Signal Box Photos

[Nick Gough]

2 hours ago, Tim V said:

Winchcombe in 2002, interior was on page 13 of this thread.

This box is a replica, a picture of the Winchcombe site in 1980 - note no box (and no station)!

 

I believe the current box, or at least part of it, came from Hall Green.

[Tim V]

Hereford 1997.

 

[Michael Hodgson]

Point rodding visible in that view, but I don't see signal wires, so presumably  colour lights by this date

[SED Freightman]

Rhiw Goch, Ffestiniog Railway - 25/05/2012

 

Edited April 16, 2022 by SED Freightman
Photo replaced.

[Wickham Green too]

A random-ish selection here : a couple of new ones, a selection of repeats from different angles & dates and a few that should be familiar to those of you who know the Harzquerbahn : - 

 

 

Kyle of Lochalsh : H.R. : 21/8/74

 

 

 London Bridge : British Railways : 29/5/79

 

 

Shepherdswell : S.E.C.R. : 28/11/79

 

 

Pitlochry : H.R. : 14/8/80

 

 

Dalwhinnie : H.R. : 14/8/80

 

 

Appleby ; M.R. : 12/3/94

 

 

Axminister Gates : L.S.W.R. : 26/7/95

 

 

Brandon : L.N.E.R. : 1/8/95

 

 

Wernigerode ( main line ) : Germany : 12/9/90

 

 

Drei-Annen-Hohne : Germany : 12/9/90

 

 

Wernigerode ( crossing ) : Germany : 2/1/92

 

 

Wernigerode ( shed ) : Germany : 2/1/92

 

Edited April 4, 2022 by Wickham Green too
photos reinstated

[uax6]

On 03/01/2022 at 12:34, Wickham Green too said:

 

 

 

Brandon : L.N.E.R. : 1/8/95

 

 

That looks like Derrick 'Dutchy' Holland on the walkway outside 'his' box...

 

Andy g

[martinT]

2 views of Bristol East Depot Main Line SB taken c1967. A well known feature about 1.5 miles from Temple Meads :

 

 

 

 

 

Temple Meads Goods Yard SB, notable for being narrow to fit in the restricted site (11 August 1965):

 

Edited June 11, 2023 by martinT
Missing photos replaced

[Tim V]

East Depot Main Line - closed 11/1/1960, replaced by a 'plywood wonder', itself abolished 20/7/1970.

[martinT]

A couple more Bristol SBs from the 1960s, both long-since demolished needless to say, but the line to Avonmouth & Severn Beach remains open.

First Clifton Down, circa July 1967:

 

Next, also on the line through Clifton Down to Avonmouth, Ashley Hill Junction SB, July 1966:

 

This modern box came into use in May 1959 (replacing a much older one 3 chains to the west - ie right here) but by the time of the photo had already been out of use for 5 months. The reason for its early demise was the closure (in June 1965) of the ex-MR line to Kingswood Junction on the MR line to Gloucester, thus making it redundant. The track had already been removed here but its path can be made out from the empty ground at the bottom of the photo.

Edited January 7, 2022 by martinT
position of replaced box added

[Vanfit]

[SM42]

21 hours ago, martinT said:

 

 

Temple Meads Goods Yard SB, notable for being narrow to fit in the restricted site:

 

 

Never mind the box, look at those wagons

 

Andy

in wagony heaven

[Mike_Walker]

19 hours ago, Tim V said:

East Depot Main Line - closed 11/1/1960, replaced by a 'plywood wonder', itself abolished 20/7/1970.

And moved to Hungerford to replace the 'Box there demolished by a derailed freight.

[Vanfit]

Shrewsbury Severn Bridge Junction SB

 

Following the refurbishment of the structure and with more work in the pipeline to life extend the installation by motorising some mechanical points and replacing some semaphores with colour lights  this 180 lever gem will be in use for some time yet.

 

GWR centre balanced arms, red painted finials. Working at Height Regulations are continuing to cause replacement of semaphores, enjoy them while you can

 

 

 

[Tim V]

5 hours ago, Mike_Walker said:

And moved to Hungerford to replace the 'Box there demolished by a derailed freight.

My picture on page 20 of this thread.

[Vanfit]

1 hour ago, Tim V said:

And moved to Hungerford to replace the 'Box there demolished by a derailed freight.

The signaller (signalman in those days) on duty at the time told me that one moment he was looking out for tail lamp, the next moment he was sitting on top of a wagon! Not quite accurate but a great story that he dined out on for years.

[Tim V]

Bishton Crossing 1997.

Bromfield 1997.

Edited January 9, 2022 by Tim V
wrong picture

[SED Freightman]

Rolvenden, Kent & East Sussex Railway - 03/05/2009

 

Edited April 16, 2022 by SED Freightman
Photo replaced.

[Rugd1022]

 

 

[iands]

On 16/11/2021 at 16:55, iands said:

Today's selection.

 

Pollington. A HB & GC Joint Rly 'box which I think dates from about 1913. It may have started life as "Snaith & Pollington". @micknich2003 will correct me if I've got this last bit wrong.

 

Harrogate South. An NER 'box of 1897. Didn't seem to get photographed much, perhaps due to its location, but more likely because of its less than photogenic design and appearance.

 

Winning. Another NER 'box of 1895. At the time of the photo, permissive block working was the order of the day between Winning and Freemans Crossing (haven't checked if "permissive block" is still in use today). The first engine + van (65855) is taking the route towards Bedlington North with Class C head lamp. I presume the second loco will take the other route towards Marcheys House/Ashington (with what looks like Class D head lamp). There are at least four on the footplate of 65855 with what appears to be some instructions being passed to the signaller.

 

 

Having done a bit of research (well actually, I happened upon this by luck whilst looking for something else) it would seem that my original suggestion of Permissive Block working between Winning and Freeman's Crossing was wrong. I've found this snippet in the 'North Eastern' supplementary instructions that would give a better explanation of what might be happening in the photo, i.e., the engines and vans have travelled coupled together (from Freeman's Crossing/Blyth) and have been uncoupled at Winning to go their separate ways.

 

Engine and Engines and Vans.pdf

[Michael Hodgson]

That 1955 Supplement should have become obsolete when old LNER block regulations were finally superseded by the October 1960 British Railways  Block Regulations, and the trains described should then be offered as Light Engine (2-3) or Engine and not more than 2 brake vans (1-1-3) assisted in rear by an engine (2-2) or by an Engine and not more than vans (2-3-1).

However it might have taken a little time for some places to adopt the new practices.   

[Rugd1022]

Clapham Junction 'C' SB, front and back....

 

 

 

 

[Poor Old Bruce]

Rectory Junction, GNR, 8 Aug 1979

[martinT]

A rather distant view of Clapham Junction 'A' Signal Box taken on 29th March 1967:

 

The strange 'skeleton' around the box is the framework of a structure erected during the war as black-out precautions. The heavy roof sheeting that it supported lasted until the May 1965 when corrosion caused the partial collapse at the northern end (left hand here) of the main London-side girder span.

 

Edited June 28, 2023 by martinT
photo reinstatement

[Oldddudders]

8 minutes ago, martinT said:

The heavy roof sheeting that it supported lasted until the May 1965 when corrosion caused the partial collapse at the northern end (left hand here) of the main London-side girder span.

Not the Regional Chief Civil Engineer's finest hour, it left Waterloo in a bit of a mess.

[martinT]

Barton Street Junction Signal Box taken from Eastgate Station, Gloucester in March 1968. Immediately beyond it is Barton Street level crossing, & beyond that the junction for the High Orchard branch (to the docks).

 

Evesham Road Crossing signal box, Stratford-upon-Avon, March 1968.  This modern box dates from 1960 (replacing a traditional GWR box) & was the first box south of Stratford-upon-Avon station on the line to Cheltenham. It closed in 1977 when the line finally closed. There was briefly, from 1904 to 1916, a Halt at this crossing. It was closed as a war-time economy but never re-opened.

Edited January 16, 2022 by martinT
typo