Signal Box Photos

[beast66606]

3 hours ago, Western Aviator said:

Based on the picture above I’d say Manchester Piccadilly could be a contender too.

 

It's Manchester Victoria East Junction

[The Pilotman]

1 minute ago, beast66606 said:

 

It's Manchester Victoria East Junction

You’re quite right, of course. I did know which box it was but for some reason my hands typed “Piccadilly” instead. 

[Rivercider]

Something else more modern, well 1980s anyway.

 

Exeter Panel Signal Box, 2/9/2018

 

cheers

[Davexoc]

Small and relatively modern, but now consigned to history

 

 

 

Edited April 2, 2022 by Davexoc
Photo restored

[great central]

Having been checked due to a signal fault I had the chance to get a photo of Manea box, and for completeness the faulty signal from the rear which is interesting in it's own right being placed on the offside.

 

[lmsforever]

44 minutes ago, Davexoc said:

Small and relatively modern, but now consigned to history

 

 

 

Friend of mine worked that box said it was very restful read a great many books and finished quite a few model railway kits !!

[96701]

On 01/01/2021 at 20:12, SM42 said:

 

 

By 2014 that signal had been vandalised modernised

 

 

 

 

 

Andy

 I assume that you would rather have Signalling staff risk life and limb and Network Rail risk prosecution under the Health & Safety at Work Act Working at Height Regulations in order to preserve the aesthetics of a railway built in the Victorian era when life was cheap?

[SM42]

3 hours ago, 96701 said:

 I assume that you would rather have Signalling staff risk life and limb and Network Rail risk prosecution under the Health & Safety at Work Act Working at Height Regulations in order to preserve the aesthetics of a railway built in the Victorian era when life was cheap?

 

Nope

 

Just perhaps a more elegant solution.

 

A consistency of style would have helped. A big box section with a bit of tube stuck on top to hold the signal is not elegant.

 

The support structure of the signal at Manea shown above, (which from the photo appears to be missing a handrail and a kick board for a start, and may explain why it's defective as no-one is able to fix it) hasn't been replaced by a structure, the  visual impact of which I would suggest , distracts from the signal arm and therefore creates another hazard.

 

I appreciate that the signal would have been sighted and meet the standard. The presence of the box masks some of the structure which helps, but it is not the only one like it on the network.

 

 

Andy

 

 

Edited January 3, 2021 by SM42
for clarity

[Poor Old Bruce]

Some Midland 'boxes for today:

 

Finedon Station

 

Kettering Station

 

Knighton South Junction. Not true Midland but Midland Line.

 

Dunston Barlow North, near Chesterfield in 1981.

 

Lincoln St Crossing in August 1983

[Rivercider]

While looking through my old prints to find photos of freight traffic in South Wales I found this photo at Pembrey.

 

Pembrey signal box 15/6/83.

 

cheers

[Tim V]

Onllwyn 1997. Aberbeeg 1982.

[DOCJACOB]

A few from around my neck of the woods. I think  2 have listed status and hopefully wont be consigned to history? 

 

Firstly Friargate, a rather nice MS&LR boundary post is close by, taken 8.89 and 4/90. 

 

Littlefield Lane and Garden St respectively. I'm led to believe the brick base at Garden St is to counter WW2 bomb blast damage. Adjacent bridge did have evidence of same. I think has listed status Both taken circa 11/89 

 

Roxton Sidings and Brocklesby Junct but no date. I think Brocklesby is the other with listed status. 

 

Finally but further afield and west of Scunthorpe: Medge Hall and Godnow Bridge taken 11/89 respectively. 

 

Few other local boxes on my Grimsby & Immingham thread 

[corneliuslundie]

A few I have collected over the years.

Whittlesford on 3 January 1976 when there had been a block instrument failure and they were working time interval.

 

 

Disused ex-GN box somewhere at the north end of the Northern Line.

 

Ditto but at another station (Woodside Park, thanks)

 

 

Another view.

 

 

This one is easy: High Barnet.

 

 

And again.

 

 

Truro, not Hayle, Cornwall. Thanks for the correction. I assumed it must be Hayle because it was with the other Hayle photos and I don't remember visiting Truro. So myuh for my memory.

 

 

And finally Stratford upon Avon (I believe, taken on a special trip)

 

 

That’s my lot. Can anyone put names to the Northern Line ones?

Jonathan

Edited January 4, 2021 by corneliuslundie
Adding more photos and info

[Tim V]

That 'Hayle' looks more like Truro!

[4069]

1 hour ago, corneliuslundie said:

 

 

 

That’s my lot. Can anyone put names to the Northern Line ones?

Jonathan

That's Woodside Park. I can't place the other one at the moment.

[SM42]

5 hours ago, DOCJACOB said:

A few from around my neck of the woods. I think  2 have listed status and hopefully wont be consigned to history? 

 

Firstly Friargate, a rather nice MS&LR boundary post is close by, taken 8.89 and 4/90. 

 

Littlefield Lane and Garden St respectively. I'm led to believe the brick base at Garden St is to counter WW2 bomb blast damage. Adjacent bridge did have evidence of same. I think has listed status Both taken circa 11/89 

 

Roxton Sidings and Brocklesby Junct but no date. I think Brocklesby is the other with listed status. 

 

Finally but further afield and west of Scunthorpe: Medge Hall and Godnow Bridge taken 11/89 respectively. 

 

Few other local boxes on my Grimsby & Immingham thread 

 

 

 

 

 

Godnow bridge had changed a bit by Summer 2014.

 

Not as nice as the 1989 version but a good effort

 

 

 

 

Andy

 

Edited January 3, 2021 by SM42

[Davexoc]

Deeside Halt - Llangollen, the last Bachmann Members Day

 

Edited April 2, 2022 by Davexoc
Photo restored

[phil-b259]

Reigate box is readily viewable via Google Streetview as it sits next to the level crossing. Here are some inside views- note that the lever frame controlled area is actually only a tiny bit of the area the box covers. As with many such boxes a block shelf extension with banks of switches has been added in the mid 1980s to eliminate the mechanical signalling between Reigate and Guildford and this 'extension' covers a far grater mileage than the original area the area covered by the frame.

 

The excellent condition of the lever frame is the hard work of one of the resident signalmen (around 20 years at Reigate) who ensures the lever tops are kept polished and the traditional railway ambiance inside is retained in spite of the ‘mod cons’ that have been added over the years.

 

Note the lever sitting in the halfway position - this is the 2 minute time delay in action as the signalman has replaced the lever without the track circuits having proved a train has passed the signal. This ‘backlock’ feature ensures that if the signal is replaced to danger in front of a train (meaning it’s unlikely to be able to stop at the signal)  the signalman cannot immediately start moving points and derailing the train. 

 

 

Edited January 4, 2021 by phil-b259

[roundhouse]

And here are external views of Reigate box.

 

[phil-b259]

1 hour ago, roundhouse said:

And here are external views of Reigate box.

 

The reproduction BR(S) enamel nameboard being bought by the aforementioned long time resident signalman - paid for out of his own cash.

[Poor Old Bruce]

Birmingham Area, all taken on 30 August 1983

 

Eagle Crossing

 

Round Oak Junction

 

 

Kingswinford Junction South

 

Stourbridge Junction Middle

 

[SM42]

Stourbridge Jn  Middle is still with us, now used by Chiltern Railways I believe.

 

Kingswinford Sth was burnt down and was a Portkabin for its final years.

I remember visiting it once in the mids 90s and the railway was like a local footpath, The fax machine kept being stolen and there was a syringe stuck in the corner post of the box nearest the camera in POB's picture. Lovely area

 

Back in the early 90s I visited Eagle Lane. The remains of the box were there, burnt out and some of the level crossing equiment remained, heavily vandalised and now all below the Black Country route flyover.  I was quite surprised to find that much left, unfortunatley I didn't have a camera with me

One day I may revisit if I am feeling brave.

 

It was in 2014  that myself and two friends decided to capture as many of the rapidly disapppearing boxes on film from all 4 sides if legally possible. Hoping to stay one step ahead of Network Rail's modernisation program.  One memorable 3 day stint saw us cover most of Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex,  83 (IIRC) boxes and crossings in all.

Some photos are good, some ropey due to not being able to get too close, or being in fading light, but at least they are a record.

 

It's an ongoing process. but all on hold at present and it is nice to see some here that we missed out on or never thought to photograph all those years ago when the train was the focus

 

Here are some more photos from my travels, all from 2014

 

I would just add that all my photos are taken  from publicly accessible places , from land entered with the owner's permission, during offical business or on guided visits

 

Keadby Canal Junction

 

 

Stow Park

 

 

Thrumpton

 

 

Baguley Fold

 

 

Andy

 

Edited January 4, 2021 by SM42

[Davexoc]

Another Llangollen box, well Barmouth South originally, now at Glyndyfrdwy

 

Edited April 2, 2022 by Davexoc
Photo restored

[The Pilotman]

5 minutes ago, Davexoc said:

Another Llangollen box, well Barmouth South originally, now at Glyndyfrdwy

Well, that’s easy for you to say 

[Poor Old Bruce]

Some on the MSW electrified line for today. Taken almost 40 years ago (Crikey! - and I've got some older than that!) on 25 June 1981:

 

Elsecar Jct

 

Aldam Jc.

 

Lewden Crossing

 

 

Glasshouse Crossing

 

 

Worsboro Bridge Crossing