Bewdley South signal box

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Bewdley South signal box
Interior of Bewdley South signal box

A signal box at Bewdley, working to Bewdley North and Kidderminster.

History and operation in preservation

Bewdley South signal box has interesting arrangements in that it works to Bewdley North by Absolute Block on the main line (platforms 1 & 2), by direction levers under ETT Regulations on the Back Road (platform 3), with the Rock Siding and DownIn reference to the direction of travel means away from the major terminus (i.e. towards Bridgnorth on the present day SVR) Yard operated as through sidings. Operation to Kidderminster is via Acceptance Lever.

The box passed almost immediately from British Rail's care into the hands of the SVRSevern Valley Railway, and only minor alterations to the track layout it controls have been carried out since that time. This means it is one of the most 'original' signal boxes in preservation, retaining its 1923 lever frame, pre-preservation block shelf and rear wall furniture, including a token instrument cupboard (one of the originals working either to Stourport, Kidderminster or Bewdley North via the Back Road) and cupboards, phone board and train register desk, complete with curve worn into it by generations of signalmen leaning against it! The box also contains a table, box stool, and short bench which possibly date to pre-preservation days. Two armchairs and a GWRGreat Western Railway table chair ex-Gloucester S&TSignals & Telegraph offices provided in 1993 complete the furnishings.

When services to Bewdley began in May 1974, the South box was initially used only for engines running round trains. Major work was carried out between 1980 and 1985 to accommodate the extension to Kidderminster. The work included installing electric signal lamps, moving the DownIn reference to the direction of travel means away from the major terminus (i.e. towards Bridgnorth on the present day SVR) Home signal further out to permit shunting whilst a train was approaching from Kidderminster, installing signals and trap points on the truncated Stourport line, and other mechanical locking modifications. The work ended with a rewire of the box. Services to Kidderminster commenced on 30 July 1984 under 'one engine in steam' working. Full track circuiting of the line to Kidderminster was installed and working by acceptance lever was introduced on 21 November 1987.

In September 1988 plans were made to install working distant signals at Bewdley North and South. The up and down distant signals were eventually commissioned on 1 April 1990.[1][2]

The box and the privy situated adjacent to it are both included on the Wyre Forest District Council Local Heritage List.

Diagram

BS Diagram.jpg

Signalling diagram in Bewdley South. The circles on the diagram are track circuit indicators, which light in the presence of a train (or failure of a track circuit), the pilot light in bottom right being constantly lit to indicate that the power is on.

BS BR Era Diagram.jpg

The office copy of the GWRGreat Western Railway/BRBritish Rail or British Railways-era diagram for Bewdley South. The diagram shows alterations to remove the signals and points for the Down Yard. The SVRSevern Valley Railway was given control of the yard before BRBritish Rail or British Railways ceased running services to Bewdley, and it is thought that the pointwork for the yard was never physically removed. Instead, it is theorised that the removal of these features of the diagram was done to indicate to signalmen that they were not to be used under any circumstances [3].

Labelled diagram of Block Shelf

BS Frame Labelled.jpg

The lever frame and block shelf at Bewdley South. The descriptions for the labelled items are as follows:

A: Signal arm repeaters for Lever 0 (DownIn reference to the direction of travel means away from the major terminus (i.e. towards Bridgnorth on the present day SVR) Distant, top indicator) and Lever 1 (DownIn reference to the direction of travel means away from the major terminus (i.e. towards Bridgnorth on the present day SVR) Home, bottom indicator)
B: Signal lamps repeater
C: Possession key for Bewdley South-Kidderminster section, removed from the instrument to protect the line during engineering work, etc.
D: Block bell from Kidderminster
E: Block instrument to Bewdley North for UpIn reference to the direction of travel means towards the major terminus (i.e. towards Kidderminster on the present day SVR) and DownIn reference to the direction of travel means away from the major terminus (i.e. towards Bridgnorth on the present day SVR) main
F: Block bell to Bewdley North for UpIn reference to the direction of travel means towards the major terminus (i.e. towards Kidderminster on the present day SVR) and DownIn reference to the direction of travel means away from the major terminus (i.e. towards Bridgnorth on the present day SVR) main
G: Block instrument to Bewdley North for Back Road
H: Block bell to Bewdley North for Back Road
I: Track circuit indicator for "Tunnel Track" (extends between the distants at Bewdley South and Kidderminster, either side of Bewdley Tunnel)
J: UpIn reference to the direction of travel means towards the major terminus (i.e. towards Kidderminster on the present day SVR) train accepted (by Kidderminster) indicator
K: Lever 27 Free/Locked indicator (locks Lever 27 Reversed when Bewdley North clears the Backing Signal on the DownIn reference to the direction of travel means away from the major terminus (i.e. towards Bridgnorth on the present day SVR) Main)
L: Signal 30 approach locking Free/Locked indicator
M: Signal arm repeater for signal 30 (UpIn reference to the direction of travel means towards the major terminus (i.e. towards Kidderminster on the present day SVR) Starting)
N: Signal arm repeater for signal 33 (UpIn reference to the direction of travel means towards the major terminus (i.e. towards Kidderminster on the present day SVR) Main Distant)

With the exception of B, the block shelf equipment in Bewdley South is all of BRBritish Rail or British Railways(W) design, meaning the signalling in the box largely represents a 1950s/60s scene (though quite different to Bewdley South in that period due to post-preservation alterations).

Levers and Lever Leads

The following photographs show the levers and lever leadsThe (usually brass) information panel on a point or signal lever informing the signalman which other levers need to be pulled to release that lever at Bewdley South.

List of levers

No. Colour Description Lever Sequence
0 Yellow From Kidderminster Distant 1 6
1 Red From Kidderminster Home 23 22 13 12 or 22 13 12 or 17 16 15 12
2 Red/Brown Acceptance Lever From Kidderminster
3 Red From Hartlebury To DownIn reference to the direction of travel means away from the major terminus (i.e. towards Bridgnorth on the present day SVR) Main Home 23 22 21 or 22 21
4 Red From Hartlebury To Back Platf'm Home 17 16 15 12 10
5 Red+White Band From Hartlebury To DownIn reference to the direction of travel means away from the major terminus (i.e. towards Bridgnorth on the present day SVR) Main Inner Home 22 21
6 Red+White Band From Kidderminster To DownIn reference to the direction of travel means away from the major terminus (i.e. towards Bridgnorth on the present day SVR) Main Inner Home 22 13 12
7 Red+White Band From Kidderminster Or Hartlebury To Back Platf'm Inner Home 17 16 15 12 11
8 SPACE
9 Red From Kidderminster To DownIn reference to the direction of travel means away from the major terminus (i.e. towards Bridgnorth on the present day SVR) Sidings Inner Home 23 22 13 12
10 Black Facings Xover 17 16 15 12
11 Blue/Brown Interl'k'g Lever With Bewdley North For Back Road
12 Blue F.P.LFacing Point Lock, equipment that physically locks points so that they cannot move..s For Nos. 10 & 13 23 22 13 or 22 13 or 17 16 15
13 Black From Kidderm'tr Facing / Main
14 Red Disc for No. 18 16 18
15 Blue F.P.LFacing Point Lock, equipment that physically locks points so that they cannot move. for No. 16 17 16
16 Black UpIn reference to the direction of travel means towards the major terminus (i.e. towards Kidderminster on the present day SVR) Main / Back Platf'm
17 Blue F.P.LFacing Point Lock, equipment that physically locks points so that they cannot move. for No. 18
18 Black Back Platf'm / Rock Siding
19 Red Disc for No. 18 16 18 or 17 16 15 12 10 [PUT BACK 12 15 17] 18
20 Red From Hartlebury To DownIn reference to the direction of travel means away from the major terminus (i.e. towards Bridgnorth on the present day SVR) Sidings Inner Home 23 22 21
21 Black Stourport Line Safety
22 Blue F.P.LFacing Point Lock, equipment that physically locks points so that they cannot move. for No. 23 NIL or 23
23 Black DownIn reference to the direction of travel means away from the major terminus (i.e. towards Bridgnorth on the present day SVR) Main Facing / DownIn reference to the direction of travel means away from the major terminus (i.e. towards Bridgnorth on the present day SVR) Sidings
24 Red Disc for No. 13 13
25 Red Disc for No. 13 21
26 Red Disc for No. 23 13 23 24 or 21 23 25
27 Blue/Brown Interl'k'g Lever With Bewdley North For DownIn reference to the direction of travel means away from the major terminus (i.e. towards Bridgnorth on the present day SVR) Main (Backing)
28 Red Back Platf'm To Hartlebury Home 17 16 15 12 10 PUT BACK 12 15 17
29 Red UpIn reference to the direction of travel means towards the major terminus (i.e. towards Kidderminster on the present day SVR) Main To Hartlebury Home 17 16 15 12 10 PUT BACK 12 15 16
30 Red+White Band To Kidderm'tr Start'g
31 Red Back Platf'm To Kidderminster Home 16
32 Red UpIn reference to the direction of travel means towards the major terminus (i.e. towards Kidderminster on the present day SVR) Main To KidderMinster Home
33 Yellow UpIn reference to the direction of travel means towards the major terminus (i.e. towards Kidderminster on the present day SVR) Main Distant 32 30

History before preservation

Construction of the first two signal boxes at Bewdley was authorised by the GWRGreat Western Railway Board in October 1877 as part of the opening of the Kidderminster Loop Line. They were the first 'proper' signal boxes on the Severn Valley Railway, all other boxes dating from after 1880[4]. There is uncertainty as to whether Bewdley North and Bewdley South are these original 1877/78 build boxes or later (19th century) replacements.

The box has had three lever frames during its life. The original 28-lever McKenzie and Holland lever frame was replaced in September 1909 with a 31 (or 32) lever frame, and replaced again circa 1923 with a GWRGreat Western Railway 32-lever 4" 3-bar vertical tappet frame.[5] The interlocking has had minor alterations in preservation to suit preservation needs, but much is as it was prior to 1970.

Bewdley South signal box closed under BRBritish Rail or British Railways ownership on Saturday 3 January 1970. The Train Register recording the closure was formerly on display in The Engine House at Highley.

Signalling controlled from the Box

Signals on the approach to Bewdley South
Most of the signals at Bewdley South are of late GWRGreat Western Railway/BRBritish Rail or British Railways(W) steel tubular post and enamel arm design, however Signals 5, 6, 7, 9, 14 and 20 are mounted on two wooden post bracket signals and are of the earlier GWRGreat Western Railway 'wasp-tail' design. Many of the signals at Bewdley South are of pre-preservation vintage, because the layout has been so little altered. However, the large bracket outside of the signal box carrying signals 6, 7, 9 and 14 did not carry signal 14 or Bewdley North's DownIn reference to the direction of travel means away from the major terminus (i.e. towards Bridgnorth on the present day SVR) distant signals pre-preservation, and the opposite bracket carrying signals 5 and 20 did not carry the bracket for signal 20 or a distant either, and it has been shortened somewhat to combat rot discovered in the lower end of the post.

In early 2000 a start was made on refurbishment of Bewdley South DownIn reference to the direction of travel means away from the major terminus (i.e. towards Bridgnorth on the present day SVR) Inner Home bracket.[6] In Autumn 2001 it was determined that the wood on the existing bracket signal needed to be renewed, requiring a temporary signal while the existing bracket signal was removed.[7] During July 2005 the refurbished five foot arms on the signal were ready to be replaced, but an examination of the main post of the signal showed that previous repairs carried out by BRBritish Rail or British Railways had deteriorated to the extent that the main post itself would have to be replaced. By 4 November 2005 a new temporary signal had been dug in and connected, and the old signal was lifted out with the 30 ton steam crane and transported to the car park. Over the next 6 month a new post was obtained and the fittings refurbished. On 2 May 2006 the Bridgnorth crane made another visit and the completed signal was planted, being recommissioned a short time later.[8] On 5 December 2007 the SVRSevern Valley Railway was announced as joint winner of that year's National Railway Heritage Award, the Westinghouse Signalling Award for the best restored signal box or signalling installation. The award was for "…the restoration of the GWRGreat Western Railway pattern DownIn reference to the direction of travel means away from the major terminus (i.e. towards Bridgnorth on the present day SVR) Inner Home signal at Bewdley."[9][10]

The wooden posts on the larger bracket which were replaced in 2006 were again declared unsafe in 2020.[11] Between 28 September and 2 October 2020, under an absolute possession, the wooden Inner Home bracket was removed using a MEWPMobile elevating work platform (a rail mounted Mobile Elevated Working Platform) and the Bridgnorth steam crane. Temporary signals consisting of a 35 foot metal post carrying signals 6, 7 and a fixed distant, and a double disc ground signal carrying signals 9 and 14 were installed at the same time and were commissioned on 2 October 2020. The wooden post was removed to Bewdley Yard for stripping down. It is planned to construct a replacement wooden bracket signal.

Signals 0 and 33, the DownIn reference to the direction of travel means away from the major terminus (i.e. towards Bridgnorth on the present day SVR) and UpIn reference to the direction of travel means towards the major terminus (i.e. towards Kidderminster on the present day SVR) Distants respectively, are motor worked. Signal 33 is mounted beneath Bewdley North's Signal 3, and is electrically slotted.

See also

References

  1. [http://www.svrsig.org.uk/svr/Frame2.htm SVRSevern Valley Railway S&TSignals & Telegraph Dept website
  2. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 134, S&TSignals & Telegraph Notes
  3. Severn Valley Signalmen Facebook group
  4. Marshall (1989), p128
  5. Signal Box Register, Volume 1: Great Western, revised 2011 edition, Signalling Record Society (plus correction sheet #9 )
  6. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 132, S & T Notes
  7. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 137, S & T Notes
  8. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 153, S&TSignals & Telegraph Notes
  9. http://nrha.org.uk
  10. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 160, Boardroom Notes
  11. Express Points newsletter, September 2020 (Retrieved 29 August 2020)