail workers who died in both world wars.
It has received a sensitive cleaning programme to remove years of pollution which had blackened the Portland Stone.
Unveiled just in time for Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day (11 November), the transformation is part of an ongoing £175,000 investment into the historic structure.
The works were undertaken by Henley Stone Remedials, working together with CML, and Network Rail Works Delivery.
Network Rail, which is responsible for the century-old monument, have worked tirelessly to get permission to remove the muck and grime.
Due to the nature of the material, the process was far from easy. Working to stringent planning permissions and heritage guidelines, expert contractors have been using specialised techniques to complete the clean.
Using low pressure but high temperature steam jets, the Portland Stone was delicately cleaned over a seven-day period.
Steven Entwhistle, project manager of cleaning specialist CLM, told YorkMix: “This has been around 18 months to two years in the making.
“We’re asked by Network Rail to undertake a cleanse of the structure, but obviously it’s listed, it’s historic, and it’s not something you can just come out and attack with a cold water jet wash.
“We undertook a drone survey and a 3d scan so we knew the exact condition of the structure before we did anything. It’s really detailed, and you can see every minor imperfection and defect on it.
“We then employed our specialists to come out and undertake the cleansing, done with extremely specialist equipment.” Steven told YorkMix.
Although the risk of further deterioration would appear likely, preparation meant the chance of that happening was none existent.
“There was never any risk because obviously it’s been done by specialist conservative conservators who undertake works of this nature, not necessarily on war memorials, but this type of building, grade two listed,” Steven added.
Craig Hall, Network Rail senior programme manager, recognises how important the Northern Eastern Railway war memorial is for the people of York and descendants of those whose lives it remembers.
That’s why it was essential for the cleaning to be complete in time for Remembrance Day and Armistice Day.
“It was the plan and was really important to us for it to be done for next weekend, it’s also the 100th anniversary of the monument itself. So it just ties in to both effectively,” Spencer said.
It was also crucial for Network Rail to get the seal of approval from the veteran community within the city whilst completing the works.
“We have a number of the veterans come to see what we’re doing, and we let them know how we’re doing it and what we’re going to do.
“We’ve also worked very closely with the York City Council and the Railway Heritage Trust.” He told YorkMix.
The close relationship between Network Rail and York City Council initially led to the plans to restore the monument.
Later phases of the clean up will pay detailed attention to parts of the memorial which have suffered excessive weathering.
When complete it’s expected an investment of £175,000 will have been made into the structure, with funding from both Network Rail and the Railway Heritage Trust.
Tim Hedley-Jones, director of the Railway Heritage Trust, said: “The Railway Heritage Trust has a proud history of supporting the restoration of railway war memorials. We are pleased to have supported Network Rail to clean and restore the North Eastern Railway War Memorial in York in its centenary year. It is a fitting reminder of the sacrifice so many railway workers made for their country in conflicts in the last hundred years”.
Plans are currently underway to mark Remembrance Sunday at the war memorial next weekend.
It will include a formal wreath laying ceremony at 11am, attended by key rail industry figures, veterans, politicians and schoolchildren.