The LNER Encyclopedia

I'm trying to gather information about Marston signal box. This box was situated between Allington Junction and Barkston Junction on the Sleaford to Nottingham line. A photograph would be a real bonus. The box stood quite close to the old Great North Road (A1) so it's possible that it might appear in an old photograph of the bridge. Any information greatly appreciated.

Have you asked Geoff Thompson about this Mel ? If there is any info , he would know I reckon .
Regars , Roy .

No joy in the Illustrated History of GNR signalling. Pictures of Barkston and Sleaford East and West boxes are the nearest, and nowhere a reference to Marston under the listings of types of boxes the GNR installed during its existence.

What time period are we looking at? I can't say I've ever heard of that signal box. I have a 1953 signal box opening hours book on my website (http://wttreprints.uk/Freebies/ER%5BW%5 ... 20SBOH.pdf) and it makes no mention of Marston.
You might try the Signalling Record Society.

Hatfield Shed wrote: ↑Thu Oct 05, 2023 10:30 am No joy in the Illustrated History of GNR signalling. Pictures of Barkston and Sleaford East and West boxes are the nearest, and nowhere a reference to Marston under the listings of types of boxes the GNR installed during its existence.

Ditto re LNER Constituent Signalling, AA Maclean, OPC, and The Signalling Study Group's The Signal Box A Pictorial History..., OPC

Thanks Roy and thank you to everyone else for your replies. I have asked Jeff about this and he is also in the dark. It's a bit of a mystery, as the box is shown on the 25 inch OS maps covering the area north of Grantham. As mentioned in my post, the box was situated on the line between Barkston Junction and Allington Junction, at the point where the old Great North Road crossed the railway. I might try the NRM and see if they have any record.
I'll let you know what comes up....if anything...

Hello Iron Duke

The notes of the late Michael Back for the adjacent boxes at Allington Jcn and Barkston East, both include reference to Marston as closed on 06/04/1922. There is nothing further noted from this source.

It might be inferred that the box opened on 12/05/1875 along with the Allington-Barkston East connection. He quotes National Archives ref:
"MT 6/146/7 Great Northern Railway: Sedgebrooke to Barkstone 1875", which may prove or disprove that.

WTTReprinter wrote: ↑Thu Oct 05, 2023 5:11 pmYou might try the Signalling Record Society.

I can save a little time there - I am the SRS's "Corresponding Member" for that part of the Great Northern. (Not the most appropriate title but I handle enquiries received).

Marston box certainly did exist, but only for a short period in the big picture - it opened in May 1883 and closed 6th April 1922. Owing to its short life-span, few records exist so I can't tell you a lot more. You can see it marked clearly on this map:
https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=1 ... rs=168&b=1

As you say it was near to the A1 bridge and it seems it controlled no points at all. You can see from the map that it controlled just one signal in each direction. So probably its main function would have been to act as an "acceptance box" to allow trains to clear the junctions at Barkston East or Allington when the other was unable to accept them.

With no pointwork, it would not have qualified for inspection by the Board of Trade when opened - usually a good source of archive information.

Not a lot, I know, but I'm afraid that's all I have.

John

Thanks John.
That explains why I've never heard of it before. Was it replaced by IBs?

At least there are two potential points of attack for photos, what survives of GNR records, and whatever the county surveyor for Lincolnshire recorded of the 'Great North Road' / A1 overbridge.

WTTReprinter wrote: ↑Mon Oct 16, 2023 11:48 am Thanks John.
That explains why I've never heard of it before. Was it replaced by IBs?

No, no IBS sections, but . . .

By WWII, both Allington Junction and Barkston East had Outer Home signals to allow free acceptance - typically the distance involved for Outer Homes requires track circuits so that the presence of trains there can be ascertained. In 1883, such luxuries would certainly not be practical, but as track-circuiting became commonplace my guess is that Outer Homes and TCs were provided specifically to allow Marston box to be abolished.

Best regards,

John