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Shirley & Henley In Arden boxes... to close soon?

You are here: Home > Forum > Miscellaneous > The real thing (signalling) > Shirley & Henley In Arden boxes... to close soon?

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Shirley & Henley In Arden boxes... to close soon? 21/05/2010 at 12:05 #1283
outofsection
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Hi, I've heard a rumour that these boxes (and I guess all the mechanical boxes left on the North Warwicks line) are to close soon as I'e heard they will soon be transferred to the West Midlands SCC. Is this rumour correct? And does anyone know when this is happening as I'd like to go and photgraph the boxes before they close!

Many thanks!

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Shirley & Henley In Arden boxes... to close soon? 21/05/2010 at 12:05 #9321
outofsection
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149 posts
Hi, I've heard a rumour that these boxes (and I guess all the mechanical boxes left on the North Warwicks line) are to close soon as I'e heard they will soon be transferred to the West Midlands SCC. Is this rumour correct? And does anyone know when this is happening as I'd like to go and photgraph the boxes before they close!

Many thanks!

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Shirley & Henley In Arden boxes... to close soon? 21/05/2010 at 12:30 #9322
Neil
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23 posts
This seems to confirm it

http://www.flickr.com/photos/milkybar_kid/4462414489/

"I was informed by the guard that this signal box will be demolished very soon, and was advised to take few pictures of it before it goes for ever."

Regards,

Neil

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Shirley & Henley In Arden boxes... to close soon? 21/05/2010 at 14:50 #9324
wellgroomed
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If memory serves, I think both boxes are supposed to close in October/November.

The Bay Line and the Loop Line, together with the trailing crossover at Henley were taken out of use in January.

I believe that the Dock and trailing crossover at Shirley will eventually be recovered and a replaced by a new crossover at Whitlocks End. I have seen one 150 unit with 'Whittlocks End' on the front already (despite the spelling mistake!).

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Shirley & Henley In Arden boxes... to close soon? 23/05/2010 at 09:09 #9341
outofsection
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Thanks all for the info. Hmmm.. better get me skates on then & get the snaps taken!
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Shirley & Henley In Arden boxes... to close soon? 02/07/2010 at 12:27 #9870
outofsection
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Well, went yesterday to take me photos (if someone could give advice about how to set up an online photo account it would be much appreaciated so that I can share them with you here) and came away from both stations feeling very sad: not just that the boxes are to close but because all the windows & doors were boarded up on the surviving buildings at Henley In Arden which gave a very desolate, derelict feel to the station. Sad too, to see the bay line(s) & crossovers now gone too. When were they last used in earnest?

And what saddened me so much at Shirley was to think that the BEAUTIFUL condition the box is being kept in by the signalman will not last much longer. There were brightly coloured hanging baskets of flowers all round the box windows, and the borders all round the box at ground level were also a feast of colour to the eyes. It saddens me so much to think that it's all going to go soon!

Top marks to the bobby(ies) who has/have obviously put a lot of hard work into making the box look so stunning (one even came out with a watering can while we were there). They should be rightly proud of the efforts they have made. The box looked looked amazing - and was much appreciated by me at least!

My guess is the boxes will be taken out of commission at the end of October as the timetable says that trains will not start to terminate at Whitlocks End until Ocober 26th as trains start terminating at Whitlocks End from 27/10/10. There are already some uncommissioned colour light signals in place on both sites. Interestingly, there were no signal i.d. plates on any of the semaphores at Henley or Shirley, yet the signals were still in use.

I suppose the 2 mechanical boxes at Banbury will be the next to go!

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Shirley & Henley In Arden boxes... to close soon? 02/07/2010 at 22:01 #9873
Adrian the Rock
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111 posts
outofsection said:
Well, went yesterday to take me photos (if someone could give advice about how to set up an online photo account it would be much appreaciated so that I can share them with you here) and came away from both stations feeling very sad: not just that the boxes are to close but because all the windows & doors were boarded up on the surviving buildings at Henley In Arden which gave a very desolate, derelict feel to the station. Sad too, to see the bay line(s) & crossovers now gone too. When were they last used in earnest?

Funnily enough, there was a piece about exactly this in the latest Signalling Record (SRS magazine). Until 10/12/2004, there was a weekday morning service that started from Henley - it ran ECS to Henley from an incoming Worcester-Shirley working, was shunted to the bay, and then departed towards Birmingham.

Since then, it had only been used occasionally for turning back late-running trains short of Stratford.

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Shirley & Henley In Arden boxes... to close soon? 03/07/2010 at 13:22 #9883
outofsection
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Thanks for the info Adrian - much appreciated.

One thing I forgot to mention was that I noticed the southbound track was still jointed rail approaching Shirley station (and right bouncy it was too) whereas the northbound track was welded rail. ISTR this was upgraded when I lived in Nethercote Gardens way back in 1979/1980 as I remember a Saturday night where I didn't get much sleep and noticed that afterwards the clickety clack had gone from the northbound trains. I also noticed that now there is quite a good Sunday service now whereas when I lived there there was no Sunday service at all! The last train on Saturday was an ECS move at 23:55ish which roared through at high speed. and then the next train was the first train of the day at 06:55ish on Monday morning.

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Shirley & Henley In Arden boxes... to close soon? 28/07/2010 at 17:49 #10292
deanbean10
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I've heard that Gloucester Panel will be switched off soon?
But What will happen to Places like Cheltenham?

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Shirley & Henley In Arden boxes... to close soon? 24/09/2010 at 13:18 #11696
outofsection
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Quite a nice piece in this week's Railway Herald (page 10) about the imminent closure of Shirley, Henley-In-Arden & Bearley Junction boxes. It also records the last Shakespeare Express steam-hauled train through the semaphore-signalled Shirley station. Made me feel quite sad. Sniff...!
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Shirley & Henley In Arden boxes... to close soon? 03/11/2010 at 13:17 #12358
Neil
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This weeks Railway Herald issue 244

http://www.railwayherald.org/

reports:
"The North Warwickshire line has been closed for the last week to permit the removal of the semaphore signalling system.

The work includes the closure of the signal boxes at ... Henley in Arden...."

Regards,

Neil

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Shirley & Henley In Arden boxes... to close soon? 08/11/2010 at 14:25 #12402
outofsection
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Another follow-up article in issue 245: a piccy of Shirley box being gutted ready for demolition. Note, sadly, the beautiful flower boxes & beds still looking a real treat; and 2 pics of Henley box: one with it there & one with it gone!

Sad!
Sniff!

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