Bewdley South signal box

Bewdley South signal box

Interior of Bewdley South signal box

A signal box at Bewdley, working to Bewdley North and Kidderminster.

Contents

History and operation in preservation

Bewdley South signal box has interesting arrangements in that it works to Bewdley North 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 Down Yard operated as through sidings. Operation to Kidderminster is via Acceptance Lever.

The box passed almost immediately from British Rail's care into the hands of the SVR, and only minor alterations to the track layout it controls have been carried out since that time. This means it is one of the most 'original' signal boxes in preservation, retaining its 1923 lever frame, pre-preservation block shelf and rear wall furniture, including a token instrument cupboard (one of the originals working either to Stourport, Kidderminster or Bewdley North via the Back Road) and cupboards, phone board and train register desk, complete with curve worn into it by generations of signalmen leaning against it! The box also contains a table, box stool, and short bench which possibly date to pre-preservation days. Two armchairs and a GWR table chair ex-Gloucester S&T offices provided in 1993 complete the furnishings.

When services to Bewdley began in May 1974, the South box was initially used only for engines running round trains. Major work was carried out between 1980 and 1985 to accommodate the extension to Kidderminster. The work included installing electric signal lamps, moving the Down Home signal further out to permit shunting whilst a train was approaching from Kidderminster, installing signals and trap points on the truncated Stourport line, and other mechanical locking modifications. The work ended with a rewire of the box. Services to Kidderminster commenced on 30 July 1984 under 'one engine in steam' working. Full track circuiting of the line to Kidderminster was installed and working by acceptance lever was introduced on 21 November 1987.

In September 1988 plans were made to install working distant signals at Bewdley North and South. The up and down distant signals were eventually commissioned on 1 April 1990.

The box and the privy situated adjacent to it are both included on the Wyre Forest District Council Local Heritage List.

In 2024 work took place to underpin the box, funded by the Charitable Trust, necessary as the sandstone on which it is sited having eroded over time.

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  Award won by Bewdley South signal box

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  Privy

Diagram

Signalling diagram in Bewdley South. The circles on the diagram are track circuit indicators, which light in the presence of a train (or failure of a track circuit), the pilot light in bottom right being constantly lit to indicate that the power is on.

The office copy of the GWR/BR-era diagram for Bewdley South. The diagram shows alterations to remove the signals and points for the Down Yard. The SVR was given control of the yard before BR ceased running services to Bewdley, and it is thought that the pointwork for the yard was never physically removed. Instead, it is theorised that the removal of these features of the diagram was done to indicate to signalmen that they were not to be used under any circumstances .

Labelled diagram of Block Shelf

The lever frame and block shelf at Bewdley South. The descriptions for the labelled items are as follows:

A: Signal arm repeaters for Lever 0 (Down Distant, top indicator) and Lever 1 (Down Home, bottom indicator)

B: Signal lamps repeater

C: Possession key for Bewdley South-Kidderminster section, removed from the instrument to protect the line during engineering work, etc.

D: Block bell from Kidderminster

E: Block instrument to Bewdley North for Up and Down main

F: Block bell to Bewdley North for Up and Down main

G: Block instrument to Bewdley North for Back Road

H: Block bell to Bewdley North for Back Road

I: Track circuit indicator for "Tunnel Track" (extends between the distants at Bewdley South and Kidderminster, either side of Bewdley Tunnel)

J: Up train accepted (by Kidderminster) indicator

K: Lever 27 Free/Locked indicator (locks Lever 27 Reversed when Bewdley North clears the Backing Signal on the Down Main)

L: Signal 30 approach locking Free/Locked indicator

M: Signal arm repeater for signal 30 (Up Starting)

N: Signal arm repeater for signal 33 (Up Main Distant)

With the exception of B, the block shelf equipment in Bewdley South is all of BR(W) design, meaning the signalling in the box largely represents a 1950s/60s scene (though quite different to Bewdley South in that period due to post-preservation alterations).

Levers and Lever Leads

The following photographs show the levers and lever leads at Bewdley South.

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  Levers 0 to 10. Lever 8 is spare.

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  Levers 7 to 15. Lever 8 is spare. Not visible is Lever 11.

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  Levers 14 to 22. Not visible is Lever 22.

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  Levers 23 to 33.

List of levers

No.	Colour	Description	Lever Sequence
0	Yellow	From Kidderminster Distant	1 6
1	Red	From Kidderminster Home	23 22 13 12 or 22 13 12 or 17 16 15 12
2	Red/Brown	Acceptance Lever From Kidderminster
3	Red	From Hartlebury To Down Main Home	23 22 21 or 22 21
4	Red	From Hartlebury To Back Platf'm Home	17 16 15 12 10
5	Red+White Band	From Hartlebury To Down Main Inner Home	22 21
6	Red+White Band	From Kidderminster To Down Main Inner Home	22 13 12
7	Red+White Band	From Kidderminster Or Hartlebury To Back Platf'm Inner Home	17 16 15 12 11
8		SPACE
9	Red	From Kidderminster To Down Sidings Inner Home	23 22 13 12
10	Black	Facings Xover	17 16 15 12
11	Blue/Brown	Interl'k'g Lever With Bewdley North For Back Road
12	Blue	F.P.L.s For Nos. 10 & 13	23 22 13 or 22 13 or 17 16 15
13	Black	From Kidderm'tr Facing / Main
14	Red	Disc for No. 18	16 18
15	Blue	F.P.L for No. 16	17 16
16	Black	Up Main / Back Platf'm
17	Blue	F.P.L for No. 18
18	Black	Back Platf'm / Rock Siding
19	Red	Disc for No. 18	16 18 or 17 16 15 12 10 [PUT BACK 12 15 17] 18
20	Red	From Hartlebury To Down Sidings Inner Home	23 22 21
21	Black	Stourport Line Safety
22	Blue	F.P.L for No. 23	NIL or 23
23	Black	Down Main Facing / Down Sidings
24	Red	Disc for No. 13	13
25	Red	Disc for No. 13	21
26	Red	Disc for No. 23	13 23 24 or 21 23 25
27	Blue/Brown	Interl'k'g Lever With Bewdley North For Down Main (Backing)
28	Red	Back Platf'm To Hartlebury Home	17 16 15 12 10 PUT BACK 12 15 17
29	Red	Up Main To Hartlebury Home	17 16 15 12 10 PUT BACK 12 15 16
30	Red+White Band	To Kidderm'tr Start'g
31	Red	Back Platf'm To Kidderminster Home	16
32	Red	Up Main To KidderMinster Home
33	Yellow	Up Main Distant	32 30

History before preservation

Construction of the first two signal boxes at Bewdley was authorised by the GWR Board in October 1877 as part of the opening of the Kidderminster Loop Line. They were the first 'proper' signal boxes on the Severn Valley Railway, all other boxes dating from after 1880. There is uncertainty as to whether Bewdley North and Bewdley South are these original 1877/78 build boxes or later (19th century) replacements.

The box has had three lever frames during its life. The original 28-lever McKenzie and Holland lever frame was replaced in September 1909 with a 31 (or 32) lever frame, and replaced again circa 1923 with a GWR 32-lever 4" 3-bar vertical tappet frame. The interlocking has had minor alterations in preservation to suit preservation needs, but much is as it was prior to 1970.

Bewdley South signal box closed under BR ownership on Saturday 3 January 1970. The Train Register recording the closure was formerly on display in The Engine House at Highley.

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  Bewdley South Train Register

Signalling controlled from the Box

Signals on the approach to Bewdley South

Most of the signals at Bewdley South are of late GWR/BR(W) steel tubular post and enamel arm design, however Signals 5, 6, 7, 9, 14 and 20 are mounted on two wooden post bracket signals and are of the earlier GWR 'wasp-tail' design. Many of the signals at Bewdley South are of pre-preservation vintage, because the layout has been so little altered. However, the large bracket outside of the signal box carrying signals 6, 7, 9 and 14 did not carry signal 14 or Bewdley North's Down distant signals pre-preservation, and the opposite bracket carrying signals 5 and 20 did not carry the bracket for signal 20 or a distant either, and it has been shortened somewhat to combat rot discovered in the lower end of the post.

In early 2000 a start was made on refurbishment of Bewdley South Down Inner Home bracket. In Autumn 2001 it was determined that the wood on the existing bracket signal needed to be renewed, requiring a temporary signal while the existing bracket signal was removed. During July 2005 the refurbished five foot arms on the signal were ready to be replaced, but an examination of the main post of the signal showed that previous repairs carried out by BR had deteriorated to the extent that the main post itself would have to be replaced. By 4 November 2005 a new temporary signal had been dug in and connected, and the old signal was lifted out with the 30 ton steam crane and transported to the car park. Over the next 6 month a new post was obtained and the fittings refurbished. On 2 May 2006 the Bridgnorth crane made another visit and the completed signal was planted, being recommissioned a short time later. On 5 December 2007 the SVR was announced as joint winner of that year's National Railway Heritage Award, the Westinghouse Signalling Award for the best restored signal box or signalling installation. The award was for "…the restoration of the GWR pattern Down Inner Home signal at Bewdley."

The signal diagram and notes above refer to signal 14 on the Bewdley South Down Inner Home bracket as a disc signal controlling access to the Rock Siding. The disc signal, which can be seen in this photo on 20 April 1986 by David Rostance, was still present in 2002. Although the SVR News Signalling Notes did not specifically mention its replacement in 2006, the disc is no longer in situ, being replaced by a signal arm as seen in the 2020 photograph (right) and also featured on the front cover of SVR News 178 (Summer 2012).

The wooden posts on the larger bracket which were replaced in 2006 were again declared unsafe in 2020. Between 28 September and 2 October 2020, under an absolute possession, the wooden Inner Home bracket was removed using a hired MEWP (a rail mounted Mobile Elevating Work Platform) and the Bridgnorth steam crane. Temporary signals consisting of a 35 foot metal post carrying signals 6, 7 and a fixed distant, and a double disc ground signal carrying signals 9 and 14 were installed at the same time and were commissioned on 2 October 2020. The wooden post was removed to Bewdley Yard for stripping down. A replacement wooden bracket signal was fabricated and lifted into place on 23 March 2022.

Signals 0 and 33, the Down and Up Distants respectively, are motor worked. Signal 33 is mounted beneath Bewdley North's Signal 3, and is electrically slotted.

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  Footplate view of the signals

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  Temporary signal replacing the normal Inner Home bracket (Oct 2020)

See also

• List of signal boxes