[[File:Bridgnorth_Signal_Box_20150503.jpg | thumb|200px300px|right| Bridgnorth Signal Box ]][[File:BH Frame.jpg | thumb|300px|right| Interior of Bridgnorth Signal Box ]]A signal box at [[Bridgnorth]] that works to [[Hampton Loade signal box|Hampton Loade]] (short section) or [[Highley signal box|Highley]] (long section) using [[Single line working using tokens|ETT regulations]]. ==History==Bridgnorth has had a number of signal boxes during its existence. Initially construction of two boxes was authorised on 13 August 1891 at an estimated cost of £3,103 and these were brought into use in October 1892. '''Bridgnorth North signal box''' was situated north of the station on the Down side, where the two lines converged into the single line. The foundations can still be made out on the embankment side.
'''Bridgnorth South signal box''' was at the south end of the station on the Up side, opposite [[File:BH Frame.jpg Bridgnorth#Pan Pudding Hill | thumb|200px|rightPan Pudding Hill]] where it could control access to the goods yard<ref>[[Bibliography#Books | Interior of Bridgnorth Signal Box Marshall (1989), p131]]</ref>.
[[File<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:Bridgnorth-SB-82xxx-1962-09-07left">Bridgnorth_circa_1900.jpg| thumb|200px|Bridgnorth circa 1900, with the South box on the right| The pre-preservation signal box, photographed in September 1962 ([[Sellick Collection]]) ]]</gallery>
In 1923 both boxes were replaced by a large single central signal box with 54 levers, and a track circuit was installed to lock the Up starting signal.<ref>Great Western Railway Magazine, March 1923</ref><ref>[[File:Bridgnorth_Signal_Box_Reconstruction_1967.jpg Bibliography#Books| thumb | 200px|right| Reconstruction of Marshall (1989), p134]]</ref> It was far larger than Bridgnorth Station layout really required with many spaces in the lever frame. This was future-proofing for alterations required for the signal box [[Unsuccessful proposals for railways in progress (David Cooke)the Severn Valley#Proposals for railways connecting Wolverhampton and Bridgnorth|planned line from Wolverhampton]]which reached Kingswinford in 1925 but was never completed.
__TOC__<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">A Bridgnorth-SB-82xxx-1962-09-07.jpg |The pre-preservation signal box in September 1962 ([[Sellick Collection]])</gallery> Passenger services through Bridgnorth ended on 9 September 1963. The box remained open to handle through goods traffic; however this only lasted until 30 November after which the box was closed by BR on 2 December 1963. ==Preservation==In 1964 dismantling of the track began southwards from Buildwas. After a pause, work resumed at Bridgnorth on 25 July 1964. The [[BridgnorthSevern Valley Railway Society]], which had been formed some three weeks earlier, managed to halt the work but not before the signalling equipment had been removed from the box and the upper structure had been demolished.<ref>[[Bibliography#Books| Marshall (1989), p166]] that works </ref> The SVR's S&T Department was formed at the beginning of July 1967. A priority at Bridgnorth was seen as the installation of a replacement frame in the old signal box building, the running of signal wires and point rodding and the erection of signals.<ref>SVR News 6, July 1967</ref> By early 1968 work was underway to install the ex-Windmill End junction lever frame. This had a capacity for 30 levers, although only 18 were to be fitted initially with another nine at a later date when funds permitted, leaving three spares. Parts of the interlocking and signalling instruments were also taken from [[Hampton Loade Arley signal box|Hampton Loade]] , which would later require that box in turn to be re-equipped when the SVR extended southwards.<ref>[[Bibliography#Books | Marshall (short section1989) or , p200]]</ref> The signal box lever frame at Ledbury North End had also been purchased by the S&T department who planned to adapt it for use in the [[Highley Hampton Loade signal box|Highley]] , with certain parts also being used in the Bridgnorth frame.<ref>SVR News 8, February 1968</ref><ref name="SRSSignalBoxRegister_Update9">Signal Box Register, Volume 1: Great Western, revised 2011 edition, Signalling Record Society (long sectionplus correction sheet #9 ) using [[Single line </ref> By that summer the majority of the levers had been positioned and work was proceeding with the point connections.<ref>SVR News 9, June 1968</ref> During 1968 a redundant box had been spotted at Pensnett on the old GWR Wombourn branch by members of the S&T department. This was subsequently purchased to replace the missing upper woodwork and roof. The first working using tokens|ETT regulations]]party at Pensnett on 7 September concentrated on removing the slates from the roof. On the weekend of 5-6 October, the rest of the slates and roof timbers were removed. The levers and locking bars were also removed for use in the rebuilding of Hampton Loade box. By 3 November all the roof sections had been taken down. The weekend of 30 November saw all the internal tongued and grooved boarding and the gables off the roof brought back to Bridgnorth.<ref name=SVR11>SVR News 11, January 1969</ref>
Bridgnorth has had a number of signal boxes during its existence. Initially construction of two boxes The Pensnett box was authorised in 1891 and these were brought into use in October 1892. Bridgnorth North smaller than the old central signal box it was situated north of the station on the Down sideto replace, where requiring the two lines converged into the single line. The foundations can still be made out on the embankment side. Bridgnorth South Signal Box was at the south north end of the station on the Up side, opposite [[masonry base at Bridgnorth#Pan Pudding Hill | Pan Pudding Hill]] where it could control access to the goods yardbe reduced by 9 feet in length.<ref>[[Bibliography#Books Marshall (1989)SVR News 10, p131]]October 1968</ref>This was carried out over one weekend, with Society members later cleaning up over 1,300 recovered bricks for re-use. The new end wall was then rebuilt. A photo <ref name=SVR11/> As a result of the latter rebuilding, the box circa 1900 appears in SVR news edition 44now has only two windows at the ground floor level where the original had three. Evidence of the truncation may be found by inspection of the brickwork towards the northern end on the front wall.
In 1923 both boxes mid-January 1969 the five large main wall sections weighing over two tons were replaced by a transported from Pensnett to Bridgnorth, the largest front section requiring 22 men to lift it onto the articulated lorry. On Sunday 25 January the five large single central signal box units were lifted into their permanent position on the brickwork with 54 levers, and the aid of a track circuit mobile crane. Over the next three months the roof was installed and covered with the slates recovered from Pensnett. The ledge left around the perimeter of the box due to lock the Up starting signalPensnett box being a few inches undersize was covered with splayed blue plinth bricks to cover any signs of a "transplant".<ref>Great Western Railway MagazineOne of the most exacting jobs was fixing the internal stairs to give access to the operating floor, March 1923<requiring the services of a professional carpenter/ref>joiner.<ref>[[Bibliography#Books Marshall (1989), p134]]SVR News 12 April 1969</ref> It was far larger than Bridgnorth Station layout really required with many spaces in By autumn 1969 the lever frame. This was future-proofing for alterations required for the [[Unsuccessful proposals for railways in the Severn Valley#Proposals for railways connecting Wolverhampton and Bridgnorth|planned line from Wolverhampton]] which reached Kingswinford in 1925 but was never completed. The signal box structure was closed by BR on 2 December 1963, complete and the upper structure was demolished in 1965 just before the arrival of the SVR Societypainted<ref>[[Bibliography#Books Marshall (1989)SVR News 14, p166]]Autumn 1969</ref>.
The masonry base of the former central signal box was originally slightly longer than it is today. Evidence of this truncation may be found by inspection of the brickwork towards the northern end on the front wall. The upper timber section was replaced by an ill-fitting box originally built in 1925 which was relocated from Pensnett in December 1968 and erected during the following year. The frame originated from Windmill End Junction signal box<ref namegallery mode=packed heights=200px style="SRSSignalBoxRegister_Update9text-align:left">Signal Box Register, Volume 1: Great Western, revised 2011 edition, Signalling Record Society (plus correction sheet #9 )</ref>, with parts Bridgnorth_Signal_Box_Reconstruction_1967.jpg | Reconstruction of the interlocking and signalling instruments taken from [[Arley signal box]], which would later require that box in turn to be re-equipped when the SVR extended southwards<ref>[[Bibliography#Books Marshall progress (1989David Cooke), p200]]</refgallery>.
==Repairs and refurbishment in preservation==
== Levers and Lever Leads ==
<gallerymode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
File:BH_Levers_1-7.jpg | Levers 1 to 7
File:BH_Levers_10-16.jpg | Levers 10 to 16
=== List of levers ===
{| class="wikitable"
! style="text-align:left;" | No. !! style="text-align:left;" | Colour !! style="text-align:left;" | Description !! style="text-align:left;" | Lever Sequence
