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[[File:Kidderminster Signal Box - geograph.org.uk - 1779089.jpg| thumb|200px300px|right| Kidderminster Junction Signal Box in 2008 (Geograph)]][[File:Kidderminster Junction - geograph.org.uk - 248557.jpg| thumb|200px300px|right| Kidderminster Junction and the connections to the Severn Valley line in February 1984]]

Although not on [[Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) PLC|SVR]] property, the BR(W) designed '''Kidderminster Junction signal box ''' formerly controlled the [[Connection to Network Rail | main line connection]] to the Severn Valley Railway in conjunction with the SVR's own [[Kidderminster signal box]].

==Kidderminster Junction==The name "Kidderminster Junction" referred to the junction between the former Oxford Worcester & Wolverhampton line and "[[Kidderminster Loop Line|The Loop]]" leading to Bewdley and the original Severn Valley line. The junction, situated at 135m 17ch and which is shown on this extract from the 1903 OS map, was created in 1878 with the opening of the Loop (bottom left).<gallery>File:Kidderminster Junction OS.JPG | OS map of Kidderminster Junction in 1903</gallery>  ==Early signal boxes==[[File: OS_Kidderminster_Junction_SB_1903_1938.jpg|thumb|400px|right|OS Maps of 1903 (left) and 1938 (right)]]On 29 August 1877, as part of preparations for the opening of the loop the following year, the GWR authorised expenditure for completion of the [[Absolute Block|block system]] between "the north and south boxes at Kidderminster" as well as block and single needle telegraph apparatus for the new line itself.<ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Marshall (1989)]] p. 128.</ref> The "south box" presumably referred to a new box built to control the junction, with the"north box" being the [[Kidderminster Station signal box (c.1873-1973)|main signal box]] in the station itself. The first Junction box was perhaps McKenzie and Holland with a 35 lever frame, replaced by a new 40 lever frame circa 1912.<ref>Signal Box Register, Volume 1: Great Western, revised 2011 edition, Signalling Record Society (plus correction sheet #9)</ref>  The illustration opposite shows two extracts from OS maps of the junction. In the 1903 map, the building to the east of the main line immediately south of the "[[Kidderminster Footbridge|Wooden Bridge]]" (FB) is not given the usual "SB" label, but appears to be the original Junction signal box. At least one subsequent map<ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Mitchell and Smith (2007)]] fig. V.</ref> did include "SB" for that building.  A later 1938 OS map which is reproduced as Fig. X in "Western Main Lines, Worcester to Birmingham via Kidderminster" (Mitchell & Smith) shows a signal box at a location further south, beyond the signal post (SP), with the original box no longer present. Narrative in the book accompanying the 1938 OS map extract refers to "''The 1924 Junction box''". The Signalling Record Society Website provides the information that "''A replacement GW type 28B box was built here in December 1937''". ==1953 signal box== The most recent signal box was of quite a modern design, having been built in October 1953, and contained a 63 lever frame. The GWR 1937 signal box on the same site was demolished by a derailed wagon earlier in 1953, and a temporary signal box was used for a short while until the replacement was built<ref>Kidderminster Jcn Signal Box, Signalling Record Society Website. http://www.s-r-s.org.uk/html/gws/S2605.htm. Accessed 10/05/2015</ref><ref>Stourbridge Line Signal Boxes - Kidderminster Junction | Martin's Railway Ramblings. http://martincreese.blogspot.com/2012/07/stourbridge-line-signal-boxes.html. Accessed 10/05/2015</ref>.

== Notes References ==

==See alsoLinks==[[Connection to Network Railhttps://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2eAFhE-m0yhNDhnQmZPNUdwc3M/edit Kidderminster Junction Signal Box on the Kidderminster & District Archaeological & Historical Society web site]]<br> [[Kidderminster signal boxCategory: Featured articles]]