Shrewsbury: spotting

[railfan99]

As part of a Eurail I hope to spend an hour or two at the above, as my reading suggests it's the busiest and largest station in England that retains wonderful semaphore signals.

While I am hardly a good photographer, what platform on the station, or nearby bridge or other structure would you suggest to obtain a 'snap' of the 'sticks'? (Apologies: 'sticks' in Australia is a term used for 'signals'). Preferably a location where one can see multiple (bracketed) signals.

What is the Pumpkin Cafe on one of the platforms like, and are there nearby hostelries/cafes (outside the station) good for a quick beer, or a light meal such as a pastie? (latter is Australian spelling again, but we love Cornish pasties as much as many in England do).

 

[tomuk]

Shrewsbury Station platforms are split into two groups Platform 3 (and former 1&2) and the busier Platforms 4 - 7 accessed by a subway from the station forecourt. There are semaphore signals all over the station with the oddest signal at the south end of Platform 7 and one of the newest in the country over on Platform 3 which was added as recently as 2010.

And of course from the south end of Platforms 4-7 you can see the largest remaining mechanical signal box in the world Severn Bridge Junction and it associated semaphore signals. Until 2008 Spencer Street No.1 in Melbourne, Australia was the largest remaining with 191 levers beating Severn Bridge Jnc's 180. At the north end of platform 3 you can also see Severn Bridge's sister box Crewe Junction which appears somewhat smaller than SBJ as its real size is masked by the viaduct it sits next too.

As regards photos the platforms are a good place to start, there is also the Dana footbridge over the station, accessed from the immediate left when leaving the station forecourt. This leads to the prison which is now a museum\visitor experience. An other interesting option is Laura's Tower a lookout point on the walls of the adjacent Shrewsbury Castle from where you can look over the station, signalbox, river and triangle of lines to the south of the station. Entry to the castle grounds is free. Again leave the station and bear left and walk up Castle Street the Castle is on the left opposite the Library (the library building was the old site of Shrewsbury School where a certain Charles Darwin was a pupil.)

The pumpkin on the station is now a Starbucks but is really just a standard station buffet operated by SSP as a franchise nothing special.

As regards food and refreshment Shrewsbury is rammed with options from traditional spit and sawdust pubs like the Loggerheads to Michelin guide featuring restaurant The Walrus. If you come out the station and walk up to the castle you will pass a dozen cafes, pubs, takeaways and restaurants within 200 yards. Around the station and up the hill is an odd collection of double noun named establishments; Birds & Beer (Fried Chicken and Craft Beer), Fire and Iron (Coffee Shop), Tap and Can (Craft beer taphouse), Bread and Loaf (Bakery), Dough and Oil (Pizzeria).

 

[birchesgreen]

There is a Starbucks on the platform.

I believe you can get close (even walk past) to the semaphores on the platforms and so would be able to get close photos.

 

[jp4712]

I took the photos below in January - you can indeed get nice and close to some of the signals. For photography, I think afternoon is better than morning: I was there at around 10 am and struggled with the sun a little. The station is barriered but I explained at the barrier that I just wanted to take photos and the staff member was absolutely fine with it.

There’s no convenient nearby overbridge, it’s mainly a case of walking to each end of the main island platform.

Shrewsbury is a very pleasant town with lots of cafes within walking distance of the station.

Shrewsbury station, January 2023 by Paul Williams, on Flickr

Shrewsbury station, January 2023 by Paul Williams, on Flickr

 

[Ken H]

There is a footbridge over the station. You can find it on google maps. The bit over the platforms has a canopy but i dont know if it has opening windows. There is part at the prison end thats uncovered. Not been there for many many years. Go and look and report back!

 

[jnjkerbin]

Another option for photos is the castle (when it's open) which overlooks the southern end of the station for some wider shots of trains, the signals and the signal box.

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.co.uk

View from the castle (not my picture) https://flickr.com/photos/132036895...N-qh57cj-qjaHeB-2kz8mxy-GG7L64-2ii6JTK-UrZEKt

 

[railfan99]

Thanks: some great tips.

I did not know it was the world's largest remaining operative mechanical box: I'd have thought somewhere in India (I visited 2019) or Sri Lanka (2015) would have qualified:

Refurb of world’s largest working mechanical signal box completes - Network Rail

The largest working mechanical signal box in the world has just had its biggest refurbishment in more than a decade.

www.networkrail.co.uk

Station ticket barriers won't be a problem as I'll dig out my trusty Global Eurail pass. Thank God since 2019 it's been accepted in the UK.

jp4712's bottom photo of semaphores with short arms shows a slightly different design to that adopted in my Australian state when we had them. However, England is 'the original'!

With the top photo of jp's, can one walk further along the platform to obtain a shot showing the 'sticks' from the front as birchesgreen implied (which I assume are not the same ones shown in the bottom photo)?

Thank you to all for the great tips.

 

[birchesgreen]

With the top photo of jp's, can one walk further along the platform to obtain a shot showing the 'sticks' from the front as birchesgreen implied (which I assume are not the same ones shown in the bottom photo)?

Thank you to all for the great tips.

Yes you can, the signals are on the platform. Pic of mine below (main station buildings in the background):

 

[railfan99]

Yes you can, the signals are on the platform. Pic of mine below (main station buildings in the background):

Many thanks. Is the ugly fencing that narrows the island platform installed to supposedly improve passenger flow?

 

[John Webb]

For a number of views of the signals at Shrewsbury, taken ten years ago, see https://www.roscalen.com/signals/Shrewsbury/index.htm.

 

[tomuk]

Many thanks. Is the ugly fencing that narrows the island platform installed to supposedly improve passenger flow?

That is the far end of the platform, not many passengers there. Originally the platform was all one level but for whatever reason when improvements works were done and drainage put in the two halves ended up slightly different heights so the fence was put in to stop you tripping over the small step.

 

[william.martin]

As part of a Eurail I hope to spend an hour or two at the above, as my reading suggests it's the busiest and largest station in England that retains wonderful semaphore signals.

While I am hardly a good photographer, what platform on the station, or nearby bridge or other structure would you suggest to obtain a 'snap' of the 'sticks'? (Apologies: 'sticks' in Australia is a term used for 'signals'). Preferably a location where one can see multiple (bracketed) signals.

What is the Pumpkin Cafe on one of the platforms like, and are there nearby hostelries/cafes (outside the station) good for a quick beer, or a light meal such as a pastie? (latter is Australian spelling again, but we love Cornish pasties as much as many in England do).

As a local, if you are anything more than 5ft tall, you can stand in a car park next to Shrewsbury prison whet you look down and can see all platforms, however it can be awkward to see it there is a train in plat 5 or 6.

Dropped pin

52°42'41.7"N 2°44'53.1"W · The Dana, Shrewsbury

The Dana, Shrewsbury

maps.app.goo.gl

 

[NorthWestRover]

From July 2021