Does a list of Signal Boxes exist?

[galaxynew]

Just wondering is there is an up to date list of all signal boxes that are operational?

Have tried good old "google" but couldn't find anything which surprised me

Thanks in advance

 

[swt_passenger]

Here you are:
http://www.railwaycodes.org.uk/signal/signal_boxes0.shtm
The owner of that site posts here.
As pointed out below it provides more than you want, as it is intended to show how closed boxes were re-controlled.

 

[Freightmaster]

Just wondering is there is an up to date list of all signal boxes that are operational?

Have tried good old "google" but couldn't find anything which surprised me

I'm fairly sure that such a list doesn't exist, at least not in the public domain;
there are lists of signalboxes (see swt_passenger's post above), but not a
definitive list showing only operational ones as of January 2019.

Are you interested in a particular area/line?



MARK

 

[pdeaves]

Here you are:
http://www.railwaycodes.org.uk/signal/signal_boxes0.shtm
The owner of that site posts here.

<waves>

As pointed out below it provides more than you want, as it is intended to show how closed boxes were re-controlled.

Current 'boxes are all those without a closing date, so whilst the pages have more info than you want, it's straightforward to extract the bits of interest.

 

[greatkingrat]

There is also a spreadsheet of signal box opening times on the Network Rail website

https://cdn.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Compendium-of-Signal-Box-Opening-Times.xls

 

[Legolash2o]

You can always put in a Freedom of Information request to Network Rail.

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/

 

[Eccles1983]

If you could get a copy of the PON's for each area they have a list of signal boxes and numbers.

 

[galaxynew]

Thanks for all the replies, the spreadsheet list on Network Rail with opening times is probably the best source

 

[DarloRich]

You can always put in a Freedom of Information request to Network Rail.

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/

For conpleteness: You dont need to use the link above to make an foi request. all that is required is a letter in a specific and easily discovered format.

 

[Freightmaster]

Thanks for all the replies, the spreadsheet list on Network Rail with opening times is probably the best source

Just be aware that document is almost a year old and there were a lot of resignalling projects last year...

As per previous posts, the most complete and up to date source is the excellent railwaycodes website!




MARK

 

[Legolash2o]

For conpleteness: You dont need to use the link above to make an foi request. all that is required is a letter in a specific and easily discovered format.

True. It's also simple to send a email to foi@networkrail.co.uk.

 

[LAX54]

Wonder how much an FOI request costs a Company (not only NR) to investigate, compile and report ? and how much the money could be put to better use ! Maybe each FOI should be charged at £100 from the requestee ?

 

[DarloRich]

Wonder how much an FOI request costs a Company (not only NR) to investigate, compile and report ? and how much the money could be put to better use ! Maybe each FOI should be charged at £100 from the requestee ?

How much would you pay for access to the information companies hold on you? That also costs companies time and money.

 

[galaxynew]

Just be aware that document is almost a year old and there were a lot of resignalling projects last year...

As per previous posts, the most complete and up to date source is the excellent railwaycodes website!




MARK

Thanks Mark, have also looked at this website

 

[EveningStar]

Kay, P. (2010): Signalling Atlas and Signal Box Directory, Signalling Record Society, Wallasey, 3rd edn., is pretty definitive. Trouble is, a lot has been happening since 2010 and needs access to updates published by the Signalling Record Society.

For my current research am currently compiling what I believe will be the definitive list of listed signal boxes in Britain. Became a necessity to compile my own list when it became obvious that all the online resources were deficient. Has been a big task, as had to trawl county council archives and have conversations with various county conservation officers. And do not even get me started on how Cadw organise their listing data! Trouble is, 'definitive' turns out be a moving target ...

 

[pdeaves]

For my current research am currently compiling what I believe will be the definitive list of listed signal boxes in Britain.

Just in case you haven't seen it, this link may be useful: https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/ (of course, you may already have exhausted this source!).

 

[EveningStar]

Just in case you haven't seen it, this link may be useful: https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/ (of course, you may already have exhausted this source!).

Is good, although has significant gaps.

Trouble is, about 90% of most lists are good information. It is 10% around the fringes that provide the headaches. For example, most lists do not include the signal box at Maiden Newton. However, the station listing includes the catch all, "... subsidiary buildings", and the conservation officer at Dorset council confirmed that they would view the signal box as an associated subsidiary building. There are a few others in this category. Credit goes to Historic Scotland who are very careful to define a signal box where included for group value, which is crucial where studying railway structures as the traditional railway station is a group of buildings with specific functions that go together to make a functional whole.

 

[BS56]

There was a booklet printed many years ago called " British rail block post register" by M.J Gatenby in 1986. There was as far as I know only a first edition printed . When you consider that at that time there was some thirteen hundred boxes or more in use that was some work to compile ! It had complete index and also showed what line they were on and the mileage between the next box .

I still have my copy it is very tatty but I still use it every year I put a line through each box that closes so it is more or less up to date . So there is little over six hundred boxes still in operation today. It would be nice if a new updated copy was printed but it would be a lot thinner !