Changes

[[File:Bewdley signal box (rear view) - geograph.org.uk - 1255884Bewdley_North_20161204.jpg|thumb|200px300px|right|Bewdley North signal box as seen from the station approach road]]

[[File:PrairieBewdleyNorth-1959-10-07.jpg|thumb|200px300px|right|A train waits adjacent to Bewdley North signal box, showing the layout before the major preservation-era alterations ([[Sellick Collection]]]]

 ==Present day operations==Bewdley North signal box has interesting arrangements in that it works to Bewdley South by [[Absolute Block]] on the main line (platforms 1 & 2), by direction levers under [[ETT]] Regulations on the Back Road (platform 3) with the [[Rock Siding ]] and [[Bewdley Down Yard |Down Yard]] operated as through sidings.

Signalling diagram as shown on the svrsig website. There are a few inaccuracies: The banner repeater on the footbridge [[Bewdley Station Footbridge]] for 29 signal was removed some years ago. Ground signals 25 and 27 are actually miniature semaphore arms (see below).

Construction of the two signal boxes at Bewdley was authorised by the GWR Board in October 1877 as part of the opening of the [[Kidderminster Loop lineLine]]. They were the first 'proper' signal boxes on the Severn Valley Railway, all other boxes dating from after 1880<ref>[[Bibliography | Marshall (1989), p128]]</ref>. There is uncertainty as to whether the current Bewdley North and Bewdley South are these original 1877/78 built boxes, or marginally later replacements.

The Bewdley North original McKenzie and Holland lever frame was replaced on 25 June 1908 with a 37-lever GWR horizontal tappet frame, which remains in use. The box was raised bodily by around a foot in 1954 to allow greater space beneath the lever frame<ref>Marshall (1989), p135</ref>, to accommodate alterations that took place in a 1955 resignalling, which saw the arrival of the box's 'gallows' centre-pivot signal bracket immediately outside that has become an iconic part of the Bewdley scene. The additional courses of bricks used were of a different colour, and can be seen in the first photograph above. Bewdley North box also controlled traffic on the [[Tenbury Branch]], working to the next signal box at Cleobury Mortimer. Passenger services on the branch ended in 1962 and the line was officially closed in January 1964 with occasional traffic to the [[Cleobury Mortimer and Ditton Priors Light Railway|Admiralty depot at RNAD Ditton Priors]] finally ending in April 1965. Electric token working between Bewdley North and Cleobury Mortimer was withdrawn on 8 May 1965<ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Beddoes & Smith (1995)]] pp. 196-198.</ref>.

Signals Signal 1 and 37, the Up and Down Distants respectively, are Distant is motor worked.  Signal 37 is , the Down Main Distant, was mounted beneath Bewdley South's signal 6, and is was electrically slottedwith it. Due to rot in Bewdley South's Down Inner Home bracket, it was removed during an absolute possession between 28 September and 2 October 2020. Temporary signals have been provided on a metal post and double disc ground signal. A fixed distant signal has been provided below Bewdley South's 6 and 7 signal which relates to the Back Road and Down Main. Signal 37 has therefore been disconnected until a replacement wooden bracket signal can be constructed and installed.

SVR News issue 112 included an article, “The Lamp Room at Bewdley North Signal Box” by John Marshall. The article referred to a plinth which is situated adjacent to the north end of Bewdley North signal box. The plinth is set on foundations sunk into the embankment, with blue brick walls and a concrete deck supported on jack arches. It can be seen in [https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/t31.0-8/11174397_10204097765420037_5448357602381859999_o.jpg this photograph].

<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">Bewdley_Norrth_Plinth_20200301.jpg | The brick plinth, March 2020 </gallery> The original article provided the information that in February 1896, the GWR Traffic Committee authorised the construction of a corrugated iron lamp room at Bewdley, and also the construction of additional toilet accommodation (probably <ref group="note">The additional toilet accommodation authorised in 1896 may have been added at the end of the single storey buildings nearest the signal box on platform 1, and/or the original urinal on platform 2), .</ref> at a total cost of £100. The article suggested that this lamp room was situated on the plinth, and included a copy of a photograph taken in May 1922 and reproduced on p40 of SVR News 112. This shows a view of the signal box looking northwards; visible behind it is the corner of a corrugated iron shed with a curved roof<ref>SVR News 112, “The Lamp Room at Bewdley North Signal Box”, John Marshall</ref>.

While the suggestion of the use of the plinth for the lamp room appeared uncontroversial, the article led to a number of letters in subsequent issues discussing the origins of the plinth. A letter from Michael V.E. Dunn in SVR News 113 suggested that the plinth appeared over-engineered for a simple corrugated iron lamp room, and that it may have been the base of an earlier signal box. John Marshall responded in the following edition, pointing out that the jack arches were typical construction of the very late 19th century (i.e. post 1880), and the detailed GWR Survey of 1890, which included the 1887-88 signal box, showed no structure in the position now occupied by the plinth. He also stated that prior to the construction of the signal box, signalling and points were controlled from small ground frames and line-side levers only. The OS 25in map surveyed in 1882 shows the box only, while the 1901 revision shows an additional structure where the plinth stands, supporting Marshall's opinion on the construction date.

The front of Bewdley North box has two plates showing the letters ‘S’ and ‘T’. These were used in early times to indicate that the signals and telegraph were functioning correctly, indicated by white letters on a black background. In the event of a failure which the signalman could not rectify himself, reversing a plate to display a red letter on a white background would act as a visual request to the guard of a passing train to notify the appropriate maintenance staff at the nearest station.<ref Name ="Marshall116">SVR News 116, letter from John Marshall citing “The Signal Box”, Oxford Publishing Co 1986</ref><gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">File:Bewdley_Box_S_20170401. jpg|Bewdley North displaying a Signal failure warning (1 April 2017)</gallery>

== See Also also ==