Foley Crossing, situated on the down side of the line at Longton is fringe box to Stoke SCC. It opened in 1892 and contains a 37 lever McKenzie & Holland frame.

Caverswall opened in 1942 to control new up and down goods loops provided as part of the war effort. The box is a LMS 11c with wartime 14" thick brickwork for the base. The goods loops remain, although they see very little use these days. Over the years the box has amassed further equipment, Blythe Bridge CCTV (08/03/1980), Stallington CCTV (12/03/1989), Cresswell AHB (18/03/1989), Upper Leigh and Leigh AHB's and provision of Up Main IBH at Lower Nobut (11/07/1999).

Caverswall interior showing the 35 lever REC 4 ½” lever frame and instrument shelf. Originally as a wartime economy the levers were all painted grey with just the bakerlite number plates showing the relevant colour. Post war the levers were painted in conventional fashion. Following many alterations over the years, the colours of the plates did not match the levers, however a diligent young signalman addressed this problem in the late 1980’s which means everything matches nicely again.

Caverswall by night.

A somewhat fuzzy instamatic picture, the NSR Pinfold Crossing box is seen with its replacement, the BR LMR type 15 under construction.

Uttoxeter up distant signal, No.40, seen from 1Z56 "The Ministering Monk" railtour to Monk Bretton.

Uttoxeter box is a LMR type 15 and opened on 9th January 1981. It was constructed second hand from Carlton Road Junction at Kentish Town and also used parts from Harpenden Junction. It contains a 40 lever LMR standard frame with the levers set at 4 1/2" centres.

Uttoxeter replaced Pinfold Crossing and Hockley Crossing and was fully commissioned on 28th January 1981. A rarity in 1981, with just three motor worked signals and two sets of clamp-lock points everything else is mechanical and until the abolition of Leigh the box controlled a full set od semaphores. Currently it works AB to Sudbury and Caverswall (with a Down IBH at Church Leigh)

The arm of Uttoxeter Down Home 1.

Uttoxeter Down Home 1. worked by lever no2. This signal was erected by the LMSR in the late 1930's and as was company policy at the time it was a lattice post as it was over 30 feet tall - the longevity of the design is apparent. Originally carrying Uttoxeter West Down Starting with Pinfold Crossing Down Distant beneath the signal also had co acting arms low down on the post to assist sighting under the station footbridge. A further 'shunt ahead' arm was added in 1971 with remodelling work. The signal went on to become Pinfold Crossing Down Home with Hockley Crossing Down Outer Distant beneath [initially fixed at caution but made motor operated in 1978] then finally became the Uttoxeter Down Home 1 in January 1981. This signal is due to be replaced over the weekend of 3rd November, 2007.

Well, here is the replacement for the elegant lattice structure... At least the old signal has entered preservation. The new signal was brought into use on 4th November 2007.

Sudbury has recently been repainted and very nice it looks too.

Sudbury Station signal box is situated on the down side of the line adjacent to the level crossing on the A515 road. It is a NSR type 1 and was opened in 1884. McKenzie & Holland, signal contractors of Worcester charged the North Staffordshire Railway Co £685 for all the new works.

Sudbury contains a 26 lever Mckenzie & Holland 1873 pat frame with hook and cam locking. Only four levers now work, controlling 2 aspect home and distant signals protecting the level crossing. This arrangement was brought into use on 5th August 1990 when lifting barriers replaced the wheel worked gates.

Scropton Crossing seen from the footpath crossing to the rear of the Forresters Arms. A perfect example of a little country signal box.

Scropton Crossing box is a North Staffs type 2. It is one of the most delightful NSR boxes still open and is situated against a very quiet road in the picturesque Derbyshire village. Still working a full set of semaphore signals it has hand operated gates keeping the signalman fit !

Tutbury Crossing Down Home signal was brought into use on 11th September 1955 and is 27'6" above rail level. Until 22nd May 1983 it carried the lower arm distant signal for Tutbury Yard box.

Tutbury Crossing Down Home signal was declared life expired and replaced by this delightful creation on 4th November 2007

The signalmans view of 2P10 Crewe - Derby as it slows to stop in Tutbury & Hatton station.

The front view of the 1872 vintage Tutbury Crossing box. Originally named "Tutbury Station" it was renamed by 1920. Note the British Railways "Gill Sans" maroon enamel nameboard.

Tutbury Crossing was reframed in 1897 with a 26 lever 1886 pat McKenzie & Holland lever frame, 26 being the gate wheel. In 1972 levers 1 to 17 were removed and 18 to 26 renumbered 1 to 9. in the process, the McKenzie & Holland interlocking was removed and the frame relocked with an ex Cheshire Lines Committee locking box seen behind the levers.

Tutbury Crossing Up Home signal.

Tutbury Crossing is one of the oldest signalboxes still in use, it is a McKenzie & Holland type 1 and dates from 1872. Currently it works AB to Scropton Crossing and Egginton Junction.

Egginton Junction is seen here in the morning sun. It is a North Staffordshire Railway type 1 and opened in 1876. It is located on the Down side of the Derby - Stoke line just west of Hilton Crossing.

The illuminated diagram at Egginton Junction, seen here during an engineers possession hence the large number of TC's lit... It was installed here on 24th February 1980 in connection with a project to provide a ground frame at Marston Crossing.

The end elevation of Egginton Junction. The box has lost its decorative barge boards altering the appearance somewhat - see Sudbury for how they should look.

Egginton Junction seen from the Tutbury side of the box. Hilton Crossing can be seen in the distance. Egginton works AB to Tutbury Crossing and TCB as a fringe box to Derby PSB. Under the original plans Tutbury should have been the fringe box but following the closure of the Melton - Nottingham route and diversion of trains via Trent there was doubt as to whether the route from Egginton through Friargate to Bagthorpe could also be dispensed with thus diverting even more trains via Trent. In the event Egginton was retained as fringe box although the route beyond Friargate was closed.

The lever frame in Egginton Junction is a McKenzie & Holland 1873 pat frame with the levers a 6" centres. Unlike the other McK&H frames on the line, the levers tilt back when in the normal position and have leaf springs in the catch handles.

A further view of the lever frame in Egginton Junction box. Originally containing 47 levers with no spares, by the late 1960's when the box became a fringe to DY PSB only a handful were still working. the opportunity was taken to shorten the frame with the first 14 being retained and the rest removed above floor level to make the box less draughty.

Hilton Crossing is operated by a crossing keeper and controlled by a ground frame released by Egginton Junction.

Ex TPE 158 no 158799 approaches Marston-on-Dove AHB Crossing whilst working 2K57 16:31 Derby - Crewe service.