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Signalling !


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Bit late having missed this thread somehow but some more shots of Gobowen

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Looking towards the south, I would say I was going for a mood shot but thats just the way it turned out looking into the sun with a telephoto lens 26/02/85

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a later shot after closure

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Before and after shots of the north box.

 

Thanks for posting the interior shot of the south box. When I went their, there was an imminent arrival of a manager to conduct a school party around so a discreet departure seemed prudent, probably why I never took any shots of the interior of the north box until a later visit. I have shots of some of the other boxes along there, Leaton, Whitchurch etc if you are interested also Deganwy and Llandudno. 

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I seem to have filtered this thread out..... :scratchhead:

 

Anyway, now that I've found it, I have an excuse for digging out some dodgy old slides of boxes with green and cream (ish) paint on them

 

Starting in deepest Lincolnshire we have Little Steeping on 8 March 1970

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A garden shed at Sutton on Sea on 23 March 1970

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An undated view of the derelict box at Stamford 

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Letchworth in 1975, definitely a dodgy slide, this one!

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Baldock, also in 1975

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And an undated shot of Royston

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How about 'Anatomy of a Signal'....?

 

This is what was formerly Ryston down distant on the GER branch from Denver Junction to Stoke Ferry. The branch was opened in 1882 and the signalling contract was awarded Messrs Saxby & Farmer. Ryston box was closed on 24 February 1932 and the signal became a gate distant operated from a ground frame at the level crossing to the west of the station. This, in turn was closed in June 1974, when the crossing became trainman operated for the largely seasonal trains serving Wissington British Sugar Corporation sidings. The connection to the branch at Denver Junction was removed on 3 January 1983 and these photographs were taken on 2 April that year.

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And the view eastward from the signal....

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How about 'Anatomy of a Signal'....?

 

This is what was formerly Ryston down distant on the GER branch from Denver Junction to Stoke Ferry. The branch was opened in 1882 and the signalling contract was awarded Messrs Saxby & Farmer. Ryston box was closed on 24 February 1932 and the signal became a gate distant operated from a ground frame at the level crossing to the west of the station. This, in turn was closed in June 1974, when the crossing became trainman operated for the largely seasonal trains serving Wissington British Sugar Corporation sidings. The connection to the branch at Denver Junction was removed on 3 January 1983 and these photographs were taken on 2 April that year.

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And the view eastward from the signal....

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I live just a couple of miles from the Stoke Ferry branch. Not much remains but the Gates at Ryston are still there, slowly rotting away to nothing.... Occasionally bits of the Wissey ligh railways get found too.

 

Andy g

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Regarding Baschurch, it is interesting to see the small "w" next to discs 6, 11, 18 indicating their being fitted with white spectacle glass instead of red meaning they could be passed at danger when the road was set for the route that they didn't apply to.

 

After an accident there in the early 1960's in which a freight being backed into one the refuge sidings was hit by a following passenger train, the Inspecting Officer recommended that the refuge sidings be converted into loops. Something, that can be seen wasn't done and they stayed refuge sidings until they were lifted.

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Where the Stoke Ferry Branch crossed the A10 there were a set of AOCL's. Funny enough there is still a 'lump' in the A10 today where the crossing was (makes you wonder whats under the tarmac!).

 

I also looked at buying the Station at Denver. It was tiny, but would have done me, except for one small point. I would have needed a possesion (and Isolation I guess) for painting the windows on the railway side! Also when a 365 went past it was noticable, to have the Sand run through must have shaken everything in sight. No thanks!

 

I noticed a short distant arm in one of the photos above, not many of them about.

 

Andy G

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During a family holiday holiday some many years back i cycled from the sluice to the crossing to watch trains. The crossing keeper told me how everything worked usually but on this day the box was open and that thing's were working differently. He sent me up the cess to the box, around 200 yards, and the signalman showed me how the box worked. It was quite a lot for a ten year old to take in but i think he was fairly impressed what i did take in. He got me to tell him what lever movements would need to be made to get a train off the branch then he set the route. He sent me out to collect the staff from the driver. What a shock that was. A solid brass GE staff. I nearly dropped it.

 

He closed the box once he got out of section from Downham. He said if i returned at 0700 the next morning he'd ask if i could have a ride to Abbey.

 

I turned up at the appointed hour next day and got that ride. 37087 and around 20 vanfits and a brake. Super times. It is with some sadness i note that 37087 is at Booths ready for the chop.

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These are wonderful photos. We looked after these lines from Cardiff Control when we took over the Salop area, and I would love to have got to know some these boxes had they still been around. I'm always saddened by boxes switched out of section. Standing "aside" from operations, thier signals giving a futile all-clear. I remember Hayle & Drump Lane seeing little action, and as someone once said, a dwelling not in use soon starts to look tired and abandoned.

 

I've heard stories of Summer Saturday boxes on the B&H ceing opened to a mass of flying insects! The boxes smell stale and fousty after a spell of inactivity. The "Through the window" shot is particularly poignant. I have peered many times into such a view, to see the far ends levers out, distants collared, and maybe a FPL or two with a duster over them to attract action maybe? The heater & Baby Belling cold, block bells and kettle silent and only activity the clock passing the countless hours and red pilot lamps glowing on the diagram.

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These are wonderful photos. We looked after these lines from Cardiff Control when we took over the Salop area, and I would love to have got to know some these boxes had they still been around. I'm always saddened by boxes switched out of section. Standing "aside" from operations, thier signals giving a futile all-clear. I remember Hayle & Drump Lane seeing little action, and as someone once said, a dwelling not in use soon starts to look tired and abandoned.

 

I've heard stories of Summer Saturday boxes on the B&H ceing opened to a mass of flying insects! The boxes smell stale and fousty after a spell of inactivity. The "Through the window" shot is particularly poignant. I have peered many times into such a view, to see the far ends levers out, distants collared, and maybe a FPL or two with a duster over them to attract action maybe? The heater & Baby Belling cold, block bells and kettle silent and only activity the clock passing the countless hours and red pilot lamps glowing on the diagram.

Oddly the 'Summer Saturday' 'boxes on the B&H that I ever heard of didn't seem to attract those comments although I could imagine that Savernake might possibly and Lavington (which of course technically wasn't on the B&H) was apparently a fairly dusty place as it saw no other use at all except for engineering work.

 

I had a couple of 'boxes which were either 'Summer Saturday only' (Bruton) or opened infrequently (Hawkeridge Junction) and while they could be a little dusty neither smelled stale or foul in any way - the biggest problem with them was tarnished lever handles but the S&T and I checked them regularly all the round the year and I wasn't averse to flicking a duster across the block shelf if it needed it.  That apart the only thing was making sure there was coal and water available when they were to be opened.

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Mention of the B&H brings this gem of a book to mind, which mentions those famous flies Mike!

 

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Although David Canning's memory for loco numbers and dates can be a little hazy, his recall of certain events during his time in the job are spot on, and this book is well worth a read ;)

 

By the way, is ok to post some photos of the signalling at Droitwich and Worcester in here folks...?

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Bit more Eastern stuff due, I reckon! Heading north from Cambridge

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Cambridge North 26 October 1969

 

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Coldham Lane Junction 22 March 1969

 

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Barnwell Junction 20 March 1966

 

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Chesterton Junction 26 October 1969

 

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Waterbeach 22 June 1974

 

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West River 22 March 1969

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Continuing through Ely (for the benefit of LNERGE!)

 

Ely Dock Junction on 22 June 1974

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Ely South on 26 May 1969

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Ely North on 22 June 1974

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Ely North Junction on 22 July 1968

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And which route should we take next....?

 

 

 

 

 

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Continuing through Ely (for the benefit of LNERGE!)

 

And me ! - I only know the area after Cambridge PSB (except from research of course)

 

And which route should we take next....?

 

 

All of them !

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And me ! - I only know the area after Cambridge PSB (except from research of course)

 

 

 

All of them !

Happy to oblige - first we are going straight ahead to Kings Lynn and Hunstanton

 

Here is Littleport on 17 January 1970 with a Brush Type 2 passing on a down train

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No picture of Black Horse Drove in the collection, I'm afraid (closed 5 April 1965) or of Southery (closed 4 August 1965)  

And the only view of Hilgay that I have is out on loan, and hasn't yet been scanned. A picture and details of the box can be found here http://www.signalbox.org/gallery/e/hilgay.php The description needs treating with a bit of caution as the box was always in the place shown from opening early in 1883 until final closure on 17 June 1984

 

Denver Junction on 5 September 1969

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Downham on 25 September 1966

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Stow on 28 June 1969

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Magdalen Road on 26 May 1969

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St Germans on 26 May 1969

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Nothing on Clarkes Drove in the archives (closed 30 December 1962, although not demolished until early 1964)

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