Remaining semaphore signal boxes

[Sun Chariot]

Nice photo....with some interesting hybrid signalling structures. The home signals in the foreground are fairly recent replacements using a Railtrack/Network Rail style bracket post with tubular steel dolls....while the section signals in the background consist of Southern Railway-manufactured LSWR-designed lattice post dolls and finials mounted on a BR Southern Region-designed steel half-portal barcket gantry of the type used in major colour light signalling schemes in the 1950s-1970s.

Thanks @D6130 To the north end of the former station and loop, is another BR / NR era post, bracket and dolls. North of the gated level crossing, is a Southern Railway "rail mounted" bracket and dolls.

 

[Western 52]

It seems surprising there's so much signalling infrastructure remaining at Marchwood, as it's not a busy location.

 

[Sun Chariot]

It seems surprising there's so much signalling infrastructure remaining at Marchwood, as it's not a busy location.

Now that the current Government has halted plans for the passenger service to Hythe, I bet we'll see the old signalling infrastructure replaced with shiny new colour lights...

 

[TheBigD]

After being deferred several times, Whittlesea's (life expired) semaphores will finally be replaced 12/13 October.

The semaphores at Manea are also planned to be replaced in a few months time.

 

[Western 52]

Resignalling is also well underway between Llanelli and Carmarthen so the semaphores at Pembrey and Ferryside will soon be gone.

 

[zwk500]

Now that the current Government has halted plans for the passenger service to Hythe, I bet we'll see the old signalling infrastructure replaced with shiny new colour lights...

Not until Eastleigh gets replaced

 

[trainmania100]

Visited Littlehampton yesterday, semaphores still there. Dudding hill line also has semaphores.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Visited Littlehampton yesterday, semaphores still there. Dudding hill line also has semaphores.

Great capture was that Thursday 29th, or Wednesday 28th? I saw it at Bognor on Wednesday (pic: post #144).
Data fed to to RTT showed the path cancelled Thursday.

 

[trainmania100]

Great capture was that Thursday 29th, or Wednesday 28th? I saw it at Bognor on Wednesday (pic: post #144).
Data fed to to RTT showed the path cancelled Thursday.

Sorry Wednesday

 

[bearhugger]

After a visit to Locomotion today I spotted one on platform 2 at Shildon.

 

[RailwayRookie]

After a visit to Locomotion today I spotted one on platform 2 at Shildon.
View attachment 164781

There's an awful lot of slack in that cable

 

[bearhugger]

It definitely still works as it changed when the train was due. The signal box next to it seems to be closed so no idea where the signal is controlled from or how they would know if there was an issue with the cable.

 

[75A]

Visited Littlehampton yesterday, semaphores still there. Dudding hill line also has semaphores.

Excellent video.

 

[Western 52]

Here's a picture taken on 24/8/24 showing some of the semaphores worked from Pembrey box. Resignalling is underway and these signals will soon be gone. Originally there was an expansive layout here with over 80 levers in the box.

 

[Deepgreen]

Is there any website or other single source with a list of remaining 'traditional' signal boxes controlling at least one old-style semaphore signal?

Late in 2023 I was fortunate to spend a while on the platforms at Truro, but signalling there has been replaced in 2024.

Similarly I visited the famous location with the largest remaining box in the world, and spent 45 minutes observing. Fascinating.

Is Shrewsbury the Macbeth of the signalling world (saying its name is unlucky)...?!

 

[Gloster]

It definitely still works as it changed when the train was due. The signal box next to it seems to be closed so no idea where the signal is controlled from or how they would know if there was an issue with the cable.

As far as I am aware the box in the photo is still fully operational and the signal is still worked from it. The box’s condition may be because it is due to be abolished in 2027, so they are waiting until six months before closure before giving it a complete refurbishment.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Here's a picture taken on 24/8/24 showing some of the semaphores worked from Pembrey box. Resignalling is underway and these signals will soon be gone. Originally there was an expansive layout here with over 80 levers in the box.

An excellent juxtaposition, of semaphores with IET. Nice

 

[DaveHarries]

Here's a picture taken on 24/8/24 showing some of the semaphores worked from Pembrey box. Resignalling is underway and these signals will soon be gone. Originally there was an expansive layout here with over 80 levers in the box.

I recall hearing earlier this year (or late 2023 - can't recall which) that the abolition of Pembury & Bury Port, Ferryside & Kidwelly had been planned for March 2024 but the date had slipped by a year so they will be getting on with the installation works but there is no commissioning date as yet that I know of.

That said there are no trains between Swansea and Carmarthen 16th - 20th September as well as 28th / 29th September and 05th / 06th October for signalling upgrades and track maintenance so either the abolition date for the boxes has been bought forward a bit or they are doing the installation work and commissioning it all next year. I heard that Carmarthen Junction is being done sometime soon as well.

Dave

 

[Western 52]

I recall hearing earlier this year (or late 2023 - can't recall which) that the abolition of Pembury & Bury Port, Ferryside & Kidwelly had been planned for March 2024 but the date had slipped by a year so they will be getting on with the installation works but there is no commissioning date as yet that I know of.

That said there are no trains between Swansea and Carmarthen 16th - 20th September as well as 28th / 29th September and 05th / 06th October for signalling upgrades and track maintenance so either the abolition date for the boxes has been bought forward a bit or they are doing the installation work and commissioning it all next year. I heard that Carmarthen Junction is being done sometime soon as well.

Dave

Yes there seems to be a lot of work left to do at some locations. I was on the train to Carmarthen today and not much seems to have been done at Ferryside or Kidwelly yet, and there are 4 level crossings to modernise too.

 

[Rescars]

I wonder where the last controlled semaphore signal will be on the national network. Will "Anderson's Piano" beside Loch Awe outlive them all?

 

[Harpo]

I wonder where the last controlled semaphore signal will be on the national network. Will "Anderson's Piano" beside Loch Awe outlive them all?

If there are any semaphores still controlled by swing bridge boxes, I’d have a small wager on those.

 

[MadMac]

If there are any semaphores still controlled by swing bridge boxes, I’d have a small wager on those.

When the original “list” came out indicating when boxes were expected to close, those were at the bottom of the list, presumably in the hope that a remote solution could be found by then.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Sep 2024 ==

I wonder where the last controlled semaphore signal will be on the national network. Will "Anderson's Piano" beside Loch Awe outlive them all?

It’s presently undergoing some maintenance and repairs after being out of order for quite some time. I believe other solutions have been looked at but were unsuitable for this application.

 

[_toommm_]

I wonder where the last controlled semaphore signal will be on the national network. Will "Anderson's Piano" beside Loch Awe outlive them all?

I reckon the Settle and Carlisle will be one of the last. Since it now has no WCML diversions and little traffic, I can't imagine it being up there in importance.

 

[The Planner]

I reckon the Settle and Carlisle will be one of the last. Since it now has no WCML diversions and little traffic, I can't imagine it being up there in importance.

Depends on the perceived wider savings that can be made by replacing multiple boxes with a single workstation, same goes for the Cumbrian coast. They are still a way off though.

 

[The exile]

I reckon the Settle and Carlisle will be one of the last. Since it now has no WCML diversions and little traffic, I can't imagine it being up there in importance.

Wouldn’t surprise me if it were Littlehampton or Bognor - probably little in the way of staff costs to be saved.

 

[Gloster]

Wouldn’t surprise me if it were Littlehampton or Bognor - probably little in the way of staff costs to be saved.

On one list that I saw ten or more years ago, Bognor would have been the last box standing in (I think) 2052.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Wouldn’t surprise me if it were Littlehampton or Bognor - probably little in the way of staff costs to be saved.

Deal is a (surprising to me) island of semaphores in between East Kent Signalling Centre and Ashford IECC. Has this been forgotten?

 

[Harpo]

Mechanical has survived for up to 150 years because it’s simple, very robust, able to do what’s needed (safety, capacity etc.) and because the staffing economies don’t make a business case for abolition on their own with conventional signalling.

Even then, UK resignalling is geared up to take 25 years to renew the entirety of the signalling assets, so the supply industry’s capability is only around 1/25th of the network, as is the funding.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Mechanical has survived for up to 150 years because it’s simple, very robust, able to do what’s needed (safety, capacity etc.) and because the staffing economies don’t make a business case for abolition on their own with conventional signalling.

Even then, UK resignalling is geared up to take 25 years to renew the entirety of the signalling assets, so the supply industry’s capability is only around 1/25th of the network, as is the funding.

Yes but it's the sourcing (or manufacturing of) of replacement parts; e.g. signal wire or whole arms/assembly plus the bits needed at the other end in the controlling box

 

[Harpo]

Yes but it's the sourcing (or manufacturing of) of replacement parts; e.g. signal wire or whole arms/assembly plus the bits needed at the other end in the controlling box

Yes. An increasingly niche capability along with the maintenance teams. Even back in the 1990s Exeter was maintaining Greenford’s (west London) interlocking.