Blandford Forum Signal Box

[PortLineParker]

Hi all,

Does anyone have any information relating to the dimensions of Blandford Forum signal box? I can't find any drawings online and while it seems tall and thin, due to the 'box being larger than the base, it's difficult to try and gauge the width, height and length. Any info that anyone can shed on it would be most appreciated.

 

Cheers,

 

PLP

[AY Mod]

It may be worth contacting Blandford Town Museum and the modelling group.

 

https://blandfordtownmuseum.org.uk/permanent-exhibits/

 

And see the model if you get chance.

[PortLineParker]

Hi,

 

Thanks for the link; I have emailed them via their form but have not heard anything back yet. I just wondered if anyone had either any drawings or some rough measurements. Fingers crossed I'll get a response from them though.

 

Cheers,

 

PLP

[AY Mod]

I know it's not definitive but here's a pic of the model box.

 

I may have other pics in my archives.

 

 

[PortLineParker]

That's great, thank you - any aspect of the 'box I can get is useful as it gives me more information as to the general arrangement. I have a working size of 2m wide at the base and around 7m long but I think that might be too long - 6m may be more reasonable. The height is a guess too, though from a rough look at photos and seeing how far above the canopy the model protrudes I'd guess a height of around 8m from platform to the apex of the roof. Hopefully someone, somewhere, has either got a copy of or produced their own drawings who may be able to help! I know others have drawings of other structures on the line so with this being one of the more unusual structures I'm hoping someone decided to record it. I'll keep you informed if anything comes to light.

 

Cheers,

 

PLP

[RailWest]

Sadly there appear to be few S&DJR signal-boxes for which any original plans are known to exist. However I know that some people have made their own drawings of some of them, so hopefully Blandford will be one such case. There are quite a few photos of the box in BR days, from which you might well be able to 'count the bricks' and get a reasonable idea.

[melmoth]

There at least three photos in Judge and Potts's 'An Historical Survey of the Somerset & Dorset Railway' (OPC, 1979, isbn 0860930033) which show the signal box, including one of the rear. @colin.divall might know of others, if he's around.

[PortLineParker]

Thanks both, @RailWest that's what I'd considered doing and it looks as if it might be my best bet at the moment. It's the way I've constructed others so it should provide a reasonable base to start from. The challenge is finding a photo with a high enough resolution to be able to count the bricks! @melmoth I have that book and I had seen the pictures, thank you - it's images like this that you randomly come across that provide that little bit extra detail which goes a long way to replicating it.

 

Cheers,

 

PLP

Edited October 12, 2024 by PortLineParker

[RailWest]

I've looked in the Vol 2 of Harman's new "Pictorial Atlas.....", but sadly IMHO nothing close enough to be of  any practical help :-(

 

Have you asked the S&DRT? Sadly my copy of their Archives Index is years out-of-date, so I've no idea what it may include now that could be of use.

[AY Mod]

20 hours ago, PortLineParker said:

I have emailed them via their form but have not heard anything back yet.

 

I've also dropped my contact a direct email to see if they have anything.

[PortLineParker]

38 minutes ago, RailWest said:

I've looked in the Vol 2 of Harman's new "Pictorial Atlas.....", but sadly IMHO nothing close enough to be of  any practical help :-(

 

Have you asked the S&DRT? Sadly my copy of their Archives Index is years out-of-date, so I've no idea what it may include now that could be of use.

 

I've sent an email off to them; the project I need it for was featured in the latest issue of Pines Express so hopefully others will be able to see what I'm doing and might have some information that can help.

 

@AY Mod thank you, that's very helpful. Fingers crossed someone has something that can be used.

 

Cheers,

 

PLP

[Blandford1969]

Well, erm, its like this.........

 

Many years ago I really wanted to make a model of the station at Blandford and set about researching it finding the very, very, very few drawings which existed, just some plans no elevation drawings. .......

 

So I set about doing my own and then gave a copy of what I had done to the Blandford Museum to help them with the model.  The S&D trust did not have any elevation drawings of Blandford. 

 

I will dig out and scan my drawings of the box. One important note is that it does not have the windows drawn in. At the time they were done about 20 years ago or more I was not confident at doing them 

 

Best wishes

Duncan

[PortLineParker]

Hi @Blandford1969,

 

That will be fantastic, thank you very much. I have a model of the windows already as they are similar to some of the others down the line so I am confident I can get them to match up, but having some idea of the overall size of the 'box will be fantastic.

 

Cheers,

 

PLP

[tingleytim]

My picture taken on 28/12/64 should enable you to count some bricks.

[PortLineParker]

Hi @Blandford1969, hope you're well!

 

Did you manage to find those drawings of Blandford Forum 'box at all? There's no rush as I'm currently focussing on Bailey Gate and drawings and photos of the 'box there are even rarer than Blandford Forum!

 

Cheers,

 

PLP

[Compound2632]

Here it is, 6 August 1890:

 

 

[Embedded link to catalogue image of Midland Railway Study Centre item 93472.]

 

But I suspect the one you want is actually this one, photographed c. 1910:

 

 

[Embedded link to catalogue image of Midland Railway Study Centre item 81394.]

 

No doubt @RailWest can tell us about the re-signalling - consequent on doubling?

 

If the box was built between 1890 and 1910, would that mean it was of standard LSWR design for the period?

[RailWest]

First box was S&DJR Type 1 opened circa-1877.

Replaced by new Type 2 box opened 25-Sep-1893 (so prior to the doubling of the line to Bailey Gate). Damaged by fire in 1906 and rebuilt with a Type 3 top.

Some minor signal alterations i/c/w the short-term 1919 junction for the Camp Railway, more alterations circa-1930.

[tingleytim]

11 hours ago, PortLineParker said:

Hi @Blandford1969, hope you're well!

 

Did you manage to find those drawings of Blandford Forum 'box at all? There's no rush as I'm currently focussing on Bailey Gate and drawings and photos of the 'box there are even rarer than Blandford Forum!

 

Cheers,

 

PLP

I took this of the rarely photographed south end of Bailey Gate box on 26/2/67.  At least it shows there was nothing to be surprised about!  Hope it's of use.

[PortLineParker]

That's very useful @tingleytim, thank you very much!

 

Cheers,

 

PLP

[Blandford1969]

I have found the drawing just need to scan it. Also found the one of the box at Bailey Gate, but found the dog had damaged it so need to quickly re draw. I do all my drawings by hand. 

[PortLineParker]

Oh brilliant, they will be very useful, thank you for getting these sorted. It's much appreciated!

Cheers,

 

PLP

[APOLLO]

Google "Blandford Forum Station" brings up a few photos

 

 

 

Brit15

[PortLineParker]

Hi @APOLLO,

 

Yes, I've got quite a few photos of the station in general but in the absence of any drawings I would usually count the number of bricks etc. on a structure to gain an idea of the size. Unfortunately, all the photos I have come across are either too far away, blurred or the photos only include half of the box, so some drawings would be ideal. Blandford1969 seems to be in a position to help out but the photos certainly help with general arrangements and so forth.

 

Incidentally, does anyone know of any pictures of the road side of the station building?

 

Cheers,

 

PLP

[Blandford1969]

23 hours ago, PortLineParker said:

Hi @APOLLO,

 

Yes, I've got quite a few photos of the station in general but in the absence of any drawings I would usually count the number of bricks etc. on a structure to gain an idea of the size. Unfortunately, all the photos I have come across are either too far away, blurred or the photos only include half of the box, so some drawings would be ideal. Blandford1969 seems to be in a position to help out but the photos certainly help with general arrangements and so forth.

 

Incidentally, does anyone know of any pictures of the road side of the station building?

 

Cheers,

 

PLP

I do , in real life and in the model 

[PortLineParker]

They are excellent, thank you for those. Exactly what I was after.

 

Cheers,

 

PLP