The LNER Encyclopedia

Hi all, anyone seen a picture of the interior of Haydon Bridge signalbox?

Enjoy this one. Sadly I don't know the signalman's name.

Philip

Whoever he is-doesn't he look smart?

He is committing the cardinal sin of touching the lever top with his bare hand!
Nice photo though

Maybe he's not the actual Signalman-just posing?

Love the crossing wheel many a time have i opened Littlemills gates with similar.

Be interesting to a present day shot for comparison purposes.I guess most of those levers are white now.

Is there anyone on this forum close enough to Haydon Bridge who dares go ask the signal man for a shot of the box as it is today? Perhaps if he was shown the old picture he would oblige in a free moment and try to get the 'same' image. You don't get if you don't ask. The worst he can say is no. Who Dares Wins as some say.

Philip

The old picture should print quite nicely to A4

Pictures attached of HB signalbox 14.02.10. The 1950's Westinghouse frame stands against the back wall as opposed to the window (track) side as in the 1910 picture. The lovely NER block insts. and bells have been replaced by combined twin dial and bell style of the BR era. Most of the levers now "spare" and they have plastic coated handles...saves on the polishing! The gate wheel was removed about a year ago when the traditional gates were replaced by lifting barriers. The view towards the front (track side) and end windows, is more or less the position of the 1910 photo. The signaller was most interested in the scene, as recorded 100 years ago.

TANFIELD wrote:Pictures attached of HB signalbox 14.02.10. The 1950's Westinghouse frame stands against the back wall as opposed to the window (track) side as in the 1910 picture. The lovely NER block insts. and bells have been replaced by combined twin dial and bell style of the BR era. Most of the levers now "spare" and they have plastic coated handles...saves on the polishing! The gate wheel was removed about a year ago when the traditional gates were replaced by lifting barriers. The view towards the front (track side) and end windows, is more or less the position of the 1910 photo. The signaller was most interested in the scene, as recorded 100 years ago.

I note "signaller" not signalman........PC or not PC.

Signalman sounds much more elegant, and more fitting for the man in uniform.

Andy

Interesting pictures, if you were around when the original picture was taken would you have had the courage to ask him if he was posing, perhaps not if you notice the size of him and his hands. No beer pounch here and not an ounce of fat.

As regards the modern pics, was it a common thing to replace the wooden frames with UPVC as has been done here.

KX6465 wrote:Interesting pictures, if you were around when the original picture was taken would you have had the courage to ask him if he was posing, perhaps not if you notice the size of him and his hands. No beer pounch here and not an ounce of fat.

As regards the modern pics, was it a common thing to replace the wooden frames with UPVC as has been done here.

Yeah it's quite common nowadays when Network Rail do one of there 'refurbishment jobs' to basically add 'false cellings' and cover the interior walls in UPVC (is that plastic?) and such like and basically destroy the character of the s/box (make it into a 'toy town' structure out of Noddy & Big Ears).

All the s/boxes on the North London lines all had 'refurbishment jobs' done to them around 2003-04 to varing degrees of success (Dalston terrible South Tottenham ok'ish) since then 7 s/boxes out of about 14 have subsequently closed for good in the last 2-3 years making me wonder if it was worth the time, effort and money in doing them in the first place?).

The term Signalman was changed to Signaller in the late 1990s under Railtrack when the old term of Signalman was found to be to sexist because of the growing number of women becoming Signalmen.

I know a lady signalman. She likes to be called a signalman. She answers the phone as such. It would be a brave person to disagree with her.

R. pike wrote:I know a lady signalman. She likes to be called a signalman. She answers the phone as such. It would be a brave person to disagree with her.

You have to be 'vary careful' wot you say on any s/box telephone nowadays because ALL PHONE CALLS are recorded (and may be used in evidence in the case of an inquiry?).

The old days of signalmen sitting on the 'circuit phone' (box to box phone) chatting about anything and everything are long gone and in most cases the old circuit phones themselves have gone, everyone keeps 'silent' nowadays unless they really have to use any phone!.

In the old days a group of signalmen at 3,4,5 or 6 different s/boxes a long the line mite even be discussing rules or a particular rule book question but not anymore not with management nowadays able to listen in to all phone calls 24/7 something like discussing a particular rule out of the rule book would just highlight a certain signaller's ignorance about rules!!.

Yet again the age of Big Brother and Political Correctness rear their ugly heads, no wonder I feel like a fish out of water, OOPS, might have upset an animal activist!

I went to a signal box in West Yorks to take possession for some overnight work.
When I climbed the steps and opened the door I was greeted by the sight of High Heels, Pencil skirt and a full beard.
I handed back possession by phone.