Unusual Signal Boxes

[Mutant Lemming]

With their days numbered (eventually) which are the most unusual of the remaining signal boxes ?

I thought Wylam was pretty unusual -

http://www.train-photos.com/picture/number13302.asp

 

[Railsigns]

Knaresborough:

 

[RichmondCommu]

I think one or two boxes still survive which are constructed over the running lines, including I think one on the Newcastle - Carlisle line.

So many fantastic stories about the kind of things that signalmen got up to when there were gaps between trains!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

With their days numbered (eventually) which are the most unusual of the remaining signal boxes ?

I thought Wylam was pretty unusual -

http://www.train-photos.com/picture/number13302.asp

LOL, that was the one that I had in mind! That will teach me not to jump straight in! It goes without saying that I whole heartedly agree with you! Apologies are clearly in order!

 

[Proud Salopian]

Crewe Junction (north of Shrewsbury station) is quite funny - from the station it looks like this:

Whilst from the street it looks like this!

One of the four mechanical signal boxes in Shrewsbury that are set to remain open for quite some time...

 

[RichmondCommu]

Crewe Junction (north of Shrewsbury station) is quite funny - from the station it looks like this:

Whilst from the street it looks like this!

One of the four mechanical signal boxes in Shrewsbury that are set to remain open for quite some time...

From the street level it looks like an industrial warehouse!

 

[transmanche]

I thought Wylam was pretty unusual

That's so the signalman can check to see if the excellent pub (just visible in the left of the picture) is still open when his shift is coming to an end.

 

[causton]

That's so the signalman can check to see if the excellent pub (just visible in the left of the picture) is still open when his shift is coming to an end.

Reminds me of the old London Underground tale (believe it if you want to!) was that a station manager liked to go for a drink when he was supposed to be at work, and sat in a certain spot in the pub opposite the station so he could look out the window and see the 'Way Out' sign of the tube station. If he was needed the booking office clerk would flash the light of the Way Out sign on and off and he would return to the station!

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Templecombe's has been reincarnated as the station's booking office... http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/sjp/TMC/images/photos/800/o3242-0000066.jpg and http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/sjp/TMC/images/photos/800/o3242-0000077.jpg.

 

[John Webb]

It's not only the North Eastern who put boxes over the lines as they did at Wylam and elsewhere - there's a couple at least in the south of England as can be seen at http://www.signalbox.org/gallery/sr.htm. The SR 1930s boxes are also unusual particularly compared to other companies boxes at the time.

 

[Railsigns]

It's not only the North British who put boxes over the lines as they did at Wylam and elsewhere

That's North Eastern, not North British. NBR was a Scottish company.

 

[John Webb]

That's North Eastern, not North British. NBR was a Scottish company.

Sorry - correction made.

 

[12CSVT]

Heath Junction box (on the Rhymney line) is a portacabin.

 

[Toots]

Unfortunately portacabins are not that as unusual as to keep in with the title of the thread....I can think of several of the top of my head...Man South and East (I think North is actually signalled from a portacabin at the side of the wooden 'chalet'),Rufford,Rockcliffe Hall,Kirkby Thore and I believe Rochdale West can be added to these and I know there are more...horrid but not unusual I'm afraid.....

 

[33056]

...horrid but not unusual I'm afraid.....

Quite agree, I can think of at least four past and present off the top of my head in the London area; Wembley Main Line, Willesden Suburban, Gospel Oak and Upper Holloway - there must be dozens more, especially when you include crossing keeper's cabins. Gospel Oak probably rates as the most hated signal box of all the ones that I have worked, boiling hot in summer, cold and with condensation running down the inside of the walls in winter and a horrible temporary panel just to cap it all.

 

[Bald Rick]

Quite agree, I can think of at least four past and present off the top of my head in the London area; Wembley Main Line, Willesden Suburban, Gospel Oak and Upper Holloway - there must be dozens more, especially when you include crossing keeper's cabins. Gospel Oak probably rates as the most hated signal box of all the ones that I have worked, boiling hot in summer, cold and with condensation running down the inside of the walls in winter and a horrible temporary panel just to cap it all.

For Gospel Oak you can blame the signaller who burnt down the old box by (allegedly) falling asleep on duty due to being 'at an advanced stage of refreshment' and not having put his cigarette out. Hence the need for the 'temporary' box and second hand switch panel. All now long consign to history of course.

 

[33056]

For Gospel Oak you can blame the signaller who burnt down the old box by (allegedly) falling asleep on duty due to being 'at an advanced stage of refreshment' and not having put his cigarette out. Hence the need for the 'temporary' box and second hand switch panel. All now long consign to history of course.

I am aware of the details regarding the loss of the old box; IIRC it happened the night before I started signalling school (in Carlow Street) in March 1985. Very grateful that I never had the "pleasure" of working the "garden shed" on the platform that was the immediate replacement for the original box before the two-storey portacabin came into being some months later.