Frisby signal box is a London Midland & Scottish Railway type 11c and is situated on the upside of the line at the site of the former Frisby-on-the-Wreake station.

Frisby box opened on 23rd February 1941 as a block post replacing the crossing keeper that formerly attended the gates. Currently it works TCB to Leicester SCC and AB to either Melton Station or Whissendine.

Frisby contained a 10 lever REC frame and gate wheel, the gate wheel was removed when lifting barriers were installedon 16th July 1978 then the lever frame was removed and replaced by the IFS panel shown here when Frisby became a fringe box to the new Leicester SCC as part of stage 2 on 13th April 1987.

Melton Station signal box is a fine example of a LMS 11c and was brought into use on 9th August 1942. It replaced a previous box of the same name at the opposite end of the station and Melton Sidings box situated near the bridge in the background.

Melton Station box looking towards Peterborough. Note the yellow ground disc in the foreground.

Melton Station instrument shelf as seen in 2002.

Melton Station lever frame, a 45 lever REC frame installed when the box opened.

Melton Station interior with a train signalled each way. Melton works AB to Frisby and Whissendine.

A small switch panel containing 4 switches (51-54) was added at melton upon closure of Brentingby Junction box on 25th June 1978 to control the east end of the goods loops and Wyfordby IBH. Further switches (55-56) were added when the goods loop was turned overto Pedigree Petfoods as a private siding - subsequently this has become a goods loop again.

Melton Junction Ground Frame, provided concurrently with closure of the eponymously named signal box on 6th May 1973. It controls the connection onto the BRB Research Department Test Track to Edwalton. Subsequent alterations saw the ground frame renewed in connection with the short lived Asfodby Mine project whilst recent times have seen the Test Track turned over to Alsthom for four years from 2001 to commission Virgin Wests Coast Pendolino EMU's.

Melton Station Up Distant signal.

Melton Station Down Distant, formerly splitting distant for Brentingby Junction.

Melton Station block instruments, block switch and key token release instrument for the signle line to Asfordby Mine.

Melton Station illuminated track diagram following alterations in 2005.

GBRf's 66705 "Golden Jubilee" crawls past Melton box having been recessed in the down loop to await acceptance at Mountsorrel with its train of empties from Whitemoor - the driver is looking for signal 28, the Down Main Starter.

Whissendine signal box is a MR 4d opend by the LMSR on 10th November 1940. It is believed to have come second hand from Ashwell Branch Sidings where it was erected but never opened.

Whissendine box is constructed on a brick base, unusual for a MR type structure. The galvanised steps and landing and the upvc windows date from 2003 when the box was refurbished.

Whissendine contains a 20 lever REC lever frame. It works AB to Ashwell and Melton Station (or Frisby) and has an IB section at Teigh on the up line.

Wyfordby Crossing is situated between Melton Mowbray and Whissendine. The crossing keeper oversees a very quiet road and must gain permission from the signalman at Whissendine before opening the gates to allow vehicles to cross.

Ashwell was opened by the Midland Railway on 30th June 1912 and is a type 4a.

During refurbishment in 2005 Aswell gained a new set of windows. The faded maroon paint was colour matched (!) and the box subsequently repainted PINK.

Ashwell has a 25 lever LMR standard frame installed in 1958 with the levers at 6" pitch. Ashwell was then a busy location with sidings on both sides of the main line and a branch to Cottesmore from where considerable quantities of iron ore originated. The branch was severed in 1972 and officially closed on 2nd December 1973.

Ashwell illuminated diagram. AB is in use in both directions, to Langham Junction and Whissendine with an IB at Teigh.

Ashwell, sunlit beneath a threatening sky.

Langham Junction track diagram.

Langham Junction Down Home Signals.

Langham Junction is a MR type 2a and opened as "Langham Crossing" on 27th October 1890 being quickly renamed "Langham Junction" with the provision of the goods lines to Oakham Junction from 15th March 1891.

Langham Junction MR tumbler frame. The box currently works AB to Ashwell and Oakham Level Crossing, and "no Block" over the goods lines to Oakham.

Recently reinstated 60045 "Lemberg" enters the Up Goods at Langham Junction with 6F93 St Pancras - Ketton Wards Sdg cement empties. There was no shunter at Ketton to deal with the movement so it had to wait at Oakham. Note the lovely new signal gantry, provided to replace the previous LMS structure which had become somewhat unsafe.

2Q08, Network Rails class 150 TRT prepares to record the 'No Block' goods line from Langham to Oakham.

The famous Oakham Level Crossing box, a MR type 2b brought into use from 8th October 1899. It provided the basis for a very poorly dimensioned Airfix model which could have been based on virtually any small MR box on the system...

Oakham Level Crossing has a 17 lever MR Tumbler frame numbered A + 1 to 16.

Oakham by night. This is the view from the footbridge just after midnight on a saturday evening, the signalman waits for engineering work to start and is just starting his sixteenth cup of tea...

The zero milepost at Manton Junction refers to the 'branch' to Peterborough.

5C42 Leicester - Cricklewood empty HST emerges from Manton tunnel and heads off towards Corby. The train has crossed over at manton North Junction through the facing crossover (51 points).

Manton Junction Signal Box is a MR type 4c and was brought into use on 9th November 1913. originally containing a 30 lever MR tappet frame (later extended to 35 levers) the box was provided with a "NX" panel on 24th April 1988.

The view of Manton Junction from above the tunnel. The original route was to Peterborough in 1847 with the Kettering line opening in 1879 - this used to pass to the left of the signal box but was made the straight route from 4th April 1888. Just over one hundred years later the junction was again remodelled with the Peterborough line becoming the main line from 24th July 1988. Kathy - received your message but you didn't leave a return address???

6M87 Ely Papworth Sidings to Peak Forest sweeps past Manton Jct box and into the tunnel. The train consists of empty roadstone hoppers returning to the Peak District hauled by 60034 "Lord Faringdon"....

As part of the 1988 remodelling two new ground frames were provided - this one works the trailing crossover on the Peterborough side of the box.

The 1988 panel in Manton Jct. Currently the box works AB to Ketton and oakham level Crossing and TCB to Leicester via Corby.

The Corby line panel in Manton Jct was added in 1996 as a result of Corby North box being destroted by fire.

A remarkable survivor at Ketton, signal number 14 - the Down Starter. It is the last remaining Midland Railway lower quadrant signal on the national network, its survival is even more remarkable as it is Kettons one remaining semaphore signal since the others were abolished on 17th December 1989 when arrangements at Wards Sidings GF were altered.

Ketton signal box is a Midland Railway type 2b and was opened on 14th January, 1900. It is situated in a delightful spot, surrounded by trees. The station Ketton & Collyweston has long been swept away having been closed on 6-6-66. The crossing was formerly wheel worked gates, these were an early replacement by lifting barriers from 3rd March 1974. The bridge from the stairs led to the WC which was situated on the cutting side.

Ketton was refurbished in 2006, it retained its original windows but gained a WC at the top of the stairs.

Ketton displays a fine array of flowers tended to by one of the resident signalmen.

Ketton has a 20 lever Midland Tumbler frame, during the time the Eastern Region were in charge, additional lever locks were added above the frame actuated by floor plungers.

Uffington and Barnack illuminated diagram. The box works TCB to Peterborough PSB and AB to Ketton & Collyweston.

Uffington & Barnack is a type 4a and opened on 26th june 1909.