Number of NR signal boxes today?

[Backroom_boy]

On Wikipedia it states in 2011 NR had 845 signal boxes; I can't find a more recent number. Are there less than 500 now?

 

[hexagon789]

On Wikipedia it states in 2011 NR had 845 signal boxes; I can't find a more recent number. Are there less than 500 now?

This Network Rail page from 2019 had 86 listed ones in use:

But fewer signal boxes still work as part of our signalling systems. At the end of 2019, there were 166 listed signal boxes on our network, including 86 still in use.

What happens to signal boxes when they retire? - Network Rail

Signal boxes are some of the best-loved icons of Britain’s historic railways.

www.google.com

I believe a thread a year or so ago said there wwere about 600 boxes in operation. Can't find it just now, sorry.

 

[Watershed]

This Network Rail page from 2019 had 86 in use:

What happens to signal boxes when they retire? - Network Rail

Signal boxes are some of the best-loved icons of Britain’s historic railways.

www.google.com

I think that's just the number of listed signal boxes. There are clearly far more than that still in use overall.

 

[hexagon789]

I think this may have been the thread I was thinking of, slightly older than I remember:

Does a list of Signal Boxes exist?

Just wondering is there is an up to date list of all signal boxes that are operational? Have tried good old "google" but couldn't find anything which surprised me Thanks in advance

www.railforums.co.uk

I think that's just the number of listed signal boxes. There are clearly far more than that still in use overall.

Yes, it is. I said as much.

 

[Watershed]

I think this may have been the thread I was thinking of, slightly older than I remember:

Does a list of Signal Boxes exist?

Just wondering is there is an up to date list of all signal boxes that are operational? Have tried good old "google" but couldn't find anything which surprised me Thanks in advance

www.railforums.co.uk

Yes, it is. I said as much.

That's not what your post said when I quoted it, see above!

 

[hexagon789]

That's not what your post said when I quoted it, see above!

Oh, I mustn't have edited it before I posted it originally. Sorry

 

[headshot119]

There's approximately 600 still in use

 

[Backroom_boy]

I believe a thread a year or so ago said there wwere about 600 boxes in operation. Can't find it just now, sorry.

I'm going to guess slightly under 600 now.

Edit. Ah sorry Headshot119 missed your post

 

[headshot119]

I'm going to guess slightly under 600 now.

Edit. Ah sorry Headshot119 missed your post

You could well be right that it's dipped under 600, but it's around that figure from a quick look at a list I have.

 

[TheBigD]

Pretty sure the signalbox opening hours are somewhere on the Network Rail website.
You could probably work out the number of signalboxes from that should you so desire.

 

[Trackman]

Pretty sure the signalbox opening hours are somewhere on the Network Rail website.
You could probably work out the number of signalboxes from that should you so desire.

There is..

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Compendium-of-Signal-Box-Opening-Times.pdf

edit: seems to be kept up to date as well.

 

[MadMac]

You could well be right that it's dipped under 600, but it's around that figure from a quick look at a list I have.

I did a count of lever frame boxes in Scotland a few months ago for a discussion on the Signalling Record Society forum and it was about 50. Someone else did a "national" count and got just over 300 boxes with frames, 25 of which were purely "gate boxes".

 

[High Dyke]

There is..

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Compendium-of-Signal-Box-Opening-Times.pdf

edit: seems to be kept up to date as well.

Not entirely. A number of the Anglia boxes have closed, yet the East Midlands list isn't that far out.

 

[MadMac]

There is..

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Compendium-of-Signal-Box-Opening-Times.pdf

edit: seems to be kept up to date as well.

It's improved from the last time I looked at it, but there are still three, at a quick glance, Scottish boxes that have closed and are not noted as such. It also shows Barnhill as closing at 16:00 on Sunday: I'm sure that trains run through Perth to Dundee and beyond after that time.....

 

[_toommm_]

It's improved from the last time I looked at it, but there are still three, at a quick glance, Scottish boxes that have closed and are not noted as such. It also shows Barnhill as closing at 16:00 on Sunday: I'm sure that trains run through Perth to Dundee and beyond after that time.....

The box might close and be switched out, so that it created a longer signal section controlled from a different box.

 

[Railsigns]

The box might close and be switched out, so that it created a longer signal section controlled from a different box.

Barnhill box can't switch out because it's single track in one direction and double track in the other, and somebody has to operate the points.

 

[MadMac]

Not entirely. A number of the Anglia boxes have closed, yet the East Midlands list isn't that far out.

I think I’m right in saying that these are compiled in Milton Keynes. Does nobody talk to the locals in each area?

 

[The Planner]

I think I’m right in saying that these are compiled in Milton Keynes. Does nobody talk to the locals in each area?

If a box is closing then it should go through Network Change so its picked up officially there, but of course we speak to boxes, LOMs etc...

 

[High Dyke]

I think I’m right in saying that these are compiled in Milton Keynes. Does nobody talk to the locals in each area?

If a box is closing then it should go through Network Change so its picked up officially there, but of course we speak to boxes, LOMs etc...

Well I've previously had calls from soneone in Milton Keynes, asking why they (the caller) can't get an answer at [such & such]] signal box. They seemed surprised when they were advised that particular location had closed a few years earlier.

So yes, the information can be inaccurate. Like The Planner says though they do speak to LOM's and other signal boxes. However, processing of that information does take some time to filter through the system.

 

[matchmaker]

It's improved from the last time I looked at it, but there are still three, at a quick glance, Scottish boxes that have closed and are not noted as such. It also shows Barnhill as closing at 16:00 on Sunday: I'm sure that trains run through Perth to Dundee and beyond after that time.....

It also shows Stirling North as being closed on Sundays. I don't think this is now the case (since the conversion of Cornton AHB to MCB-OD?)

 

[MadMac]

It also shows Stirling North as being closed on Sundays. I don't think this is now the case (since the conversion of Cornton AHB to MCB-OD?)

It used to close on Sundays from at least when Cornton became an AHB - I think the closing switch was taken out in conjunction with electrification!

Well I've previously had calls from soneone in Milton Keynes, asking why they (the caller) can't get an answer at [such & such]] signal box. They seemed surprised when they were advised that particular location had closed a few years earlier.

So yes, the information can be inaccurate. Like The Planner says though they do speak to LOM's and other signal boxes. However, processing of that information does take some time to filter through the system.

There was a story told somewhere about a derailment at Westbury prior to the power box opening: apparently Control suggested putting in Single Line Working to Westbury Middle box, until it was pointed out that said box had been closed and demolished about five years previously…..

 

[Railsigns]

It used to close on Sundays from at least when Cornton became an AHB - I think the closing switch was taken out in conjunction with electrification!

Stirling North box ceased to switch out when the line was electrified, but the block switch was removed under the Cornton MCB-OD project.