Fate of lever frames in demolished signal boxes

[SomeTrainboy]

Does anyone know what happens to frames when boxes are demolished, if they are scrapped or sent to a yard for storage?

 

[Gloster]

During the years when many boxes were closing they would just be thrown out on the lineside and later carted away as general scrap (or left in situ until demolition). The S&T might remove components if they were likely to be scarce or valuable, and occasional frames of rare types might be removed complete to provide spares for the remaining examples of similar types. More recently I think the S&T have made more efforts to grab parts and frames for spares, and of course there is a healthy number of collectors and preserved railways to provide a market.

 

[High Dyke]

It's varied over the years. S&T tend to salvage parts they may need, block indicators, signal repeaters etc, but in other cases the demolition teams have shown no regard for saving required parts and just demolished boxes with most equipment still inside. Most annoying.

 

[stuving]

I shall try to remember to look for what happens to the contents of Wokingham box - it's being demolished this weekend.

 

[John Webb]

Following the closure of St Albans South in December 1979, the box was stripped of virtually all instrumentation the night it closed. This included block instruments, plungers working electric locks and the electric locks themselves and all the signal repeaters. Even the 1970 diagram disappeared and on restoring the box we had to make a replacement - then the original was returned anonymously some years after we had restored the box!
Fortunately the box was listed in February 1979 and the lever frame was retained within the box.

It took some time to acquire all the instruments we needed to reproduce the inside of the box as it was before closure. See www.sigbox.co.uk for public open days and the history of the box.

 

[Zamracene749]

I'd imagine that the asset in it's entirety is classed as part of the payment to whatever contractor carries out the demolition. That was certainly the case where I worked, an almost 100 years old chemical site. Some of us older guys (4 decades service give or take) wanted worthless bits and pieces just for the memories. The reply was an absolute no. Some bits did escape the greedy scrapmen of course, cast Sulzer plates from the refrigeration units and the like.....

 

[Meole]

Some attempts are made to offer surplus kit to heritage groups where practicable, there are a few "new build" signal boxes on preserved lines fitted out with salvaged lever frames.

 

[stuving]

I shall try to remember to look for what happens to the contents of Wokingham box - it's being demolished this weekend.

Since it is topical, you might like to see what was there when the box was in service. There is a visit report with pictures by the Branch Line Society here.

 

[zwk500]

Some attempts are made to offer surplus kit to heritage groups where practicable, there are a few "new build" signal boxes on preserved lines fitted out with salvaged lever frames.

I remember seeing an NR press release when the Seaford branch was resignalled, and a lot of the point rodding and wire run equipment at Newhaven was recovered by various heritage railway members.
Not sure what happened to the box equipment and frame.

 

[stuving]

And the answer to your question is ...

 

[NickBucks]

Fond memories of Wokingham box when I lived in the area.RIP ( in this case rest
in preservation ).

 

[John Webb]

Re Wokingham - photo from May 2022:
Level crossing and signal box, Wokingham

© Copyright JThomas and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
(Click on photo to go to the larger image on the Geograph site.)

Built 1933 and with a 40 lever frame at the rear of the box. Closed February 2024 when the area was resignalled.

 

[DazT]

This is how my old box ended up. One of those lockers in the bottom left is mine.

Disheartening really, it closed in 2009, was promised to a preserved railway, then a lot of red tape got in the way so they just demolished it in 2014

 

[stuving]

The endgame for the levers and interlocking at Wokingham was as brutal as we expected:


You can see how recovering the complete interlocking with the building intact might not be feasible.