Signal boxes with poor access

[Lemmy99uk]

I’be always loved traditional AB signal boxes, there’s something very English about their architecture and I have photographed quite a few.

Recently, during a random browse on Google, I saw a couple of photos of Dalton Jn box near Barrow in Furness, neither of which were very clear.

I thought I might grab a few pictures when I’m in the area next week but on looking on Google maps and OS maps there doesn’t seem to be any vehicular access.

Is it just that nothing is marked on the map or is it actually the case that the signaller has to walk to work? If so, are there many other boxes remote from the highway, and do they have any special procedures for inclement weather, or do they just recruit hardy individuals.

 

[norbitonflyer]

It has always been the case. An indirect cause of the Quintinshill disaster was the long walk to work for the signalmen, leading to the pragmatic (but rule-breaking) practice of hitching a ride on a local train due halfcan hour after the shift change and then covering their tracks by tampering with the train register

 

[John Webb]

According to "The Encyclopaedia of 21st Century Signal Boxes" (Michael Rhodes, Platform 5 Publishing, 2019) Dalton Junction box is best viewed from the Abbey Road overbridge in Dalton. It is explicitly stated that "Close-up views are difficult."!
ADDED: View of box as seen from said location:
Dalton Junction

© Copyright Peter McDermott and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
(Click on photo to go to the larger version on the Geograph website)

I can't speak in detail about other remote boxes. The above book states that Blea Moor box on the Settle-Carlisle line is the UK's most isolated box with a minimum of a half-mile walk from the carpark near Ribblehead Viaduct. This is along a public bridleway on a private road - more like a track!

 

[55018ballymoss]

According to "The Encyclopaedia of 21st Century Signal Boxes" (Michael Rhodes, Platform 5 Publishing, 2019) Dalton Junction box is best viewed from the Abbey Road overbridge in Dalton. It is explicitly stated that "Close-up views are difficult."!

I can't speak in detail about other remote boxes. The above book states that Blea Moor box on the Settle-Carlisle line is the UK's most isolated box with a minimum of a half-mile walk from the carpark near Ribblehead Viaduct. This is along a public bridleway on a private road - more like a track!

Beat me to it, I read the article and my mind instantly thought of Blea Moor

 

[Belperpete]

Rhiw Goch signalbox on the Ffestiniog Railway. No footpath access, let alone road. Signalmen access the box by train.

 

[Magdalia]

Chippenham Junction is another example, see here:

Tribute to Dave Stenning – The Signal Box

signalbox.org

Chippenham Junction​

Chippenham Jct is at the eastern end of what was once a triangular junction near Newmarket.

Chippenham Jct is a lonely place. It is reached from the main road via a tree lined drive and across the Al Bahathri racing gallops, yet no more than 400 yds to the north lies the main A14 with traffic to and from the East Coast Ports thundering by.

Chippenham has recently been dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st Century, now being mains connected and partially refurbished.

There is a Geograph picture here:

Chippenham Junction near Newmarket © Richard Humphrey cc-by-sa/2.0

Does the signal box lean to the left or the signs to the right? Then again it might be me!

www.geograph.org.uk

Chippenham Junction near Newmarket
Does the signal box lean to the left or the signs to the right? Then again it might be me!

© Copyright Richard Humphrey and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

 

[TonyW590]

Irchester South on the Midland Main Line, southern end of the "Leicester Gap" mechanical signalling and signalling to/from West Hampstead needed a trek through adjacent fields to access, IIRC.

 

[Lucy1501]

Is it just that nothing is marked on the map or is it actually the case that the signaller has to walk to work?

The signaller does indeed have to walk.

There is a public footpath which runs behind Dalton Junction signal box starting near the Brown Cow. The access gate is on the West side of the box with a set of stairs up to track level, and then a walkway to the box stairs.

You can get a photo of the back of the box from a very steep angle, however don’t expect it to look very good!

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

Largin on the Cornish Main Line (between Liskeard and Bodmin Parkway / Road) was a very lonely and isolated box. It was retained to operate the single section over the St. Pinnock and East Largin Viaducts - undertaken in 1964 because of their weakened state. The nearest road was between the two viaducts, and a trek over East Largin was required to reach the box. It had no piped water - fresh water was delivered daily by train. Abolished c1991.

 

[Gloster]

Getting to Largin involved leaving your car under a bridge and then walking along the line over St Pinnock Viaduct East to the box. At least, as it had been double-track until 1963, there was plenty of room: one chap used to ride his moped down.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Today at 14:28 ==

Largin on the Cornish Main Line (between Liskeard and Bodmin Parkway / Road) was a very lonely and isolated box. It was retained to operate the single section over the St. Pinnock and East Largin Viaducts - undertaken in 1964 because of their weakened state. The nearest road was between the two viaducts, and a trek over East Largin was required to reach the box. It had no piped water - fresh water was delivered daily by train. Abolished c1991.

Closed December 1991. I was several years gone by then, having only spent a brief period based at the box.