Old signal boxes in southern UK

zwk500 · 7 Aug 2026

Rescars said:
Sure is! There can never have been many places where a member of the public could experience this, standing directly under a running line semaphore signal which was almost within touching distance. Does such an opportunity exist anywhere else on the network?

Some of the brackets at Shrewsbury are on the platforms, although not sure if 1. you're allowed to stand near enough to them or 2. trains would actually stop anywhere close to them that a passenger might ordinarily wait next to them.

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vlad · 7 Aug 2026

The best I can do with that is Edale, where there's a semaphore signal at the end of the platform (although it's in the fenced-off bit so you can't get too close). You can still hear the movement of the signals however - and the wires connecting them to the signal box, which for me is the first notification a train is on its way.

Stellwerker · 8 Aug 2026

Good morning,

learning about the banjo is very fascinating, I'm always amazed what kind of ingenious solutions our ancestors put up to their daily problems... in Germany we have some nearly extinct dwarf arm signals who fit in tight spits, check out the links below:

Balduinstein

Goslar

Furthermore I'd to ask if there are any semaphore signals on the electrified lines with third rail in the south worth checking out, as our plan mainly involves travelling along the southern coast, maybe even up to Penzance.

Thanks!

Best regards,
Robert

sh24 · 8 Aug 2026

Rescars said:
Sure is! There can never have been many places where a member of the public could experience this, standing directly under a running line semaphore signal which was almost within touching distance. Does such an opportunity exist anywhere else on the network?

Liskeard's up starter is the only one I can think of.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Aug 2026 ==

Stellwerker said:
Furthermore I'd to ask if there are any semaphore signals on the electrified lines with third rail in the south worth checking out, as our plan mainly involves travelling along the southern coast, maybe even up to Penzance.

Deal, Bognor, Hastings are the obvious ones mentioned above.

If you are going to Cornwall then Liskeard, St Erth have traditional boxes, semaphores. It's a shame you are a couple of years late for Par as that was a pretty special place.

Parallel · 8 Aug 2026

There is also a signal box at Crediton near Exeter, where token exchange also takes place. No semaphores there though.

Barnsley · 16 Aug 2026

Stellwerker said:
Good morning,

learning about the banjo is very fascinating, I'm always amazed what kind of ingenious solutions our ancestors put up to their daily problems... in Germany we have some nearly extinct dwarf arm signals who fit in tight spits, check out the links below:

Balduinstein

Goslar

Furthermore I'd to ask if there are any semaphore signals on the electrified lines with third rail in the south worth checking out, as our plan mainly involves travelling along the southern coast, maybe even up to Penzance.

Thanks!

Best regards,
Robert

The line between geissen and Limburg has been recently re signalled, I’m on a train from Weilburg to Koblenz, I came from Frankfurt to do this line, station staff told me it was recent

Stellwerker · 18 Aug 2026

Good morning Barnsley,

yes, the upper Lahn might have been fully redone by now. The lower line, as from Limburg to Oberlahnstein, where Balduinstein is located, has been resignalled nearly ten years ago. Fortunately, the box houses now a small café and can be visited

Best regards
Robert

30907 · 18 Aug 2026

sh24 said:
Deal, Bognor, Hastings are the obvious ones mentioned above.

Littlehampton too.

Totally OT but @Stellwerker your mention of Goslar reminds me: I was at Bad Harzburg recently, the semaphore gantry is still there but the arms are out of use - is it "listed" and being preserved?

Forty29 · 19 Aug 2026

If you manage the signal box at Princes Risborough try and visit the box at Chinnor at the other end of line. Some nice signals and you can actually look in the box from the end of the platform as in operation. As you can at Damens on the KWVR.
The Severn valley railway has a good selection of boxes where you can observe close up.
Also Shrewsbury which has the biggest signal box in the UK, and Worcester Shrub hill a busy station with many signals.

Tetragon213 · 19 Aug 2026

The Great Central is particularly unique in the UK signalling-wise, as they are the only railway to have Absolute Block for any significant length. It gives a really good place to see how signalling used to work back then on the main lines, not just small single line branches.

Western Sunset · 19 Aug 2026

Arundel still has an art deco style box; is it still used?

MarkyT · 19 Aug 2026

Western Sunset said:
Arundel still has an art deco style box; is it still used?

Yes it is still in use, but no lever frame or semaphores remain. Arundel has a Westinghouse M5 NX panel controlling the local pink book freewired relay interlocking and a remote interlocking covering the complex of junctions around Ford. All commissioned in 1979. Source: British Power Signalling Register, which claims to be correct to January this year.

British Power Signalling Register – By Andrew K Overton

Western Sunset · 19 Aug 2026

MarkyT said:
Yes it is still in use, but no lever frame or semaphores remain. Arundel has a Westinghouse M5 NX panel controlling the local pink book freewired relay interlocking and a remote interlocking covering the complex of junctions around Ford. All commissioned in 1979. Source: British Power Signalling Register, which claims to be correct to January this year.

British Power Signalling Register – By Andrew K Overton

Thanks Marky.

Stellwerker · 21 Aug 2026

30907 said:
[...] Bad Harzburg recently, the semaphore gantry is still there but the arms are out of use - is it "listed" and being preserved?

Hello,

yes, it is disused now and listed, so it is kept in place, I'm not sure about the box, but might be fully equipped as well.

For my part, our holidays ends today, and it has been an amazing trip. Thanks to your suggestings I had plenty stops to make, and seeing so many semaphore signals was a treat for itself!

Best regards
Robert

D6130 · 21 Aug 2026

Stellwerker said:
Hello,

yes, it is disused now and listed, so it is kept in place, I'm not sure about the box, but might be fully equipped as well.

For my part, our holidays ends today, and it has been an amazing trip. Thanks to your suggestings I had plenty stops to make, and seeing so many semaphore signals was a treat for itself!

Best regards
Robert

Excellent! Which boxes and signals did you visit?

Gloster · 21 Aug 2026

D6130 said:
Excellent! Which boxes and signals did you visit?

If you were given any ’unofficial’ visits, it is perhaps better not to say where.

D6130 · 21 Aug 2026

Gloster said:
If you were given any ’unofficial’ visits, it is perhaps better not to say where.

Yes, indeed. I was thinking of locations visited for the external photography of boxes and signals.

Barnsley · 21 Aug 2026

Stellwerker said:
Good morning Barnsley,

yes, the upper Lahn might have been fully redone by now. The lower line, as from Limburg to Oberlahnstein, where Balduinstein is located, has been resignalled nearly ten years ago. Fortunately, the box houses now a small café and can be visited

Best regards
Robert

I was a bit disappointed, but the cafe bar in Weilburg station is brilliant for a beer or 2 for 2 hours between the trains, terrace on the old platform!

Stellwerker · 22 Aug 2026

Hello Barnsley,

yes, it is! A good place to rest

If you are around the area and would like to see some old semaphores, I believe you might be able to find them north of Limburg on the Westerwaldbahn, e.g. in Hadamar or Niederzeuzheim.

Best regards
Robert

Barnsley · Sunday at 12:04

Stellwerker said:
Hello Barnsley,

yes, it is! A good place to rest

If you are around the area and would like to see some old semaphores, I believe you might be able to find them north of Limburg on the Westerwaldbahn, e.g. in Hadamar or Niederzeuzheim.

Best regards
Robert

Thanks! I was going to ask you where to find some!

Old signal boxes in southern UK

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