It has been a busy final opperating session of the season, with excellent weather. I had the usual maintainance work to do, but was determined to photograph some of the other volunteers opperating the station. During the lunch break I also was allowed to visit Bishops Bridge signal box (thank you gentelmen of the Signalling dept!) and got some nice pics of the interior and the locking room. As volunteers the end of dialy trains last weekend marks the start of the main working season for repairs etc, so all departements have been busy. To see the latest news see SDR online.

The interior of Staverton Crossing- The spare levers are a result of switching out to Bishops Bridge of some of the stations signals as a result of adding the passing loop.

Alan Johnson opperating the gates and throwing the levers

Class 20 20118 on the crossing.

Staverton box diagram

Next it was Hi-Vis on and carefully up the track to Bishops Bridge box. I was really pleased to be given permission todo this as I have never been inside a working box before and the track circuits were playing up, giving the signalmen some headaches, so their patience with an idiot photographer was much appreciated!

The box viewed from the Buckfast end

The locking frame

The levers

Block apparatus

Electric token and train staff

The tokens given to the driver

Box diagram

Signal 33 with signal 22 on the bracket, controlling the up main line, seen from the box.

Class 20 8110 passing the Staverton Down starter, signal number 13

My thanks again to all at Staverton Preservation Group for continuing to make me feel like part of the team and to all the volunteers of other branches who have allowed me access to their particular kingdoms.Thanks also to all those who have made encouraging comments about this blog.