Glasgow Central signal box

[trebor79]

Travelling to/from Glasgow last week in daylight for the first time since I was a little kid (all other times have been on the sleeper), I spotted something that intrigued me and o wondered if the forum might satisfy my interest...
Just south of the bridge over the Clyde, in the Y of the junction is a very tall, brutalist structure, which I guess is a signal box.
It appeared to be disused, I guess it dates from around the time of electrification.
When did it cease to be used and where is the signalling controlled from now?
Why are the windows on the south side, when all the "action" is to the north?
Are there any photos of the interior anywhere?

 

[route101]

Could be wrong but when Springburn Signalling centre at Cowlairs opened

 

[hexagon789]

Travelling to/from Glasgow last week in daylight for the first time since I was a little kid (all other times have been on the sleeper), I spotted something that intrigued me and o wondered if the forum might satisfy my interest...
Just south of the bridge over the Clyde, in the Y of the junction is a very tall, brutalist structure, which I guess is a signal box.
It appeared to be disused, I guess it dates from around the time of electrification.
When did it cease to be used and where is the signalling controlled from now?
Why are the windows on the south side, when all the "action" is to the north?
Are there any photos of the interior anywhere?

It was Glasgow Central signalling centre, opened in 1961 it replaced 4 signal boxes. It was closed in 2008 with control transferring to Cowlairs.

 

[John Webb]

I assume it is this building we're talking about?
Cook Street

© Copyright Thomas Nugent and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
(Click on picture to go to the larger original on the Geograph website.)

 

[pdeaves]

It was Glasgow Central signalling centre, opened in 1961 it replaced 4 signal boxes. It was closed in 2008 with control transferring to Cowlairs.

2 January 1961 to 27 December 2008, for those who want exact dates.

 

[Highlandspring]

Could be wrong but when Springburn Signalling centre at Cowlairs opened

West of Scotland Signalling Centre please.

The Glasgow Central box had six panels arranged in a horseshoe on the operating floor along with a shift manager, regulator and announcer’s desk at the back. The box has been left exactly as it was the night it shut with the panels still in situ and the compressors for the EP points are still operational downstairs. The windows and and balcony on the Ayr lines side are from the mess room but there was a view over the jungle available from the operating floor too. Though in theory the signalmen didn’t need a view at all, indeed they can’t see the station from where they are now....

Here’s a photo of the operating floor (not mine) -
https://www.flickr.com/photos/llangollen_signalman/39930689393

 

[trebor79]

Thank you. Very interesting. What are the plans for the future a d why has it been left untouched since closure?

 

[pdeaves]

why has it been left untouched since closure?

Easier to leave it be than to faff with demolition, etc. (with attendant line blocks), I would expect.

 

[Highlandspring]

Thank you. Very interesting. What are the plans for the future a d why has it been left untouched since closure?

Presumably it’ll remain in use until either the EP points are replaced or the compressors require renewal if it’s cheaper/easier to put them somewhere else. I believe there’s asbestos in the box (there certainly was in Cathcart which was of a similar vintage and this stopped it being demolished for a few years after closure) and there’s no incentive to strip out the panels etc.. anyway. The MOMs still use the box for welfare facilities when on junction watch. Panel 1 is designated for preservation by the Railway Heritage Committee so it may well survive once the structure of the box eventually goes. The Salkeld Street yard is being developed as a depot once again so perhaps that’ll spur them on to knock it down.

 

[Springs Branch]

For me, this signal box was always part of the countdown to arrival into Glasgow from the WCML.
4.... Eglington St tunnel, 3..... past the signal box on the left-hand side, 2..... Clyde bridge, 1....... interminable slow crawl along platform 1 or 2. Zero.... Arrived!

Glasgow Central box also seems to have had an interesting modern history from its commissioning in 1961 as part of the Cathcart Circle / Blue Trains electrification.
Initially it only controlled Central Station and its immediate approaches - but was said at the time to be the world's largest control panel operated from a single desk, with over 1,000 signalled routes available.
Then came expansion towards Paisley in the mid/late 1960s with the Clyde Coast electrification and closure of St Enoch station.
Next was WCML electrification around 1972/73 which saw extension of the "G" area to interface with the new Motherwell PSB, takeover of control of some of the ex-G&SW lines and complete replacement of the ~10 year old panel and train describers with the NX type of that era, whilst retaining much of the 1960s back-end hardware.
Since then there seemed to have been further incremental expansion of the control area.

O.S. Nock gives a good description of the evolution of Glasgow Central signal box in his book Electric Euston to Glasgow.