Ketton Somersault Signal

[StanFromEccles]

It was meant to go this weekend. Don't know if it actually did.

All trains this weekend went through so I doubt it, it survives another week!

 

[Bahnopa]

This is correct - Harrogate is also losing all the semaphores this year.

Any idea of a time-frame for the resignalling at Harrogate?

 

[skyhigh]

Any idea of a time-frame for the resignalling at Harrogate?

End of the year, allegedly. There's a block coming up this month which might include some prep work.

 

[matchmaker]

For infrastructure of historic interest/value, such as Ketton's Home, does NR auction off - or offer to sell to heritage entity - rather than destroy the artefact?
With Scarborough's fine gantry used, in part, on the NYMR, it's certainly not a new thing.
I'd love to see Ketton's signal on display or in use at, say, The Midland Railway Centre.

The last Caledonian lower quadrant - at Stirling Middle - was replaced in 2000 and donated to the SRPS at Bo'ness.

 

[Sun Chariot]

The last Caledonian lower quadrant - at Stirling Middle - was replaced in 2000 and donated to the SRPS at Bo'ness.

Wonderful to learn that - thanks for sharing.
All the interesting stuff is miles from me!

 

[rick pike]

End of the year, allegedly. There's a block coming up this month which might include some prep work.

According to the mechanical signal group on Facebook 13/3/26 is the final day for the Ketton lower quadrant signal. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1ENWnigpAa/

 

[StanFromEccles]

According to the mechanical signal group on Facebook 13/3/26 is the final day for the Ketton lower quadrant signal. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1ENWnigpAa/

It'll be earlier than that I reckon. A signaller told me it'd be gone by early Friday morning. Making tomorrow it's last day

 

[45Fox]

According to the mechanical signal group on Facebook 13/3/26 is the final day for the Ketton lower quadrant signal. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1ENWnigpAa/

It'll be earlier than that I reckon. A signaller told me it'd be gone by early Friday morning. Making tomorrow it's last day

Informed by an S & T friend; it's supposed to be going overnight, Friday night/Saturday morning (13-14/03/26).

 

[Unobrow]

And there was me saying a few weeks ago, I couldn’t see any reason to remove it………‍♂️

 

[LowLevel]

And there was me saying a few weeks ago, I couldn’t see any reason to remove it………‍♂️

They're doing some at Uttoxeter at the same time - bit of a project going on at NR to life extend the boxes but it is meaning the end of some of the semaphores.

Uttoxeter is more of a "shame" I think even though the box and many of the signals were newer simply because all of it, with the exception of a limit of shunt and the Intermediate Block section signals it controls that replaced Leigh box is semaphore signalled and there are quite a lot of signals there. UR1 and UR36 (down distant and up section signal) are being replaced with colour lights.

It's only really a shame to the enthusiast though - to be fair they've had their time.

 

[StanFromEccles]

They're doing some at Uttoxeter at the same time - bit of a project going on at NR to life extend the boxes but it is meaning the end of some of the semaphores.

Uttoxeter is more of a "shame" I think even though the box and many of the signals were newer simply because all of it, with the exception of a limit of shunt and the Intermediate Block section signals it controls that replaced Leigh box is semaphore signalled and there are quite a lot of signals there. UR1 and UR36 (down distant and up section signal) are being replaced with colour lights.

It's only really a shame to the enthusiast though - to be fair they've had their time.

Are any others on the line dissapearing?

 

[45Fox]

Latest information from the Mechanical Signalling group on Facebook:

It was signed out of use at 22.56 on Thursday 12th. March. The replacement colour light signal has now been commissioned into use.

The last train to be signalled by it was that evening's 1N71, 20.25 Stansted Airport to Birmingham New Street.

That's the end of the use of Midland Railway lower quadrant signalling on the National Railway system.

 

[ac6000cw]

That's the end of the use of Midland Railway lower quadrant signalling on the National Railway system.

So more than a century since the Midland Railway itself disappeared, and it survived through the LMS, BR and Railtrack eras - pretty good going I think

 

[Bahnopa]

A sad piece of news. I do hope that the signal is to be preserved.

 

[Sun Chariot]

A sad piece of news. I do hope that the signal is to be preserved.

I concur.
Does any forum reader know, whether NR has received any serious formal expression of interest in preserving this?

 

[John Webb]

I concur.
Does any forum reader know, whether NR has received any serious formal expression of interest in preserving this?

We could not (at the preserved St Albans South box) find out who we should be speaking to about this signal.
We're still happy to offer it a home to join our collection!

 

[LowLevel]

I concur.
Does any forum reader know, whether NR has received any serious formal expression of interest in preserving this?

From what I understand MRC at Butterley are having it. Whether that's a good thing or not given the semi derelict appearance of much of their stuff I don't know but at least it isn't all going in a skip I guess.

 

[StanFromEccles]

I concur.
Does any forum reader know, whether NR has received any serious formal expression of interest in preserving this?

I've heard people in the industry telling me it's it's going to butterly but can't be sure. It's highly probable it gets persevered and most likely to butterly. I don't believe St Albans could get it but not sure.

Update: the semaphore arm is gone now but the semaphore is still up. It appears the arm has been scrapped and the post doesn't have a future.

 

[Bald Rick]

I concur.
Does any forum reader know, whether NR has received any serious formal expression of interest in preserving this?

Defintiely going to preservation. I know not where!

 

[John Webb]

........Update: the semaphore arm is gone now but the semaphore is still up. It appears the arm has been scrapped and the post doesn't have a future.

The arm will have been removed to avoid a conflicting indication to the now active colour light signal. I expect the post will remain for a while as it will need a possession to remove it safely.

One of our members, who was able to speak with former NR contacts, was assured that Butterley would be getting the signal.

 

[Sun Chariot]

The arm will have been removed to avoid a conflicting indication to the now active colour light signal. I expect the post will remain for a while as it will need a possession to remove it safely.

One of our members, who was able to speak with former NR contacts, was assured that Butterley would be getting the signal.

Thank you, John, for the clear facts - much appreciated.

 

[zwk500]

For clarity, I am assuming this is a direct replacement of the semaphore signal with colour light on the existing interlocking, and not part of any plans for the line to be re-controlled away from the manual boxes any time soon, is this correct?

 

[45Fox]

For clarity, I am assuming this is a direct replacement of the semaphore signal with colour light on the existing interlocking, and not part of any plans for the line to be re-controlled away from the manual boxes any time soon, is this correct?

I don't know the exact details of the interlocking but I would certainly think so, the semaphore was Ketton's no. 14 signal and it's fair to assume that the replacement colour light will also be controlled by Ketton Box's lever 14 (with the lever handle top cut down, of course). Maybe one of the signallers who works the box would be able confirm?

There has been talk of resignalling the Syston to Peterborough line at various times in the past but there are no definite plans that I know of at present. Manual signalling will probably be in place for some time yet.

 

[StanFromEccles]

A signaller on the line very recently told me that in 4 years the boxes would still be in use, albeit with the semaphore amount lowered. The next to go will be the bracket at Langham, sometime this financial year

 

[45Fox]

A signaller on the line very recently told me that in 4 years the boxes would still be in use, albeit with the semaphore amount lowered. The next to go will be the bracket at Langham, sometime this financial year

That tallies with what I've heard too. The manual boxes will see me out, hoping to retire in 2-3 years.

When I started, getting on for 42 years now, Leicestershire and Rutland were very much the preserve of manual signalling, the only railways through them that were not were the short section of the ECML in Rutland and the part of the Sheet Stores Junction to Stenson Junction line in Leicestershire; now there's only 5 boxes in Leicestershire (and one of them, Moira, has been switched out for some time now) and 6 in Rutland, something I would never have believed possible as a youngster back then.

 

[edwin_m]

These works look like "life extension" which usually happens when someone decides they can't afford a re-signalling for some time yet.

 

[BarryD]

Is the new colour-light signal also on the "wrong" side like the semaphore was?

 

[berwicksfinest]

Is the new colour-light signal also on the "wrong" side like the semaphore was?

No, new colour light is on the Down side about 70 yards further on towards Luffenham

 

[robvulpes]

..... I expect the post will remain for a while as it will need a possession to remove it safely.

Facebook post ("Signalboxes and Signalling" group) yesterday evening showed the post, ladder and arm on the back of a lorry, arriving at Butterley. Apparently pulled out of the ground (thankfully not sawn off) with the bottom end timber looking remarkably sound.

 

[John Webb]

Facebook post ("Signalboxes and Signalling" group) yesterday evening showed the post, ladder and arm on the back of a lorry, arriving at Butterley. Apparently pulled out of the ground (thankfully not sawn off) with the bottom end timber looking remarkably sound.

Excellent news - thanks for the information.