Longest surviving redundant signal structures

[jamieintercity]

There is one near eassie/glamis and glasterlaw on the old strathmore line

The distant at keith town I don't think has been used since lifting of the line to the mainline which was closed in the 1990s

 

[sad1e]

There are still the remains of a signal gantry near Watford stadium on the croxley green branch. Doubt that has seen any use since the mid 90s.

 

[swt_passenger]

That would be great to see, I'm surprised it isn't on Geograph (https://www.geograph.org.uk/related.php?id=5774559&method=quick) - I couldn't find it anyway.
Sounds like a good excuse for an excursion/canal walk and a permanent record - if it isn't too late... (hint!)

There’s a drone video view of it on YouTube:

(The video shows an overhead view of the fully overgrown and disused Great Central formation near Willoughby, a precast concrete signal post and gantry is still in situ sticking up out of the trees.)

 

[Pyewipecarshed]

Nah, it's still there, was up having my lunch last week and it's still standing

Good to know it's still up there. I moved away a few years back, so I looked up some photos on the net of the new garden and I couldn't see it. Nice that they kept it!

 

[Peter Mugridge]

On the Hayling Island branch, there's a semaphore signal facing the up direction on the approach to the long-gone viaduct over Bridge Lake at the north end of Langstone Harbour. The branch closed in the early 1960s. From old maps on NLS, it looks as though it may be in its original position.

That's a recent re-instatement to mark the heritage of the route, though... it's not the original signal... and it's at the south end of the old bridge, not the north end.

 

[DelW]

That's a recent re-instatement to mark the heritage of the route, though... it's not the original signal... and it's at the south end of the old bridge, not the north end.

I did wonder if it might be a replacement, though the post looked as though it could have been original. Old OS maps show "SP" at about its location.

I knew it was at the south end, which is what I meant by "facing the up direction on the approach to the ... viaduct", i.e. facing a northbound train heading towards the viaduct.

 

[4COR]

Not so long ago, the fixed up distant semaphore for trains on the Faringdon branch approaching the old Uffington Jnc on the GWML was still standing on an old part of embankment in the middle of a field. Presume it is still there. Picture from geograph Britain and Ireland (Des Blenkinsopp):



Like the Hayling Island semaphore, and given it's condition, I'm not sure if it's a more recent reinstatement than 1963?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Apr 2025 ==

Also on other threads, the shunt signal from the old Woodside and S Croydon joint line at Selsdon to go onto the Oxted line is still in situ even though the line is now plain lined. It has even been converted to an LED head, even though no train has ever passed it (or indeed could!) since conversion. (Branch used after passenger closure for oil terminal at Selsdon until 1993)

 

[Falcon1200]

There is still a bracket on the Up (Airdrie bound) platform at High Street (Glasgow) station, which IIRC used to hold a banner repeater.

The bracket at the south end of Oxford's Up through platform (formerly platform 1, now 3) was adapted to carry the colour lights which replaced semaphores in I think 1973, but this went with the more recent re-resignalling.

 

[david_g]

That would be great to see, I'm surprised it isn't on Geograph (https://www.geograph.org.uk/related.php?id=5774559&method=quick) - I couldn't find it anyway.
Sounds like a good excuse for an excursion/canal walk and a permanent record - if it isn't too late... (hint!)

Still there four weeks ago when I was boating past. Arm long gone of course but concrete post/bracket survives, doubt it will be disappearing anytime soon.

 

[Ducatist4]

there are quite a few colour light signals that are still working protecting lines that have been mostly lifted. The Welbeck Colliery branch is one near here that's been showing red since the early 1990's despite most of the track having been lifted. The points remain so i assume its for track circuiting reasons and the difficulty in re-wiring everything. Its just easier to leave it there.

 

[Carbean]

Several branch lines have fixed distant signals still standing. I should think the majority of these are redundant.

 

[Rail Ranger]

The colour light signal at the end of the down loop at Skelton Junction (Timperley) is still lit even though the loop has not been used for at least 10 years and is now totally overgrown.

 

[riley1489]

That's a recent re-instatement to mark the heritage of the route, though... it's not the original signal... and it's at the south end of the old bridge, not the north end.

I live near this and have cycled past it frequently over the past 25 years or so. As far as I can ascertain, it's the original post in its original location. Earlier pictures (and old maps) tend to support that.

When I first encountered it around 2000 it was very rusty (SR rail-built) and devoid of semaphore arm and most fittings. Then someone attached a roughly fabricated replica home signal arm. Then about 10 years ago it was dug up and removed! I assumed it had been recovered for a heritage site or maybe even stolen for scrap etc. A few weeks afterwards it re-appeared, placed back in the hole which had been dug to remove it. It had been blasted and re-painted and had a 'proper' home signal arm fitted along with replacement fittings.

Over the past 10 years or so the rust has crept back and it has developed a slight lean, presumably it wasn't replaced with the same care and skill as originally.

It's a nice thing to see when cycling or walking the repurposed trackbed- the 'Hayling Billy Trail'. One point which struck me is how visually effective semaphore signals are. It's possible to see the aspect (permanently at danger now!) from a very long way back down the trail.

 

[John Webb]

.....Also on other threads, the shunt signal from the old Woodside and S Croydon joint line at Selsdon to go onto the Oxted line is still in situ even though the line is now plain lined. It has even been converted to an LED head, even though no train has ever passed it (or indeed could!) since conversion. (Branch used after passenger closure for oil terminal at Selsdon until 1993)

there are quite a few colour light signals that are still working protecting lines that have been mostly lifted. The Welbeck Colliery branch is one near here that's been showing red since the early 1990's despite most of the track having been lifted. The points remain so i assume its for track circuiting reasons and the difficulty in re-wiring everything. Its just easier to leave it there.

The colour light signal at the end of the down loop at Skelton Junction (Timperley) is still lit even though the loop has not been used for at least 10 years and is now totally overgrown.

The complete removal of 'modern' signals is an expensive business involving several stages of rewiring and then very careful checking that the rewiring has been correctly done and auditing the checking as well. (Remember the loose wire that caused the 1988 Clapham Junction accident?)
So it is often considered better (and cheaper) to leave things in situ until a major resignalling of an area takes place.

 

[Y Ddraig Coch]

Llandudno Junction still has quite a few hidden in the bushes and trees of the old sidings, and Conwy still has one that has never been used since the station opened in 1987

 

[Sheridan]

Llandudno Junction still has quite a few hidden in the bushes and trees of the old sidings, and Conwy still has one that has never been used since the station opened in 1987

Do you mean the signal at the Bangor end of the Chester-bound platform? If so I’m fairly sure it has been used in that time but I suppose it depends what you mean by ‘used’. I believe it can only show a red aspect.

 

[Y Ddraig Coch]

Do you mean the signal at the Bangor end of the Chester-bound platform? If so I’m fairly sure it has been used in that time but I suppose it depends what you mean by ‘used’. I believe it can only show a red aspect.

I do indeed it was only put there as they used to have a Llandudno to Conwy shuttle on a Sunday that used to go wrong road from the Junction to Conwy. It didn't last long.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I live near this and have cycled past it frequently over the past 25 years or so. As far as I can ascertain, it's the original post in its original location. Earlier pictures (and old maps) tend to support that.

Next time you go past, could you have a look at the heritage notice board near it ( From memory I think it might be at the end of the embankment facing the ruins of the bridge ) and report back on this thread?

I'm fairly sure it says it's not exactly where the original signal was - but with my being in Epsom I can't just pop round to have a look for myself...

 

[riley1489]

Next time you go past, could you have a look at the heritage notice board near it ( From memory I think it might be at the end of the embankment facing the ruins of the bridge ) and report back on this thread?

I'm fairly sure it says it's not exactly where the original signal was - but with my being in Epsom I can't just pop round to have a look for myself...

Hi Peter,

Your message gave me the perfect excuse for a ride out in the sun this afternoon. The heritage board is no longer present!

Attached are photos of the signal prior to restoration, one taken today, one from a drone, and section of map showing signal in place during the life of
the railway:

t

 

[Sun Chariot]

For years, there was an ex-GER bracket post (wood, peeling white paint) and dolls, minus arms, just west of Silvertown station, where the line descended into the tunnel under the Royal Docks.
It was still in situ after the North Woolwich branch closed to passengers.
It has gone now - swept away when the old North Woolwich branch was repurposed and reconstructed for the Elizabeth Line.

On the former Fawley branch, Marchwood still has a bracket and pegs sited just south of the MoD spur. Although it's still "active", the signals are not used as the branch has only seen a railtour (66 and 69 T'n'T) down to Hythe in the past 2 years.
Of three other brackets - on the Totton side of the MoD spur - I've only seen one of the signals used in recent years.

 

[Western 52]

I think there's a semaphore on the Glascoed branch at Little Mill Junction. A while since that line was last used.

 

[DelW]

there are quite a few colour light signals that are still working protecting lines that have been mostly lifted. The Welbeck Colliery branch is one near here that's been showing red since the early 1990's despite most of the track having been lifted. The points remain so i assume its for track circuiting reasons and the difficulty in re-wiring everything. Its just easier to leave it there.

There's a fairly well known one in urban Weymouth, on the abandoned connection to the quayside. It has indeed been explained that it has to be maintained and lit, as the current signalling system needs it to be proved as working, despite no train having approached it for many years.

Hi Peter,

Your message gave me the perfect excuse for a ride out in the sun this afternoon. The heritage board is no longer present!

Attached are photos of the signal prior to restoration, one taken today, one from a drone, and section of map showing signal in place during the life of the railway:

Thank you for the update, I imagine it was a lovely day by the water!

 

[Crossover]

The complete removal of 'modern' signals is an expensive business involving several stages of rewiring and then very careful checking that the rewiring has been correctly done and auditing the checking as well. (Remember the loose wire that caused the 1988 Clapham Junction accident?)
So it is often considered better (and cheaper) to leave things in situ until a major resignalling of an area takes place.

To add to this, the interlocking generally requires a danger aspect to be proven as lit to enable other related routes to be set/signals to clear (I know you know this, but just added context for others)

 

[Brent Goose]

There's a fairly well known one in urban Weymouth, on the abandoned connection to the quayside. It has indeed been explained that it has to be maintained and lit, as the current signalling system needs it to be proved as working, despite no train having approached it for many years.

That *may* have gone with the tracks being removed a year or two ago.

I noticed seemingly active signals on the tracks to Poole Port which show no sign of being used and has a chain link fence erected across it.

 

[John Webb]

For years, there was an ex-GER bracket post (wood, peeling white paint) and dolls, minus arms, just west of Silvertown station, where the line descended into the tunnel under the Royal Docks.
It was still in situ after the North Woolwich branch closed to passengers.
It has gone now - swept away when the old North Woolwich branch was repurposed and reconstructed for the Elizabeth Line.....

Trainspotting at Stratford in the late 1950s/early 1960s, and getting there by train from North Woolwich, I knew that signal while it was still in use. It was still there when I was commuting to work 1967/69. It was on the upper (surface) line used for PLA and other rail traffic until that ceased. I never photographed it, alas!

 

[Sun Chariot]

Trainspotting at Stratford in the late 1950s/early 1960s, and getting there by train from North Woolwich, I knew that signal while it was still in use. It was still there when I was commuting to work 1967/69. It was on the upper (surface) line used for PLA and other rail traffic until that ceased. I never photographed it, alas!

That's the one, I used the old line to North Woolwich until its closure.
I moved away from London in summer 2012. If I recall, it was taken down a few months before I moved.

 

[Recessio]

There's a very rusty semaphore signal outside one of the Newhaven stations. Not sure on the age.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Hi Peter,

Your message gave me the perfect excuse for a ride out in the sun this afternoon. The heritage board is no longer present!

Attached are photos of the signal prior to restoration, one taken today, one from a drone, and section of map showing signal in place during the life of
the railway:

Interesting, thank you.

I notice also that the danger signs at the end - visible in my picture and the drone shot - have been removed and that a new fence has been erected, albeit only on one side of the embankment.

Annoying about the heritage board vanishing - hopefully it will re-appear at some point.

 

[Bodmin16]

2 signal posts on the closed Cuckoo Line between Eridge and Rotherfield, closed June 1965 .Surprising one would think being steel that they would have been cut down when the demolition gangs lifted the track

 

[Islineclear3_1]

There's a very rusty semaphore signal outside one of the Newhaven stations. Not sure on the age.

Where is it exactly? I don't recall seeing any semaphores at Newhaven since resignalling. I know there is a rusty post just north of Newhaven Town which I believe was a colour light many moons ago