Signal Box Photos

[iands]

Some from my archive. Some of these photos (and subsequent postings) I may have posted on other threads, but not on this particular thread, apologies for any repeats from other threads. I should add that if any photos appear to have been taken from the "track", then they have been. At the time I (or my colleague) were on official railway business and the photos were either taken from a position of safety or we had ascertained with the signaller that no trains were due.

 

Allington 10/06/1999

 

Ancaster 10/06/1999 (a different angle to the ones posted by SM42 and Coach Bogie on page 16)

 

And two of Barkston East 10/06/1999

 

[SHMD]

On 16/10/2021 at 20:49, Harlequin said:

Could we split the general signalling equipment and interior photos off into a separate topic?

 

The original focus of this topic was on providing a photographic gazetteer of signal boxes themselves, their similarities and infinite variations, but that is being diluted somewhat.

 

 

Hi Harlequin,

 

I must, most respectfully, disagree with you sir.

 

The OP was just linked three photos, under the thread title "Signal Box Photos".

No restrictions were implied, just the general heading.

I have no idea (now) what those photos showed, (apart from the brief description), as the hosting platform now requires me to fill in a form before (possibly) viewing the said photos. Something I will not even start to "do" in before clicking "X" button.

 

Signal Box photos are, of course, the "bread and butter" of this thread but adding context, design, implementation, use, and the human side - adds so much to the 3/4 view "Cabin Shots".

 

Signal Cabins, both internal and external, are providing tonnes of modelling info, inspiration, and detail.

This thread is remarkable for both content AND very little "RMWeb drift" - and is such a rich resource for it.

Long may it continue.

 

 

Kev.

(As an Electrical Engineer, I am both shocked (groan) and delighted by that "rats nets", kindly posted by Michael Hodgson. The next time the misses cuts my thinning (deliberately for this, greasy) graying hair, I'm keeping it in case I want to model that locking room!)

 

[Harlequin]

3 minutes ago, SHMD said:

Signal Box photos are, of course, the "bread and butter" of this thread but adding context, design, implementation, use, and the human side - adds so much to the 3/4 view "Cabin Shots".

Bread and butter is a great way to put it.

 

I'm just suggesting this thread doesn't drift too far away from that staple diet - er, doesn't start talking about avocados on toast, to extend the simile...

 

3 minutes ago, SHMD said:

 

Signal Cabins, both internal and external, are providing tonnes of modelling info, inspiration, and detail.

This thread is remarkable for both content AND very little "RMWeb drift" - and is such a rich resource for it.

Long may it continue.

Here, here!

 

[iands]

Another selection from my archive. I'll mostly be posting in alphabetical order as that way I can (hopefully) avoid posting similar photos that others have already provided, so I'll not bother to post any of Bellwater or Blankney for example (an exception is the third one for today's posting).

 

Barnsley Station Junction 19/05/1998

 

Bingley (date not recorded but will be from the 90s)

 

Blotoft 23/06/1999 (the exception for today as it shows the 'box pre-makeover as shown in a previous post by SM42 on page 15)

[Wickham Green too]

14 hours ago, SHMD said:

.... Signal Box photos are, of course, the "bread and butter" of this thread  ....

 

..... but bread and butter is always more exciting with jam on it too !

[iands]

Today's offering (I've skipped Dinnington Colliery as virtually the same view has already been provided).

 

East Holmes 08/06/1999 (different view to those provided by Johnw1 on page 1 and Poor Old Bruce on page 15).

 

Ecclesfield 20/04/1998

 

Falsgrave (Scarborough) 11/11/1996 (different view to that posted by Poor Old Bruce on page 15).

 

 

 

 

 

[Harlequin]

Hi @iands, If your photos of boxes already posted are of a different date, they might still be valuable...

 

[SHMD]

...also, if the second view from a similar (but slightly different) location, then both photos when used in concert may provide parallax information giving a "depth of field" to the scene.

 

 

Kev.

 

[Wickham Green too]

Now yer getting technical ! 

[iands]

My thanks to @Harlequin and @SHMD for the feedback, I'll post all the signal box photos I have and let the RMWebbers decide if they add any value. Also, I won't have any qualms about posting photos I may have posted on other threads (so as to provide a single reference point for them).

 

So as a bonus for today, the three I purposely left out previously.

 

Bellwater Junction 24/06/1999

 

Blankney 11/06/1999

 

Dinnington Colliery 18/04/1996

 

 

 

[DOCJACOB]

Lived 30 years in area and never got round to these 2 

 

Grimsby Marsh Junction & Great Coates 

Edited October 23, 2021 by DOCJACOB
Spelling

[Coach bogie]

I am going up to friends north of Newcastle today and it got me thinking of all the boxes on the Bedlington freight loop. The line is planned to reopen to passenger trains and I am sure all these beauties will go. Let's take a journey from the Newcastle end

 

1. Newsham south which once controlled the lines to Blyth south dock and shed some of the rails still exist but disconnected

 

 

Next is Bedlington South. Not my best shot but is shows how close Bedlington North is seen in the background. The sidings are still in and signalled. When EWS/DBS run the aluminium trains they run round here. Now GBRF are running them they run round at Newsham.

 

 

Next is Bedlington North controlling the junction for Morpeth to return trains to the ECML or continue on the freight only line.

 

 

Next we take a detour as there is a triangle to head for Cambois and Blyth North Docks. At Winning Junction the lines from Bedlington and Marcheys House to the north meet and head towards the coast.

 

 

Next is Freemans Crossing. The redundant lines right went to Cambois Depot and Blyth power station. To the left the line continues to the coast where there is a ground frame to access a spur to Blyth Docks with the Main route continuing to the Aluminium plant and dock where trains to Fort William are loaded.

 

 

Back on the main route is Marcheys House where the line from Winning joins the line from Bedlington South.

 

Next is North Seaton controlling a level crossing near the other end of the viaduct seen in the background in the Marcheys shot.

 

 

And finally is Ashington Signal box that used to control the line left to a coal mine and eventually the ECML just south of Widdrington. The main route continues to the Ashington complex and Lynmouth Power Station.. 

 

[iands]

Thanks @Coach bogie for a trip down memory lane. I've visited all those locations at one time or another during my railway career - sadly without a camera. 

 

[iands]

Not sure why my last post got repeated. Anyone know how I can delete it?

In the meantime. three more 'boxes from my archive.

 

Filey 04/09/2003 (I think this date is correct, which makes it just 2 months before I was made redundant from Network Rail under Project Violet).

 

Gainsborough Central 03/08/2000 (before the fire and certainly before the palisade fencing was erected around it). 

 

Gainsborough Lea Road 08/06/1999

 

[Oldddudders]

Delete isn't an easy option these days - far too easy for a post to be abusive and then mysteriously vanish - but if you click upon the three little dots top right of your post, you should find a 'Hide' option. This asks you to provide a reason. I never do. 

[iands]

14 minutes ago, Oldddudders said:

Delete isn't an easy option these days - far too easy for a post to be abusive and then mysteriously vanish - but if you click upon the three little dots top right of your post, you should find a 'Hide' option. This asks you to provide a reason. I never do. 

Many thanks Ian.

[SM42]

5 hours ago, iands said:

Not sure why my last post got repeated. Anyone know how I can delete it?

In the meantime. three more 'boxes from my archive.

 

Filey 04/09/2003 (I think this date is correct, which makes it just 2 months before I was made redundant from Network Rail under Project Violet).

 

 

 

 

I have a fond memory of Filey. 

I was about 10 at the time waiting at the crossing with dad and the signalman invited us into the box to watch the train go past. 

He even leaned out to get the numbers off the DMU. 

I was a bit too awe struck to write them down and it was only a DMU  anyway. 

Didn't think I would later miss em at the time. 

I have a vague memory of a white and blue class 101, but it was a long time ago

 

I well remember Project Violate. 

 

Andy

[iands]

Today's selection.

 

Garsdale 17/10/1996

 

Gosberton 23/06/1999

 

Holton-Le-Moor 09/06/1999

 

 

[iands]

Some more from the archive.

 

Hubberts Bridge 23/06/1999 (It didn't look that inspiring on the inside either. "Functional and did a job" is about the only honest description I can give it).

 

Jumble Lane (Barnsley) 19/05/1998

 

And a couple of photos of Langworth 09/06/1999 (Apologies for the photo-bombing car in the first one).

 

 

 

[iands]

Following on from yesterday, some internal photos of Hubberts Bridge. Unsure of the date for this particular visit, but it was a different occasion to yesterday's posting (Edit: I'm now certain the date for these internal photos of Hubberts Bridge is 12/07/2001). (I'll leave you to determine how inspiring or otherwise the plain brick walls are. That said, not a bad view through the window). 

 

 

 

Some views of Lincoln High Street. The first two date from (I think) 09/07/2001.

 

 

 

The third dates from 08/06/1999 (East Homles 'box can just be seen in the distance far left).

 

And for completeness, a closer view of East Holmes 09/07/2001.

 

 

Edited October 27, 2021 by iands
Date added.

[Vanfit]

Tram Inn

 

[iands]

Today's photos.

 

Newark Castle 10/06/1999

 

Pelham Street Junction 08/06/1999

 

Penistone 28/04/1998

 

Some more tomorrow hopefully.

 

[Wickham Green too]

'Penistone' is the former 'Huddersfield Jn' box ....... surroundings were a bit different in 1982 ( see page 31 ).

[Vanfit]

Norton Junction SB. Note the hanging baskets! Pictures taken in about 2010

 

The walkway across the lines enabled the signaller to give the driver of an Up Cotswolds train a single line token before the system was replaced by Axle Counters about 10 years ago, however I believe that the tokens were usually taken/given up at Worcester Shrub Hill to avoid trains stopping additionally at Norton Junction just for tokens. Access to the SB was from the road bridge down a slope to the right of the pictures. The concrete hut is the relay room.

 

[Mike_Walker]

Until a couple of years ago, Norton Junction could claim what was, to the best of my knowledge, the only semaphore signal worked from a Panel Box.  The Distant for Abbotswood Junction was below the section arm on the up junction signal.  It was worked in conjunction with the signal protecting Abbotswood Junction by Gloucester PSB slotted by Norton Junction.  The Distant was, of course, motor operated not, as some leg-pullers would have you believe, by a solitary lever in Gloucester PSB and a bloody long piece of wire!

 

Sadly the classic GWR junction signal has been replaced by one of those dreadful Dorman lightweight jobs.  Could have been worse I suppose - a VMS one...

 

It is correct that trains using the Oxford line did surrender and collect their tokens at Shrub Hill station released by the NJ signaller.