Changes

During the morning of Saturday 3 March 2013, the signal box suffered a small fire in the roof at the point where the stove flue passes through the ceiling. The signalman was able to leave the box without injury. A small section of the roof was destroyed, and there was some damage to the telephone system and the domestic wiring caused by the water used by the Fire Brigade, although the signalling equipment was largely unaffected. Kiddermister station was initially closed. Once access to the box was regained, the water was mopped up to prevent it falling into the frame room and its electrics. By 4pm the debris had been cleared and the roof made weather-proof with a plastic sheet supplied by Bewdley C&W Department. Rapid work by the S&T and PW departments then saw normal service resumed by commencement of operations on the following day.

[[File:Kidderminster box diagram.gif]]

Until 2012 Kidderminster Station Signal Box worked to Kidderminster Junction signal box, 'over the fence' and operated by BR, RailTrack and finally Network Rail. The connection between the SVR and national rail was somewhat limiting, requiring staff on the track for any movement between railways. This all changed when Kidderminster Junction signal box closed in 2012 (its lever frame was saved for spares by the SVR) and extensive work by Network Rail and SVR S&T technicians installed one of the most comprehensive connections between the national rail network and a private heritage railway in existence, with movements from the SVR onto the Down Main and movements from the Up & Down Mains onto Network Rail being completely locked and signalled movements overseen by the cooperative efforts of the SVR signalman and NR signaller at Saltley. This upgrade also saw the first non-GWR/BR(W) signal installed on the SVR, in the form of a colour light signal reading from the SVR's 'exchange' line onto the national network or into the SVR's [[Carriage Repair Works | North Star Carriage & Wagon Works]].

All signals at Kidderminster excepting the colour light signal (see above) are of late GWR/BR(W) steel tubular post and enamel arm design. The large gantry originates from Taunton East, although the layout of signals upon it is quite different to how it was when it was there. As part of the 2012 resignalling of the network connection, the 'exchange line' (see diagram) was upgraded from a siding to a running line, requiring derailers to be installed on the three siding roads leading out of the North Star Carriage & Wagon Works, as there was insufficient space for a trap point. These are worked from a lever in the box, possibly the only example of worked derailers installed on a heritage railway. There are also levers to provide a 'slot' (release) to the Network Rail signaller to allow trains to proceed from Network Rail onto the SVR.

* [[List of signal boxes]]