Trivia: Manual staffed signalboxes with few trains?

[stantheman]

Not sure if this has ever been discussed , imagine they would be in freight only lines .
Starters ...boxes on the Blyth and Tyne seeing Lynemouth PS traffic such as Bedlington ?
Many years ago I was at Belasis Lane on Teeside in the heart of the chemical area but few trains ..cannot imagine this still being open ?

 

[Bald Rick]

Alrewas box on the Lichfield Burton line was always a good one for that, but I suspect it went in the Derby resignalling?

 

[O L Leigh]

Alrewas box on the Lichfield Burton line was always a good one for that, but I suspect it went in the Derby resignalling?

Nope, it's still there.

I think Alrewas gets a few trains each day as there are a number of WC and XC empties that head that way for route retention purposes as well as an amount of freight.

 

[Right Away]

Marchwood 'box on the Totton to Fawley line can't see much traffic passing by other than the occasional trains to and from Marchwood Military Port.

 

[30907]

On passenger lines, presumably Llanwrst N (in normal times) followed by St Blazey/Goonbarrow Jn on the Newquay branch and Barrhill/Glenwhilly/Dunragit on the Stranraer line. 6, 6 and 8 weekday train pairs respectively.
Newquay has more seasonal weekend trains than Llanwrst, plus freight, so might even beat Stranraer.

 

[The Planner]

Claydon LNE box, in both its old and new recent location.

 

[Journeyman]

Fouldubs Junction handles freight traffic in and out of Grangemouth. A couple of trains per shift on average.

 

[alangla]

Fouldubs Junction handles freight traffic in and out of Grangemouth. A couple of trains per shift on average.

Quietest box on an electrified line?

 

[High Dyke]

I was going to suggest boxes at Brigg, Kirton Lime Sidings and Northorpe; however, depending on the day of the week, then it makes a difference to the amount of trains that run - suffice to say they rarely reach double figures in a day. Pyewipe Road, in Grimsby doesn't see much traffic, but I think it only opens on an as required basis.

 

[Journeyman]

Quietest box on an electrified line?

Has to be a leading contender, certainly!

 

[richard1976]

Think there a few on the Barton Line

 

[Tom Quinne]

Neath & Brecon, they’ll be lucky to see one train a week on occasion!

 

[Dr Hoo]

Back in the mid-1970s I visited the magnificent four-storey box in Hartlepool Docks by prior arrangement (not on a through line and mainly to control the yard points). The single day-shift signaller was employed by BR but funded by the port authority so there was no immediate pressure to close.

The resident signaller seemed overjoyed to see someone and I welcomed into his sanctum. He joked that he was worn out by an unprecedentedly busy day. A solitary wagon was sitting in the otherwise deserted sidings that were disappearing into the weeds. It was for loading with some imported timber for Shildon Works (so wasn't even a revenue-earning move). It transpired that this was the first activity for a month.

The operating floor was full of the accoutrements of a thriving independent cabinet-making business. The tall box (so built to provide a view over the yard) had two 'spare' floors. These were full of wood which (I was led to understand) had all been 'rescued' from the scrap piles in the docks!

Admittedly not an electrified line though.

 

[91103eastcoast]

Even in pre-Covid timetables, there weren’t that many trains between Girvan and Stranraer which is still manual signalboxes despite the more remote highland and west highland routes being RETB (Radio Electric Token Block)

 

[Mugby]

Nope, it's still there.

I think Alrewas gets a few trains each day as there are a number of WC and XC empties that head that way for route retention purposes as well as an amount of freight.

Alrewas was very busy at the weekend when a possession on the Mains via Tamworth started at 1715 on Saturday afternoon and continued through Sunday.

 

[Llanigraham]

Neath & Brecon, they’ll be lucky to see one train a week on occasion!

That would be my suggestion too.
At one time the resident there was running a second hand car sales business he was so busy!

 

[Dave W]

Back in the mid-1970s I visited the magnificent four-storey box in Hartlepool Docks by prior arrangement (not on a through line and mainly to control the yard points). The single day-shift signaller was employed by BR but funded by the port authority so there was no immediate pressure to close.

The resident signaller seemed overjoyed to see someone and I welcomed into his sanctum. He joked that he was worn out by an unprecedentedly busy day. A solitary wagon was sitting in the otherwise deserted sidings that were disappearing into the weeds. It was for loading with some imported timber for Shildon Works (so wasn't even a revenue-earning move). It transpired that this was the first activity for a month.

The operating floor was full of the accoutrements of a thriving independent cabinet-making business. The tall box (so built to provide a view over the yard) had two 'spare' floors. These were full of wood which (I was led to understand) had all been 'rescued' from the scrap piles in the docks!

Admittedly not an electrified line though.

Magic! Oh for a like button...

 

[Mojo]

Are crossing boxes counted as part of this?

I remember a few years ago driving down a country lane in North Lincolnshire and coming across a level crossing - Bonsall Lane, which has a sign on instructing road vehicle operators to sound their horn to attract the attention of the crossing keeper.

Being such a quiet road, and such a quiet railway line, I can imagine a crossing keeper jumping out or their chair because of the excitement of having something to do!

Road signs also state that the road is closed overnight from 22.00-06.00 (presumably because there is no crossing keeper).

The line has a handful of freight trains, and four passenger services on Saturdays only (not at the moment).

Would like to know if the crossing keeper is still there!

 

[Journeyman]

Magic! Oh for a like button...

I'd kill for a job like that! And a stack of books.

 

[bramling]

Ferryhill can apparently be quiet at times, according to a signalman there it’s quite common to go for a full shift with no activity.

ISTR there was a thread about this a while ago.

 

[Spartacus]

Clipstone and Thoresby are very quiet now, only seeing traffic for the High Marnham test track.

 

[Ianno87]

Dudding Hill Junction


Other relatively quiet boxes:

Denton Jn
Oxmarsh crossing etc (on Barton-on-Humber line)

 

[Bald Rick]

Are crossing boxes counted as part of this?

If so Trinity Lane box must be up there (near Cheshunt). It was never busy before the footbridge was built, but now must be almost dormant.

I did a visit there once, parked up, saw the bobby sat on the sofa in the hut, walked in, and he was reading a book titled “Is it me or is everything Sh*t”. He nodded a hello, didn’t bother getting up, and unusually I had to make my own tea.

 

[Ducatist4]

Clipstone and Thoresby are very quiet now, only seeing traffic for the High Marnham test track.

Thoresby isn't manned but until quite recently Clipstone West was manned for eighteen hours a day and it might only see two or three trains a week. Well I say see, you cannot actually see the running line from the box!

 

[Spartacus]

Thoresby isn't manned but until quite recently Clipstone West was manned for eighteen hours a day and it might only see two or three trains a week. Well I say see, you cannot actually see the running line from the box!

Funny, I must have been speaking to a ghost at Thoresby Jn yesterday!

 

[1955LR]

Does the box next to Pantyffynnon Station on the Heart of wales see much traffic ?

 

[WestRiding]

Funny, I must have been speaking to a ghost at Thoresby Jn yesterday!

haha. must be manned as required

 

[High Dyke]

Are crossing boxes counted as part of this?

I remember a few years ago driving down a country lane in North Lincolnshire and coming across a level crossing - Bonsall Lane, which has a sign on instructing road vehicle operators to sound their horn to attract the attention of the crossing keeper.

Being such a quiet road, and such a quiet railway line, I can imagine a crossing keeper jumping out or their chair because of the excitement of having something to do!

Road signs also state that the road is closed overnight from 22.00-06.00 (presumably because there is no crossing keeper).

The line has a handful of freight trains, and four passenger services on Saturdays only (not at the moment).

Would like to know if the crossing keeper is still there!

Yes, Bonsall Lane is still open. I didn't mention it when I posted about Brigg, Kirton Lime Sidings and Northorpe, but it's on the same bit of line.

Other relatively quiet boxes:
Denton Jn
Oxmarsh crossing etc (on Barton-on-Humber line)

Oxmarsh has 18 booked services on a Monday - Saturday, with 8 booked on a Sunday. Also on that section of route is Goxhill SB and a few manned level crossings.

 

[4F89]

Wainfleet sees 2 an hour if its lucky.

 

[PHILIPE]

Does the box next to Pantyffynnon Station on the Heart of wales see much traffic ?

10 Passenger trains per day and occasional freight to/from Gwaun-cae-Gurwen