Disused Signal boxes which are still standing?

[BestWestern]

Two more for the list,
Havant (Hants)
Portsmouth Harbour.

The 'Harbour is used as a base for P Way and similar, I believe; also used for Network Rail bods is Portsmouth & Southsea.

 

[RPM]

Has Stourbridge Junction been mentioned? It serves as the Chiltern Railways drivers' booking on point and mess room.

 

[Joseph_Locke]

The bottom half of Weaver Jn Box still exists as a relay room. The bottom half of Norton Bridge Box also still existed last year - will it survive the current trackwork (flyover) & resignalling work ?

If we're going down to that level (!) so does the bottom half of Thorpes Bridge box, Manchester ...

 

[Elecman]

If we're going down to that level (!) so does the bottom half of Thorpes Bridge box, Manchester ...

Isn't that the bottom half of the replacement Thorpes Bridge box as I'm sure the original one between the tracks was fully demolished?

 

[Controller1701]

I would now add Rochester (not for long), Gillingham (Kent), Rainham (Kent) and Sittingbourne to that list

Paul

 

[Francis]

This website has 38 photos of about 35 disused boxes:

http://www.geograph.org.uk/tagged/Signal+box+(disused)

Includes the ruins of the box by the Belah Viaduct (Stainmore), Severn Bridge station, Abercynon, Tintern, Awre (Glos), Maiden Newton, Tisbury, Talyllyn N Jc.....

 

[kevconnor]

Am I right in thinking there is one still standing at Vitriol Works? I am assuming since the works have long since gone and all associated junctions around Middleton and Chadderton that this box, if standing, would be long out of use.

 

[John Webb]

Am I right in thinking there is one still standing at Vitriol Works? I am assuming since the works have long since gone and all associated junctions around Middleton and Chadderton that this box, if standing, would be long out of use.

It was still standing in 2012 and in use then, according to the list of surviving boxes in M Vann's 2nd edition of "Signalboxes", published by Ian Allan in 2013.

 

[Francis]

Yes, the box is still there, and it's recorded as continuously open in the Compendium of Signal Box Opening Times.

Presumably it links to the new Rochdale West box, and to the Manchester North Signalling Centre, and possibly Bagueley Fold on the Ashton line from Miles Platting. Maybe someone better informed can confirm or deny this....

Apparently the manufacture of sulphuric acid nearby had ceased quite a bit before 1898, according to an article in the Manchester Evening News some years ago:

THE Middleton Guardian of 13 August 1898 contains the following report. "The Works, which at one time were a flourishing industry at Middleton Junction, known for miles around as the 'Vitriol Works' owned by messrs Hannibal Becker and Co, are at present in a crumbling condition and are occupied by a caretaker.

The box is more modern, I would guess a BR 1950's type.

 

[John Webb]

It's a BR (LMR) Type 14 dating from 1954 with a 65 lever frame.

 

[Elecman]

Yes, the box is still there, and it's recorded as continuously open in the Compendium of Signal Box Opening Times.

Presumably it links to the new Rochdale West box, and to the Manchester North Signalling Centre, and possibly Bagueley Fold on the Ashton line from Miles Platting. Maybe someone better informed can confirm or deny this....

Apparently the manufacture of sulphuric acid nearby had ceased quite a bit before 1898, according to an article in the Manchester Evening News some years ago:

THE Middleton Guardian of 13 August 1898 contains the following report. "The Works, which at one time were a flourishing industry at Middleton Junction, known for miles around as the 'Vitriol Works' owned by messrs Hannibal Becker and Co, are at present in a crumbling condition and are occupied by a caretaker.

The box is more modern, I would guess a BR 1950's type.

It links to Castleton East not Rochdale West

 

[snakeeyes]

Aberdour in Fife, I have the "private" sign from the door as a souvenir, when I was small I used to go into it and get to try and operate the distance signal (with permission)

 

[Francis]

It links to Castleton East not Rochdale West

Many thanks. Interesting. The new Rochdale West box is only about 100 yds across the tracks from Castleton East. Will it eventually take over Castleton East's functions, or will Castleton East be left for the East Lancashire Railway's connection to Bury?

I see from the Quail diagrams that Rochdale West controls only up to Smithy Bridge, where it hands over to Preston Power Signalling, which controls the entire line via Blackburn and Burnley to Todmorden and as far as Whitley viaduct towards Hebden Bridge. Why did they bother to build a new box at Rochdale West? Won't it soon be redundant, its functions taken over by Manchester?

 

[Joseph_Locke]

Many thanks. Interesting. The new Rochdale West box is only about 100 yds across the tracks from Castleton East. Will it eventually take over Castleton East's functions, or will Castleton East be left for the East Lancashire Railway's connection to Bury?

I see from the Quail diagrams that Rochdale West controls only up to Smithy Bridge, where it hands over to Preston Power Signalling, which controls the entire line via Blackburn and Burnley to Todmorden and as far as Whitley viaduct towards Hebden Bridge. Why did they bother to build a new box at Rochdale West? Won't it soon be redundant, its functions taken over by Manchester?

Rochdale East had to go to fit Metrolink in, but GMPTE wouldn't pay to resignal Castleton as well (it has some "legacy issues") so Rochdale West was built on the nearest bit of land available. It, and Castleton and Vitriol (which fringes to Manchester ROC now Manchester North has been transferred) will go to the ROC at some point, but probably only when Preston goes over, currently rumoured to be 2027 (Vitriol, Castleton and Rochdale West aren't a full workstation on their own).

 

[Elecman]

Also Bescot yard

 

[Francis]

Discovered two more:

Coton North on the Shrewsbury to Crewe line, not far out of Shrewsbury. Forms part of a house but still beside the railway.
Cefn Jc near Aberkenfig on the line from Margam to Tondu. It's in a park area.

 

[RPM]

This website has 38 photos of about 35 disused boxes:

http://www.geograph.org.uk/tagged/Signal+box+(disused)

Includes the ruins of the box by the Belah Viaduct (Stainmore), Severn Bridge station, Abercynon, Tintern, Awre (Glos), Maiden Newton, Tisbury, Talyllyn N Jc.....

I can't get that link to work, but does anyone know if Severn Bridge Station box still exists? I photographed it in 1989 but I've never seen a more recent shot.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rpmarks/2877278004/in/photolist-5ofNvs-dKGCy8-5ko1sp-ci3PRu-dtwSk8

 

[Shinkansenfan]

It looks like the signal box at Wye Station (one of my favorite country stations), one stop away from Ashford, Kent is closed.

I remember years ago when it was staffed.

 

[John Webb]

I can't get that link to work, but does anyone know if Severn Bridge Station box still exists? I photographed it in 1989 but I've never seen a more recent shot.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rpmarks/2877278004/in/photolist-5ofNvs-dKGCy8-5ko1sp-ci3PRu-dtwSk8

According to the caption to this photo http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3861605 the box was purchased by someone who moved it to his garden, restored it and used it as an office. (Hope the link works!)

 

[RPM]

According to the caption to this photo http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3861605 the box was purchased by someone who moved it to his garden, restored it and used it as an office. (Hope the link works!)

Interesting. Thanks for the link. I wonder where exactly it went to.

 

[40129]

Wolverhampton PSB is still standing. Also Crewe North (part of the Heritage Center) and Narborough

 

[Deepgreen]

I think London Victoria's Brighton side box still stands, albeit heavily modified these days.

 

[40129]

Don't think anyone's mentioned Stafford #4 and #5

 

[Quakers Yard]

Pontypridd still standing, boarded up.

Llandrindod Wells - rarely used as a cafe/museum these days.