www.derby-signalling.org.uk
HISTORY OF RAILWAY SIGNALLING IN THE DERBY AREA
This site details some of the history of the mechanical signalling which once existed on the railways around Derby and Burton Upon Trent.
Derby Junction signal box  
Derby Junction signal box, proudly displaying the British Railways 'corporate image' enamel sign.
BR(LMR) Official.

 

Details of the Derby Area Signalling Project and research resources



Chellaston Junction - N.H.Allsop collection
Chellaston Junction - This box opened in 1901 as Chellaston West Junction
but received the distinctive rounded-end LMS pattern nameboard in 1932 when the East box was abolished.
The nameboard is preserved in the Midland Railway Study Centre
You can read more about Chellaston Junction elsewhere on this site.
Photo from the N.H.Allsop collection.


A pair of diagrams illustrating two large signal gantries which formerly stood at the north end of Derby Station


Derby Station North Junction
(55kb .pdf):
Photo by M.A.King 22MAR1969


Derby Junction
(40kb .pdf):
Photo by M.A.King 04APR1969
Derby Junction photographed by M.A.King
Both of the above links are to Adobe Acrobat ".pdf" format documents. Most browsers should display such files automatically (though Internet Explorer goes very 'quiet' and doesn't tell you it is downloading the file!). If nothing happens after a minute or so, or you get an error message, go to The Adobe Web Site to download their Very Useful (free) viewer.

ALREWAS

A major fire occurred in Alrewas signal box on 23rd October 2005. This is a  LNW Type 4 structure that fringes to Derby Powerbox on the South Staffordshire line. Details of the fire and its consequences can be found on this site.


MARCHINGTON
Welcome to anyone finding this site as a result of Maxwell Craven mentioning it in the Derby Evening Telegraph's Derbeian's Diary, 21st October 2004. If you want to find out a little more about Marchington station and the staff who worked there, you will find details of a minor mishap which occurred in 1882 on the Accidents page of this site.

Click on this thumbnail for a view of the NSR Type 2 box at Marchington

Marchington NSR (351kb)

The Midland Railway's experimental wooden latice post signal

A signal unique to Derby....

This photograph recently came to my notice. It shows one of a number of experiments the Midland Railway carried out close to the signal works in an attempt to economise in materials for their signals. This particular experiment involves a timber lattice construction and was used on the goods lines at Derby North Junction. The home signal, worked by lever 44 in Derby North box, protected the Derby Corporation Ground Frame on the Up Goods, whilst the distant arm is St. Mary's Junction Down Distant.

The photograph has been taken from the Up platform of Nottingham Road station and the yet-to-be-commissioned DY155 is seen in the background.

The historical significance of the signal post was recognised when it was abolished in 1969, and it was secured for preservation. Though not at its best when last I saw it, the post is inside the Butterley organisation's museum at  Swanwick Junction.

At least one experimental Midland Railway signal post still exists on Network Rail: Fiskerton Station's Down Home (FS5) is a round wooden post - thought to be unique now. Given that the Up Distant is still a Midland Square Post (a lot more common at one time, but now almost all gone) makes Fiskerton quite a historic site!



Focus on.....

A series of studies of the signalling at locations within the Derby area. The objective of the work is to concentrate on the equipment, the men and the work done in the box, whilst giving an idea of the context of the surrounding railway.
    A signalling timeline for the Wirksworth Branch : Details of the many changes in signalling methods over the years on this unusual Midland Railway branch. This includes a photograph of the box diagram removed from Duffield Junction on closure in 1969 (305kb).

Other Articles about Derby area signalling

  • Spath Details of Britain's first automatic level crossing on the Churnet Valley line, near Uttoxeter.
  • Details of some railway accidents around Derby

  • Resources relating to signalling in other areas

    Fiskerton Junction
    Fiskerton Junction - photographed from its Down Home signal (21) by John Rose in 1966

    ... and a modern comparison
    ... and photographed by an intrepid NR employee in 2005.


    If you'd like to discuss matters specifically concerning subjects on this site, please contact me . For more general signalling matters, I strongly urge you to go to "The Signalbox" and follow the links to "The Blower". There you'll find a mailing list which is WELL worth joining.

    You will, I'm sure, also be interested in The Midland Railway Society and The Signalling Record Society web sites.

    There is a large number of local history photographs to browse and buy, including a lot of railway related subjects, on the Picture The Past web site - highly recommended. For a good selection of signal box photos, with many Midland Railway examples, Dave Strickland's site is also well worth a look.


    The Small Print: The majority of photographs used on this site are not mine. Wherever possible the original photographer is credited and the image is used with permission. Where I have been unable to seek such permission, I sincerely hope that the copyright holder will acknowledge that the images are used in an educational spirit and absolutely no financial gain is involved. To that end, visitors may not reproduce any image from this site - in the event you wish to do so, please contact me and I will try and put you in touch with the person whose consent you need. As far as the text on the site is concerned, that is almost all mine. Visitors are free to reuse any text or information they find on this site for any purpose. The only restriction  is that I ask for an acknowledgement to www.derby-signalling.org.uk where applicable, and I absolutely insist on the courtesy of being informed of any such use if commercial gain is involved. Thank you.
    Dave Harris, Willington, Derby, UK.

    Site last updated: 01DEC2008