RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted November 25, 2012 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted November 25, 2012 The line from Birkenhead Woodside to Hooton (thence Chester / Ellesmere Port + Helsby) was 4 track from Green Lane Junction (Birkenhead Mollington Street Shed area) Hooton (continuing to Ledsham Junction on the Chester line), originally built as 2 tracks it was widened to 4 ca 1900 (I do have the exact dates somewhere). New cabins were provided at all the stations, mostly between the fast and slow lines (the 4 tracks were paired by classification). Bromborough was one of two which had gull wings, extension pieces to allow tail lamping and views of approaching trains under the road bridge. The gull wing over the slow lines (the fast lines went in 1967 (Down Fast) and 1973 (Up Fast, by then called Up Goods) was removed ca 1978 due to one of the signalman keepng Chinchillas in it, their wee wee and general mess from the food, drinking water, cleaning etc. caused the floor to rot and the wing was removed to prevent the inevitable fall from grace that a signalman was one day going to take. The box closed in May 1985 (and was replaced by a piece of flat ground) as part of the electrifcation, Hooton taking control of the area with 2-aspect colour light signals (initially) being provided. I spent quite a lot of time in this box, working it. I wasn't keen on the absence of a starter on the Up, so anything which Hooton could not accept was simply stopped at the home, not dropping things down to the starter which I quite enjoyed. However the home was a co-acting signal so there was some pleasure. It's claim to fame was it controlled the last LNWR signal (on a main line) on the Wirral, the Up (ex slow) Distant was an LNWR drop arm which had a lovely lazy way to it, sadly it was also the target of the local buffoons with air rifles and the spectacles were frequently shot out, whether this accelerated it's replacement I don't know. The box also housed the last LNWR signal repeater on the Wirral, rather strangely the Down (slow) Distant was an upper quadrant repeated by an LNWR lower quadrant repeater, whilst the Up Distant was an LNWR lower quadrant, repeated by an LMS upper quadrant repeater. And now for some photos of the said cabin The lever frame (unless mentioned the lever plates are all standard LNWR cast ones) All the back plates are BR trapholite, it's possible to see the scars left by the LNWR ones behind the, once working, levers. The up signals, lever 31 has a BR lever plate, lever 32 has an LMS lever plate The old up fast signals The down signals, fast to the left (oou) and slow to the right, visible behind lever 3 with a yellow top is the wire adjuster for the down distant and also visible (just to the right of lever 3) is the mounting bracket for the LNWR repeater mentioned above. Lever 5 has 3/4 of a BR lever plate (!) Levers controlling the yard connections and crossovers, 18 and 19 were still in use controlling a crossover, notice the gap in the frame, and the missing lever plates, wonder where one of those went .. The diagram And the instruments Down signal repeaters, the starter (7) was on the end of the platform, under the road bridge hence the repeater) Lamp repeaters Up distant repeater Fletchers standard block, there is a train on line between here and Port Sunlight (the next box on the down) and a line clear has been given on the up There is a train on line on both running lines between here and Hooton, the next box on the up. A view each way from the box Towards Hooton Towards Birkenhead - the co-acting up home can be seen towering above the bridge along with the site of the fast lines, the redundant up fast platform is visible under the bridge. The old goods shed stands amongst caravans. The only signal I currently have scanned in The down home (lever 6) - this signal was brought into use ca 1978, replacing a nice LNWR wooden posted, upper quadrant arm, signal which was situated outside the siding (ie about 10' further to the left as the photo is taken) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merfyn Jones Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 <snip> Facinating Dave. I just remember working round there in 1978 Summer, felling the telegraph poles alongside the down slow. Merf. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chubber Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 Dave, the brick 'thing' beside the end of the steps, is that the place that the stove ash was emptied into? Did it also contain coal? Did it have any way in/out or did you have to jump over the wall to use it? I ask because it is a feature I've seldom seen modelled, and given the lengths that some modellers here go to to produce authentic work even I could manage one of those to add a bit of 'thentissity'! Doug Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted November 25, 2012 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted November 25, 2012 Dave, the brick 'thing' beside the end of the steps, is that the place that the stove ash was emptied into? Did it also contain coal? Did it have any way in/out or did you have to jump over the wall to use it? I ask because it is a feature I've seldom seen modelled, and given the lengths that some modellers here go to to produce authentic work even I could manage one of those to add a bit of 'thentissity'! Doug Hi Doug, thats the coal bunker, the wall facing the steps was open with small wings - see drawing here Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chubber Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 Thank you, Dave......and what a lovely drawing. Just think, drawn by hand with 'pen-and-ink' on 'paper' by a 'draughtsman'............now gone the way of gramophone records, the 'Brooks Sprung Comfort Bicycle Saddle' and chitterlings......... Hmmm, suddenly I'm hungry...... Doug Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Fitness Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 I think sadly this place closes today although the proper signalling equipment had long gone from it. Another ex work place bites the dust. JF Went past there on my way back from the Warley show on Saturday. Just a concrete base where it stood. Gone already.... JF Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted November 26, 2012 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted November 26, 2012 17 May 1981 Hawarden Signal Box - 5 months after abolition And the diagram - in my collection Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted November 26, 2012 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted November 26, 2012 Some more signal box diagrams from my collection Bromborough ca 1970 - see above for the box Brook Street - a box between Blackpool Street and Canning Street North on the line to Birkenhead Docks, ca 1972 (box abolished in 1972) Sinderland (also spelled Cinderland) Crossing - on the low level line from Warrington, through Lymm to Manchester, ca 1970. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Fitness Posted November 26, 2012 Share Posted November 26, 2012 Some nice ones there Dave. I have one of Bolton West somewhere from the late 70's . I must dig it out and phot it. Always liked the typeface/font used on these later LM diagrams. Is it available to download anywhere for use on a computer? I would love to use it for re-creating small signalling diagrams for model railways. Jon F. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chubber Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 If not, cutting and pasting some words into a JPG might let Google 'picture' search find it? Doug Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Fitness Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 It is a good one. I have used it before on various things but the numbers aren't quite right. Thanks for that anyway Doug. Jon F. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted November 27, 2012 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted November 27, 2012 It is a good one. I have used it before on various things but the numbers aren't quite right. Thanks for that anyway Doug. Jon F. I could photograph the numbers for you if that helps Jon ? Brook Street has the digits 0-9 in the same plane. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Fitness Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 I could photograph the numbers for you if that helps Jon ? Brook Street has the digits 0-9 in the same plane. Sounds like an interesting plan. I'll gladly take up the offer. Thanks Dave. Jon F. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Fitness Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 More Boltonian memories. Bolton West, May 1980 Jon F. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted November 27, 2012 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted November 27, 2012 Sounds like an interesting plan. I'll gladly take up the offer. Thanks Dave. Jon F. Ok, I'll sort it out, it won't be immediately, I have things to root out for a few others first, drop me a PM if you don't hear anything in a week or two. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingsignalman Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 Regarding Bromborough box, the slow line gull wing wasn't removed until about 1978, the one over the fast lines lasting until the box closed; It had the sink (and maybe the cooker) in it. Spital also had the wings and the one over the slow lines had been removed early on. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingsignalman Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 A couple of photos of Hawarden box on the date of its abolition (2/11/1979). It had been switched out of circuit for about six months prior to this (A stoke Division practice I was told). I had gone with the S&T to view my investment. I had bought the diagram for the sum of £6 plus VAT. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Debs. Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 A couple of photos of Hawarden box on the date of its abolition (2/11/1979)...........I had gone with the S&T to view my investment. I had bought the diagram for the sum of £6 plus VAT. £6+ was quite a bit back in in `79....did you also get the diagram`s frame for that price? I wish I`d have had as much foresight as Keith and bought more relics 'back-then' before they went South to C.C at Euston (or worse: the scrapmen) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingsignalman Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 £6+ was quite a bit back in in `79....did you also get the diagram`s frame for that price? The frame was the main reason I bought the diagram. One of the S&T men did volunteer to "appropriate" the diagram for me but I said I wanted to acquire it legitimately. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted November 28, 2012 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted November 28, 2012 There was quite a lot of stuff around up and into the 1990s, I've picked up quite a few diagrams, not just Wirral area ones, Eccles, Tebay No.1 (illuminated) for example. The collectors (antiquities rather than for the cabin itself) now push the price up sadly and of course, some selfish individuals have more than one Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted December 1, 2012 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted December 1, 2012 The signal photos will become a bit "random" (as the youngsters seem to like to say) 21 April 1981 Edge Lane Junction Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted December 1, 2012 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted December 1, 2012 02 August 1981 Widnes No.7 starter with Widnes West Deviation Junction distant below, tubular steel Widnes No.7 home 1, tubular steel, cabin and home 2 visible in background Widnes No.7 home 2, clear for Carterhouse Line, bracket to Widnes No.1, tubular steel Widnes No.7 cabin from Home 2 signal - poor but added for the historical point of view Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted December 1, 2012 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted December 1, 2012 02 August 1981 Frodsham Junction - I do have the cabin but sadly it's not scanned in yet. Back plates Repeaters Down home with down main to down loop Up starting Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Mark Forrest Posted December 1, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 1, 2012 Widnes No.7 cabin from Home 2 signal - poor but added for the historical point of view It also neatly answers a question I was pondering on the BCB cabin build regarding the planks on the brackets below the windows; thanks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium newbryford Posted December 1, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 1, 2012 03 July 1981 Skipton Skipton Station North Down Home, lattice main stem and tubular steel dolls Skipton Station South Up Starters, Wooden ex MR post with finial Skipton Station South Up Home, wooden post, co-acting Skipton Station South down Starter, wooden ex MR post, with finial Just catching up with this thread again - great pics - possible inspiration for a layout or two with the box diagrams - rationalised of course! I think you've got Skipton north and south mixed up - the first pic is in the direction of Keighley and the latter 3 are facing towards Hellifield. Up/down would also be reversed, unless it's up to Carlisle! Found this pic with North box in the distance. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:British_Rail_Class_111_at_Skipton.jpg Cheers, Mick p.s. I need to revisit Hellifield to see the recent work and if it's changed much. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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