Highley signal box

Highley Signal Box

Highley Signal Box (HY) is an original McKenzie and Holland Type 3 signal box, built in 1883. It is situated opposite Highley station. It works to Hampton Loade and Arley on short section working, and to Bridgnorth and Bewdley North on the long sections using ETT regulations.

Contents

History

Milepost at Highley Signal Box

A milepost is situated at the foot of Highley signal box, showing that the location is exactly 143¼ miles from Paddington. The flat area of land which the box occupies was formerly the site of a stone quarry for which a private siding was provided in 1880 but which closed within a year. In August 1882 the GWR Board approved the provision of additional sidings and the signal box, which were commissioned on 25 June 1883.[1] [2] The box has not changed significantly since that time, with the exception of modifications to the interlocking of the lever frame.

The box previously controlled access to Highley's colliery exchange sidings where The Engine House now stands. Two ground frames were commissioned on 30 January 1939 in the section to Hampton Loade, allowing access to Alveley Sidings, namely Alveley Sidings (South) and Alveley Sidings (North). An intermediate token instrument was provided to allow trains to be locked in to these sidings. The North ground frame was taken out of use in 1974, whilst the South ground frame survived until an unknown later date, released on the Highley-Hampton Loade token.

The box was closed by BR in 1969 with the ending of coal traffic from Alveley. BR were already aware of the SVR's intention to take on the southern section of the line, so in December 1972 the SVR acquired "...a virtually intact and working box together with all the original signals and associated track and point work".[3] The outside of the box was repainted in traditional GWR colours, while Arley’s Barry Geens carried out a meticulous restoration of the wood and brass work on the block instrument shelf.[3] The box was brought back into use on 2 March 1974[4] with the commissioning of ETT working to Hampton Loade, in time for passenger services to Highley to begin in April 1974. Passenger services were extended to Arley and Bewdley the following month, although without ETT working. Long section working to Bridgnorth was brought into use in 1975, and ETT working to Arley and Bewdley North was commissioned on 10 April 1976.

The interior was used for filming in 1974 of the atmospheric TV film The Signalman, starring Denholm Elliot and closely following Dickens' work of the same title. It also featured in an episode of Survivors.

Operation and equipment

Lever frame

Highley retains its original 14 lever McKenzie and Holland 1873 patent lever frame, with 11 working levers, 3 spare, and no spaces. The interlocking was replaced with GWR 5-bar vertical tappet interlocking in 1947. [2]

Block sections

The box works in both directions using Electric Token Block regulations, and is fitted with four Tyer's No. 9 token instruments. In the Up direction, Highley works to either Arley (short section), or Bewdley North (long section) when Arley box is switched out. The Highley-Bewdley North long section token unlocks Arley signal box so it may operate as a ground frame, allowing for access to the yard when that box is switched out. An intermediate token instrument is provided to allow trains to be locked in. In the Down direction, the section is to Hampton Loade (short section), or Bridgnorth (long section) when Hampton Loade is switched out. The Highley-Bridgnorth long section token unlocks a 2-lever ground frame at Eardington, allowing access to the siding located there. Although passenger services cannot cross at Highley, Highley box itself cannot be switched out when these are operating.

Signalling diagram

The diagram in Highley signal box
Diagram from the SVR Unofficial S&T Department website

Note there are inaccuracies in both diagrams: the original diagram is missing the siding behind the signal box, and the S&T website diagram shows number 7 signal as a red disc, when it has been replaced by a yellow one.

Signalling controlled from the box

The down starting signal is a rare GWR concrete post signal, as used fairly extensively on the Cambrian Coast line, and the down fixed distant is a standard GWR wooden post design, otherwise all signals are of late GWR/BR(W) steel tubular post and enamel arm design.

Levers & lever frames

No. Colour Description Lever Sequence
1 White Spare
2 Red Up Main Home 4
3 Red with white band Up Main Starting
4 Blue FPL for 5
5 Black Up Main Facing / To No. 1 Siding
6 White Spare
7 Red with white band Down Disc for 5 5
8 Red with white band Up Disc for 10 10
9 White Spare
10 Black Down Main Facing / To No. 1 Siding Nil or 11
11 Blue FPL to 10 Nil or 10
12 Red with white stripe Down Main Starting
13 Red Down Main Home 11
14 Red Down Disc to No. 1 Siding Home 10 11

Models

The box has been modelled by both Bachmann and Ratio.

See also

References

  1. Marshall (1989) p. 99.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Signal Box Register, Volume 1: Great Western, revised 2011 edition, Signalling Record Society (plus correction sheet #9 )
  3. 3.0 3.1 SVR News 29
  4. SVR News 31
  • "Hampton Loade". Signal box profile on the Severn Valley Railway S&T Department (unofficial) website. Link. Accessed 05/01/2015.
  • "Highley". Signal box profile on the Severn Valley Railway S&T Department (unofficial) website. Link. Accessed 05/01/2015.
  • Minnis, John (2012). "Railway Signal Boxes, a Review". English Heritage Research Report Series no. 28-2012. Link. Accessed 05/01/2015.
  • Waugh, Andrew. "McKenzie & Holland 1873 Patent Frames". Link. Accessed 05/01/2015.