Large Scale Central

Steam-age signalling: rail signal boxes in the UK

Prototypes
#1

Perhaps of interest? "23 January 2019, Steam-age signalling: paying homage to rail signal boxes in the UK
By Joe Baker

As the UK rail industry modernises its signalling systems, the Victorian-era signal boxes scattered across its landscape are gradually being removed from operation. Exploring history highlights the key role that mechanical signal boxes have played through the years, but what does their future hold? "
...
"After more than a century of faithful service, the last remaining signal boxes in operation are approaching the end of the line. In 2012, UK rail infrastructure owner Network Rail said it was intending to replace the remaining 800 boxes across the UK and migrate control of the entire network to twelve rail operating centres (ROCs).

The future of boxes like Severn Bridge Junction may have been thrown into doubt, but the drive to keep the memory of these buildings alive continues unabated. "

https://www.railway-technology.com/features/rail-signal-boxes-uk/

#2

In North America there seems to be less nostalgia within the general public, but preservation groups here and there do save a few. A lot of the duties of “Signal Boxes”, seen in Great Britain, were performed at stations in North America. Yes, in VERY busy locations, there were “Cabins” that controlled signals and switches, but most of the signalling in small locations was done by operators in stations.

The Strasbourg Railroad in PA has a “Signal box” preserved. It was originally a PR one.

I spent a few pleasant times in the last of the operating signal boxes here in Ottawa. One was at “Hurdman”, and another was just outside Kemptville, both on the CPR, in the province of Ontario. They both had the intricate “Frames and levers” to control switches and signals, through a a rod system, on the ground alongside the tracks.

Fred Mills

#3

Worth a read Fred…(http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-tongue-out.gif)

https://www.railmagazine.com/news/rail-features/shrewsbury-s-record-breakers

#4

Thank you, Ross…most interesting…

Fred Mills

#5

That sounds significant,

““When I started here in 1990 BR had already started laying cables to open up a new Power Signal Box (PSB) in an office on Platform 3, but somehow we’ve managed to hang on. It might be old, but the mechanical signalling is hugely robust and it has shown itself time and again to be very reliable and easy to maintain.””