Signalling equipment

The Railwayana Page

Signalling and related equipment

This area embraces the contents of signal boxes, tokens, staffs and other single line equipment, and the trackside signals themselves. I have also included signalbox name boards in this section.

A selection of single line "key tokens" from the western end of the Ruabon-Dolgellau line. These tokens were passed from signalman to loco crew in a specially designed holder with a large loop to permit ease of transfer.

Boxboards

The famous Scout Green box which controlled a minor road crossing half way up Shap. Note that there is also a nameboard on the front of the box.

Boxboards come in a variety of designs, notably metal letters on a wooden backboard, cast iron and enamel. BR used the last and the Great Western was the main (only?) user of cast iron for its boxes. The majority seem to have been metal letters on wood, and to my mind, these are the most attractive.

A collection of signalbox nameboards ("boxboards") from the West Coast mainline over Shap.

LMS Boxboards

Details of LMS boxboards. Note that Carnforth and Lancaster have different "C", "R" and in Lancaster's case "S" from the other boards shown in the above photo. The letters are cast iron.

The main letters are around 7/16" thick. Others such as the "&" and the small "o" in "No" are around 5/16" thick.

05 June 2008