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| Signal Boxes in Cornwall 24/03/2015 at 20:27 #70235 | |
Class 92
359 posts |
I'm on a trip to Cornwall on Saturday and aim to do the Newquay line but due to the infrequent trains on the line I need something to do between the gaps in the timetable, so I'm going to try and get as many photos of the signal boxes along the line between Penzance and Plymouth. I need some help on where the signal boxes are located along the line and how easy it is to get photos of them and the signals they control. Any help is appreciated. 
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| Signal Boxes in Cornwall 24/03/2015 at 20:34 #70236 | |
lazzer
634 posts |
The signalboxes are located in these places: Plymouth (west end of station - easy photos) Liskeard (east end of down platform - easy photos) Lostwithiel (east end of down platform - easy photos) Par (west end of up platform - easy photos) Truro (east end of station, up side - easy photo from road or car park) Roskear Junction (half a mile east of Camborne station, on a level crossing, down side of line - photo from road only) St. Erth (east of station, up side of line - photo from station platform only) Penzance (east of station - photo from coastal path or end of platforms) As to what signals they control, that would take me ages to list, so someone else can do that. 
Last edited: 24/03/2015 at 20:42 by lazzer Log in to reply |
| Signal Boxes in Cornwall 24/03/2015 at 20:49 #70237 | |
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Class 92
359 posts |
Thanks, I think I will manage to get Penzance, St. Erth, Roskear Junction, Truro, Par and Plymouth. The signals I was just interested to know what is viewable but I shall find out on Saturday 
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| Signal Boxes in Cornwall 24/03/2015 at 21:16 #70239 | |
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lazzer
634 posts |
I assume you mean which signals can be seen at each location? Well, let's see (off the top of my head). I'm ignoring signals that you can see the back of, and I'm using the absolute block nomenclature (starter, section) instead of the numbers. Plymouth - all signals that route trains out of platforms (but they're boring). Liskeard - down starter (on platform), down section (RHS of up line west of station), up starter (pivot signal on platform), up section (colour light on Liskeard viaduct). Lostwithiel - stop signals on gantry east of station, down section signals (main line and Fowey branch) off end of down platform. Par - Up starter signals for platforms 2 and 3, down starters for platforms 1 and 3, all at ends of platforms. St. Blazey distant signal (permanently set to danger), and Par section signal towards St. Blazey on same post. Truro - up starter (end of platform), down starters (main line and Falmouth bay - end of platform), up siding exit signal. Roskear Junction - no signals visible from the road next to the box. I'm fairly certain of that one. St. Erth - up starters (main line and St. Ives branch - end of platform), up section signal possibly visible in distance to the east, down starter signal (end of platform) Penzance - all platform starting signals And breathe. Oh, this also excludes any shunting signals that are at these locations. Last edited: 24/03/2015 at 21:17 by lazzer Log in to reply |
| Signal Boxes in Cornwall 24/03/2015 at 21:29 #70240 | |
DaveHarries
1285 posts |
Hi Class 92, You have quite a bit of choice. Most of the boxes are easily visible and, in most cases, so are the signals. I can give you this list as a guide. Working from the Tamar Bridge southwards the boxes that I know of are: - Liskeard (MLN3, 264m 66ch), opened 03-Jun-1915 All the signals in the station area are mechanical with the exception of an MAS one located just over the bridge at the northern end of the station. Box located on the Penzance-bound side opposite the junction for the line to Looe. Box mostly white in colour with a bit of green as well. The Plymouth-bound starter is of note for its unusual appearence. Extremely easy to photograph from the station platforms and the bridges in the station area. - Bodmin Parkway (MLN3, 274m 00ch approx). Opened 1893 or 1897, closed 30-May-1985. Box on the Penzance-bound platform: decommissioned in, I think, the 1980s but survives and is in use as a cafe. Very easy to phortograph from the Penzance end of the station: photos possible from the North end of the station but a footbridge blocks the view a bit. Upon closure control of the link to the B&W railway passed to Lostwithiel: there are no signals in the station area AFAIK. - Lostwithiel (MLN3, 277m 34ch). Opened 1893 Mechanical signals throughout. Box located by the level crossing at the Plymouth end of the station. Very easy to photograph from the station. Bracket signal on the northern side of the level crossing visible from the station). - Par (MLN3, 281m 69ch). Opened 1879 Attractive box located on the platform served by Plymouth-bound and Newquay-bound trains. Mechanical signals throughout. There is a bracket signal on the platform next to the box and also another one to the north of the station. Par box very easy to photograph and contains 56 levers of which 49 are in use. The box also houses a panel to control the line from St. Austell to Burngullow Junction and Probus. - St. Austell (MLN3, 286m 34ch). Opened 1905, closed 22-Mar-1980. Structure survives but in a rather sorry state. Signalling in the station area is MAS controlled by Par. - Burngullow Junction (MLN3, 288m 56ch). Opened 1895, closed 04-Oct-1986 Box demolished: included here for information (see Par). - Truro (MLN3, 300m 57ch). Opened 05-Mar-1899. Signalling throughout the station area is very much mechanical. Truro box also controls MAS signals on the Falmouth line (for the passing loop at Penryn) and MAS signals are also to be found at Penwithers Junction. - Roskear Junction (MLN4, 313m 19ch). Opened 01-Apr-1895. Located on Stray Park Road, Camborne. No junction here but the box survives and is still manned due to the level crossing next to it. MAS signalling therough the area: box controls layout of Camborne station and fringes with St. Erth. Good size box with a usefully-sited footbridge right next to it. The box is best photographed, however, by standing next to the level crossing. - St. Erth (MLN4, 320m 67ch). Opened 10-Sep-1899. Box located next to the junction just north of the station but easy to photograph. Mechanical signalling rules the roost here although there is an MAS signal visible from the station for trains arriving from St. Ives. Other than the signalling here it is noteable that the benches on the St. Ives platform have "GWR" in them. Bracket signal (SE66) at the northern end. - Penzance (MLN4, 326m 32ch). Opened 24-Apr-1938. Nice box photographable from several angles because it is not only visible from the station but also from the sea wall (which you can walk along right opposite the box) but also from the road above it. MAS signals throughout: there are no semaphores. Interestingly, however, a look at the box from the path along the sea wall (not on the road side) reveals that the lever frame is still intact and - according to signallingnotices.org.uk - is still used to control the station layout. There. Hope that is useful. Have a good trip: I will be interested to see the photos if you upload any. I hope to get round to obtaining photos of Goonbarrow Junction and St. Blazey at some point: they are the only boxes in Cornwall that I have no photos of in my collection. Cheers, Dave Last edited: 24/03/2015 at 21:36 by DaveHarries Log in to reply |
| Signal Boxes in Cornwall 24/03/2015 at 22:12 #70241 | |
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Class 92
359 posts |
Thank you, if I remember I might post some photos when I get back.
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