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Welcome to my collection of signalling photos on the interweb. You will find pictures of most of the remaining signal boxes in the East Midlands, and sometimes further afield. (Captions may be lacking here and there, I am getting around to it...)
With the announcement of major signalling renewals in the East Midlands, virtually all of the boxes seen herein are under threat over the next decade or so.
All photos have been taken either with permission or in the course of my duties, please note the author does not condone trespass upon railway property.
Hope you enjoy the pictures, they will be added to as and when time permits - as will the captions.
Should you require any of the pictures, please contact me and I can send higher resolution images if required.
Nick.
Walnut Rede |
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| Hits (today): | 0 |
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| Collections: | 10 |
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 | 29/09/2006 | The South Staffs Line
Two signal boxes remain between Wychnor Junction and Lichfield City, they are Alrewas and Lichfield TV Junction, both are LNWR type 4 and date from 1899 and 1897 respectively.
Curiously both are fringe boxes to PSB's but have somehow survived modernisation all around them.
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 | 29/09/2006 | The Leicester and Burton line - "The KSL"
The 26 mile long freight only line from Knighton South Junction to Burton Leicester junction used to carry vast tonnages of coal. However since wholesale closure of the collieries in the area and the abandonment of the last opencast the remaining traffic is stone from the quarries at Bardon Hill [Aggregate Industries] and Cliffe Hill Stud farm [Midland Quarry Products].
Back in 1960, there were twenty five signalboxes on the line - in 2006 the line is controlled from just three - Bardon Hill, Mantle Lane and Moira West.
Track Circuit Block and colour lights are provided throughout, proof of just how busy the line used to be.
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 | 29/09/2006 | The Grantham Line
Five signal boxes remain on the former GNR Nottingham - Grantham line.
Netherfield Junction - a 1960's ER structure; Rectory Junction, Bingham, Bottesford West Junction - all GNR structures and Allington Junction - a Network Rail structure dating from 2005.
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 | 29/09/2006 | The North Staffs Line
The former North Staffordshire Railway line from Stoke-on-Trent to Willington (North Stafford Junction) runs for thirty miles through the Staffordshire and Derbyshire countryside.
It is signalled from seven signal boxes including the few remaining from the North Staffs Railway, and British Rail LMR's final mechanical box at Uttoxeter, opened as recently as 1981.
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 | 29/09/2006 | The Lincoln Line
From Nottingham, the Lincoln line is controlled from six signal boxes, although one is of ground frame status.
The outskirts of Nottingham, including the IBS at Burton Joyce are controlled by Netherfield Junction, although the signalman doesn't see Lincoln line trains - see the Grantham Line gallery for details.
The other boxes are Lowdham, Fiskerton Junction, Fiskerton Station GF, Staythorpe Crossing and Newark Castle. All are of Midland Railway origin with the exception of Staythorpe Crossing, a LMS 11c design erected in BR days.
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 | 29/09/2006 | The "Robin Hood" Line
The Robin Hood line links Nottingham with Worksop. There are three signal boxes left, Elmton & Cresswell, Shirebrook Jct and Kirkby Summit - the remainder of the line into Nottingham is signalled from a new panel in Trent PSB which controls trains and the NET trams.
The branch line from Kirkby Lane End Jct to Pye Bridge Jct was signalled from two MR boxes, Pinxton and Sleights East. These two were however abolished in Stage 1A of the East Midlands Signalling Renewals which commenced on 9th June 2007. This will eventually see the abolition of virtually all boxes shown on this site.
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 | 29/09/2006 | Shunting Frames
In 1969 with the introduction of the Power Schemes at Derby and Trent, a number of mechanical boxes were retained to control level crossings or complex pointwork in a concentrated area thus saving money on point machines - these became "Shunting Frames".
With the increaSe in technology, CCTV crossings eliminated quite a number, plus dwindling freight traffic rendered more redundant.
Thus in 2006 only three are regularly used and plans are well advanced for their demise.
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 | 29/09/2006 | The South Leicester Line
The South Leicester line runs from Wigston at Leicester to Nuneaton. Until 31st July 2006 it was controlled from three ex LNWR signalboxes - Narborough, Croft Sidings and Hinckley.
However from that date under the first phase of the East Midlands resignalling Narborough and Hinckley were abolished and the line controlled from a "Westcad" installation in a refurbished and renamed "Croft" box.
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 | 29/09/2006 | The Syston and Peterborough Line
Nine signal boxes signal the line from Syston to Peterborough, along with two manned level crossings.
With three exceptions (constructed by the LMSR) all boxes are Midland Railway products, a variety of types with a variety of lever frames and panels.
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 | 29/09/2006 | Cricklewood
Cricklewood Depot Shunting frame was opened in 1979 when the depot was rebuilt to cater for the new fleet of 317 EMU's when the Bedford - St Pancras line was electrified.
The depot fell out of use when the service was extended to Brighton through Snow Hill tunnel and the 317's were replaced by dual voltage 319's; the box remained to control the Shanks & McEwan refuse trains.
However, over the past couple of years Midland Mainline have stabled HST's and Meridians here and now the sidings are being refurbished to stable 319 units for First Capital Connect.
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