flyingsignalman Posted June 5, 2012 Share Posted June 5, 2012 John Dixon, a friend in the Signalling Record Society, had been given a list of surviving lower quadrant (except GWR steel) signals and it showed there was quite a collection in the area around Mansfield. So on a bright and sunny day we set out early one morning. Our first port of call was Mansfield South Jcn where a Midland Railway pattern disc was said to be. It was Going by the finger on the post it was s/h from elsewhere. It was by the up branch home and read to a siding on the down side. Views of the box, unusually (to me), it had a rear entrance. Rufford branch off to the right A view of the diagram The lever frame The Tyers tablet instrument for the single line section to Mansfield Colliery Jcn Which was our next place to visit Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingsignalman Posted June 5, 2012 Author Share Posted June 5, 2012 A short drive took us to Mansfield Colliery Jcn where I took this view from the bridge Our goal here were 4 midland pattern discs. At first we thought we wouldn't be able to get close to them but the new estate on the left of the above photo gave us access to them We then walked up to the box where the Signalman was out looking for discarded nails from the building work so that he could make the walkway by the box safer. He allowed us in and I took this view On the way back to the car I took this view of the rear of the discs which also shows the trackbed of the lines to Mansfield Colliery behind them Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkC Posted June 5, 2012 Share Posted June 5, 2012 Useful pics - thanks for sharing Mark Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingsignalman Posted June 5, 2012 Author Share Posted June 5, 2012 Next stop was Rufford Collery Sidings, where after a short walk from the car this came into view Climbing up the embankment and looking towards the box A closer view of the signals My best go at a front view (due to the direction of the sun) The box with the Signalman taking the sun The box and signals were provided by the LMSR in 1928 (I think) We had been warned that this Signalman wasn't quite as sociable as the others so as we already had a sketch of the diagram, we didn't bother him. The front of the signal in the previous view Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingsignalman Posted June 5, 2012 Author Share Posted June 5, 2012 Next stop was Annesley where the list said there was a Midland signal in the sidings behind the box. Unfortunately the list was already about a year old and the sidings (and the signal had gone) however I took a couple of photos of the box and a passing NCB shunter. The box seemed to be in use as a Shunter's cabin. The shunter and the colliery it was heading to Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingsignalman Posted June 5, 2012 Author Share Posted June 5, 2012 The last place we visited was Warsop Jcn, one of only two then surviving LD&EC Ry boxes. We parked by the closed Shirebrook Station and had a quick look on the platform. 56 085 backing onto the depot Shirebrook Station box in the background If I remember correctly, the station buildings were in use as the local Area Manager offices. We walked up to the road bridge and here is another 56 passing Shirebrook Jcn box having come from Warsop Jcn Making our way to Warsop Jcn we could see that the box had seen better days While the Signalman let us in he seemed nervous about us being there (presumably due to the proximity of the AM's office so we didn't linger) The frame poor view of the diagram Front of box with junction signal After taking this view of an eastbound train We walked back to the car at Shirebrook where I took this view of the rear of Shirebrook Jcn And then a three hour car journey home. I made sketches of the box diagrams; I'll dig them out and post them here later. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingsignalman Posted June 6, 2012 Author Share Posted June 6, 2012 I forgot to mention that there is a website dedicated to the Mansfield South Jcn to Rufford Colliery line which has a lot of photos and sketches of the box diagrams at various dates. It is http://ruffordbranch.com/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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