Kidderminster Station signal box (1987 onwards)

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A signal box at Kidderminster, working to Bewdley South. The box also communicates with Network Rail's West Midlands Signalling Centre (WMSC) at Saltley.

Kidderminster had no signal box when it opened in 1984, resulting in an 'only one engine in steam' restriction on operations which were controlled by a simple ground frame. The signal box was built during between July and December 1986, the design being based on a typical GWRGreat Western Railway medium-sized box. Installation of the signalling equipment took place throughout 1987. The installation work involved an estimated 8,000 man hours. producing a fully assembled 62 lever frame complete with all mechanical locking, fitting to the frame of 35 electric locks and 5 combined locks and circuit controllers, and installation of a 22 ft long block shelf complete with instruments. The box was commissioned in December of that year following installation of the most vital piece of equipment, the signalman’s leather armchair.

During the morning of Saturday 3 March 2013, the signal box suffered a small fire in the roof at the point where the stove flue passes through the ceiling. The signalman was able to leave the box without injury. A small section of the roof was destroyed, and there was some damage to the telephone system and the domestic wiring caused by the water used by the Fire Brigade, although the signalling equipment was largely unaffected. Kiddermister station was initially closed. Once access to the box was regained, the water was mopped up to prevent it falling into the frame room and its electrics. By 4pm the debris had been cleared and the roof made weather-proof with a plastic sheet supplied by Bewdley C & W Department. Rapid work by the S&TSignals & Telegraph and PWPermanent Way departments then saw normal services resumed by lunchtime on the following day.

Signalling diagram

Kidderminster box diagram.gif

See Also