Kidderminster Station signal box (1987 onwards)

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Kidderminster Signal Box

Not to be confused with the original Kidderminster Station signal box (c.1882-1973), whose nameplate the current box bears.

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 Town 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. Extensive measurements of Abbey Foregate and Sutton Bridge Junction signal boxes at Shrewsbury ensured authenticity. 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 1987 following installation of the most vital piece of equipment, the signalman’s leather armchair. The lever frame is a 5-bar vertical tappet frame of very late manufacture, being built in the late 1950s for Acton Yard signal box which had a short life. Evidence of its lateness may be found in the spring housing on the catch handle drop rods, which are of a much plainer hood design than previously used by the GWRGreat Western Railway/BRBritish Rail or British Railways(W).

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. Kidderminster 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&WCarriage & Wagon Department. Rapid work by the S&TSignals & Telegraph and PWPermanent Way departments then saw normal service resumed by commencement of operations on the following day.

Signalling diagram

Kidderminster box diagram.gif

Connection to Network Rail

Until 2012 Kidderminster Station Signal Box worked to Kidderminster Junction signal box, 'over the fence' and operated by BRBritish Rail or British Railways, RailTrack and finally Network Rail. The connection between the SVRSevern Valley Railway and national rail was somewhat limiting, requiring staff on the track for any movement between railways. This all changed when Kidderminster Junction signal box closed in 2012 (its lever frame was saved for spares by the SVRSevern Valley Railway) and extensive work by Network Rail and SVRSevern Valley Railway S&TSignals & Telegraph technicians installed one of the most comprehensive connections between the national rail network and a private heritage railway in existence, with movements from the SVRSevern Valley Railway onto the DownIn reference to the direction of travel means away from the major terminus (i.e. towards Bridgnorth on the present day SVR) Main and movements from the UpIn reference to the direction of travel means towards the major terminus (i.e. towards Kidderminster on the present day SVR) & DownIn reference to the direction of travel means away from the major terminus (i.e. towards Bridgnorth on the present day SVR) Mains onto Network Rail being completely locked and signalled movements overseen by the cooperative efforts of the SVRSevern Valley Railway signalman and NRNetwork Rail signaller at Saltley. This upgrade also saw the first non-GWRGreat Western Railway/BRBritish Rail or British Railways(W) signal installed on the SVRSevern Valley Railway, in the form of a colour light signal reading from the SVRSevern Valley Railway's 'exchange' line onto the national network or into the SVRSevern Valley Railway's North Star Carriage & Wagon Works.

Signalling controlled from the box

All signals at Kidderminster excepting the colour light signal (see above) are of late GWRGreat Western Railway/BRBritish Rail or British Railways(W) steel tubular post and enamel arm design. The large gantry originates from Taunton East, although the layout of signals upon it is quite different to how it was when it was there. As part of the 2012 resignalling of the network connection, the 'exchange line' (see diagram) was upgraded from a siding to a running line, requiring derailers to be installed on the three siding roads leading out of the North Star Carriage & Wagon Works, as there was insufficient space for a trap point. These are worked from a lever in the box, possibly the only example of worked derailers installed on a heritage railway. There are also levers to provide a 'slot' (release) to the Network Rail signaller to allow trains to proceed from Network Rail onto the SVRSevern Valley Railway.

Signals 2, 5 and 56 are motor worked.

See Also