Signal Box Survey

Network Rail's operating strategy for the last few years and into the future will see the closure of many of the remaining signal boxes and signalling locations across the country to be replaced by 12 Route Operating Centres. Many have already gone with traditional semaphore signalling swept away completely, changing the look of many locations eg Barnetby. There are only approx 80 boxes still operational on the network.

We are attempting to document and record as many of the surviving boxes be they operational or closed in addition to other boxes. This is a huge task and whilst we have a good record for Scotland & Wales and those preserved, we still need photos from 72 boxes out of 701 so far known, 61 on the network and 11 preserved / private. Of the total number of boxes, a third (228) are relatively safe as preserved or privately owned and approx a third (162) of the NR boxes are listed.

A draft pdf list will hopefully be added to this page during 2025 so members can add to or amend. Hoped to do it sooner but the compilation of the 2025 books has taken precedence.

If you have any photos of current (working or preserved) or demolished signal boxes, anywhere in the UK, please email Trevor Roots at website@intercityrailwaysociety.org

Canterbury East Signal box, 22nd January 2011 (Mark Richards)

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