Whitby Prospect Hill Signal Box

[Frodingham 36C]

Hello to all members
Just registered with the forum so this is my first post ~ here goes !!!!

I am trying to model the above signal box ~ to try and scale the model I visited Whitby yesterday to try and obtain some dimensions and subsequently experienced difficulties as there is not a lot to see. I did however get some measurements with aid of various photographs
With these measurements I hope to try and scale the signal box structure as near as possible

One area I am struggling with is the support structure from gound level R/H side looking from Whitby West Cliff (profile, dimensions, material) there is a concrete base which measure 26 ft with locating bolts @ 22ft centres (only appears to be one locating bolt at each end) looking at photographs there also appears to be three intermediate supports resting on a main cross beam
I am trying to determine if the main supports were ~ wood, steel ~ size of the sections i.e were they square wooden supports and the size of the intermediate supports

Any information/photographs relating to signal box would be appreciated and will aid the modelling process
I have spoken to the North Eastern Society and enquired about drawings etc but they were unable to help

Hope someone can provide information or point me in the right direction
Thank You

Regards Colin

[twa_dogs]

Colin,

I'm currently researching the location with a view to using it as a basis my entry for the 2010 challenge on RMweb. I've yet to do a site visit though - the plan was for over the xmas break. Ta for letting me know that NERA have no material pertaining to the box. Anything at the Ken Hoole Study centre? The NRM would be worth an ask too - they might even have some structural plans - they do seem to be good for the 1:500 OS sheets in that part of the world. Also worth an enquire would be North Yorks record office at Northallerton. From other searches in the past I suspect they got landed with a lot of paperwork from the Regional Engineers Office in Hudson House, York. I know when i visited the archive at Hudson House there was a lot of the original watercolour and ink plan sheets for structures along the Esk Valley even if they were by then in private hands.

Let me know how you get on. If its of help I'll let you know in due course how i get on.

Cheers
Steve

[Frodingham 36C]

Hi Steve
Thanks for the quick reply ~ yes please would be very interested how you progress ~ I'll look into the information resources you have suggested and keep you up to date with any information that I come across

Just had a look at your topic relating to the same ~ bit of a coincidence ~ but will be good opportunity to bounce info off each other

Regards .. Colin

[R. pike]

I came across some rather good pictures of the box on a fotopic site but i cant find it again. Any ideas? The box was derelict in the pictures and the caption stated the lines were left in place pending a decision on a quarrying project.

[redtoon1892]

Is this the site.

http://geoff-plumb.fotopic.net/p47013586.html

[twa_dogs]

Yup, Geoff's site would be the one. Most useful. There's also some stuff of Whitby Bog-Hall in the very early eighties, on flickr iirc, that shows the other end of things and how long they lasted. A very lovely Lattice bracket, if memory serves right, protected the Esk Valley from Prospect Hill traffic.
I'd be more than interested to see what uou find out and will of course reciprocate, though I may be making some educated misguided guesses along the way. Once upon a time it was a short hop along to places like that, nowadays home is down in the midlands so its a little harder to nip out and satisfy curiosity, ho-hum jobs and progress eh? Best of luck and i look forward to seeing the results.
Steve

[Frodingham 36C]

Already have copies of Geoff Plumbs photographs relating to the signal box (superb quality)~ sent e mails to NRM and Records Office so we will see what comes back ~ fingers crossed

Colin

[Solario]

I'm not sure if it will be any use, but I think there is some footage of the said s/b in the Marsden Rail No 13 (Brakevan to Whitby).

[Frodingham 36C]

Thanks Solario
A think a friend has a copy ~ I'll have look

Colin

[woberty]

Have you tried the "railways around whitby vols 1 and 2" by martin bairstow. also the book by Philip Benham " An illustrated history of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway".
Can someone remember a book A4 landscape about the Middlesbrough Redcar Whitby Scarbrough line ?

I have been a member of this forum for ages now but never really logged in.

I was born and bred from Ruswarp just outside Whitby so know the area very well which you intend to model. Although before my era my mother worked at Whitby Town and Whitby West cliff station. And i have thought of modelling the latter.
The line used to come across the viaduct. Then after a short way passed under "the monkey bridge" This had white metal sides with i think a dark wooden floor to carry the footpath over Fitz steps to Ruswarp. It was quite an ornate affair with lattices on it if im correct.
As a kid i used to walk over it too school til the council removed it for health and safety reasons.
I guess it would be built about the same time as the railway ?

Im unsure of the exact location of the signal box used to be. But there was as still is as far as i know a small red brick bridge in the area.
Along side of the line there used to be a footpath towards the main road bridge that the signalman walked down to get too work too.

[woberty]

Page 112 of the above mentioned book by Philip Benham has a picture of a DMU against the signal box on Prospect Hill. The text mentions that the Signal Box was built out of wood.

Also on the Ruswarp to Whitby Line just before the viaduct was another signal box called Foundry sidings. Page 107 of the same book has a small picture of it.
The whole area used to have some kind of brick workings in years gone by. Latterly this box would be used for the Gas Works i guess.

I hope my limited information may be of help.

Regards.

[md644]

Woberty - the A4 book is "The Whitby, Redcar and Middlesbrough Union Railway" by Ken Hoole (ISBN 0 86067 065 1), there are a couple of shots of Prospect Hill in there....though I think it's long out of print, unfortunately.

[woberty]

I remembered seeing the book in my Uncles railway collection. I guess he still has a copy even though he is a GWR man through and through !

Its nice to see a few guys interested in my childhood area.

[Solario]

There are several shots of the box in J Robin Lidster's book "The Scarborough & Whitby Railway" published 1977.