Longest surviving redundant signal structures

[brad465]

Last week I discovered that an old signal gantry in Sidcup was finally removed after no use for decades (don't know when exactly though), located part-way down the turnback siding and must have dated back to when the siding was a loop (visible in this video 31 minutes in from the late 1980s).

This got me wondering, what are the longest-surviving redundant structures related to railway signals that are still standing on railway land? Particularly looking at the following:

- Old signal gantries (with no working signals on it)
- Old signals that are decommissioned but not removed
- Old semaphore posts/gantries

Closed signal boxes do not count in this.

 

[CarltonA]

There was a signal post up on the disused Great Central viaduct in Leicester about ten years ago. I don't know if it is still there.

There appears to be part of a signal gantry which has been cut down on the left as trains depart Marylebone.

 

[wilsontown]

There was a decommissioned signal on the Fallowfield loop somewhere near Chorlton when I lived there about 15 years ago, long after the loop had become a cycle path. No idea if it's still there.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

I believe there is an old signal post on the approach to Portslade. Also, an old lattice post south of Minster Junction heading towards Sandwich. Can't think of any more off the top of my head

 

[jfollows]

There was a colour light signal on the abandoned Thornhill to Ravensthorpe Northorpe (and on to Bradford) line for a very long time because it could be seen from the Mirfield-Dewsbury line which went over the disused line. It must have been there for 20 years or more, although it’s now been removed for some time.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/134774261@N07/31542305644 shows it still there in 2017.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Fairly sure there's still a signal gantry hidden in dense foliage just beyond the buffer stop at the end of the line out of Manchester at Hadfield station (in the general direction of Crowden/Woodhead). Can't have been operational since the early 1980s. Difficult to tell for definite without trespassing because of the aforesaid foliage!

 

[jfollows]

Fairly sure there's still a signal gantry hidden in dense foliage just beyond the buffer stop at the end of the line out of Manchester at Hadfield station (in the general direction of Crowden/Woodhead). Can't have been operational since the early 1980s. Difficult to tell for definite without trespassing because of the aforesaid foliage!

Hadfield H11 signal, I guess, which I probably once operated from the signal box in my youth.

 

[Tester]

There were, and still may be, a number of concrete signal structures between Bricklayers Arms and Norwood Junction, which I believe date back to 1950.

 

[Pyewipecarshed]

There was a semaphore signal post on the disused viaduct which lead into Leeds Central station. The viaduct closed in 1967 and the signal post was still there c.2017, fifty years later. I believe it has now been removed as part of the conversion of the viaduct into the Monk Bridge Viaduct Garden.

 

[brad465]

In the Folkestone West to Central area there are some decommissioned signals that are covered up, but not yet removed, dating back to the 90s when the line through there was 4-track, including one that no longer has a track with it on the old island platform at Central. I'm guessing these will be removed whenever the whole area is next re-signalled.

 

[AndrewE]

"Redundant structures related to railway signals" would include signal boxes. Is Clapham Jct "A" still standing? Decommissioned last century, I believe but it would be nice of it was in the "too difficult to remove" category...

 

[jfollows]

"Redundant structures related to railway signals" would include signal boxes. Is Clapham Jct "A" still standing? Decommissioned last century, I believe but it would be nice of it was in the "too difficult to remove" category...

Dismantled in 1992 I believe (closed 25/5/90).
I visited in 1981/2.

 

[AndrewE]

Dismantled in 1992 I believe (closed 25/5/90).
I visited in in 1981/2.

I did wonder how long it lasted (but couldn't find that end date online,) especially as it had already subsided once!

 

[Rail Ranger]

There was a decommissioned signal on the Fallowfield loop somewhere near Chorlton when I lived there about 15 years ago, long after the loop had become a cycle path. No idea if it's still there.

If it's the one I think you mean it was removed when the line was converted to Metrolink. On second reading you are referring to a different signal. I was thinking of one south of Trafford Bar which was still in position long after the line closed in 1988.

 

[Monkeyhead]

There was a semaphore signal post on the disused viaduct which lead into Leeds Central station. The viaduct closed in 1967 and the signal post was still there c.2017, fifty years later. I believe it has now been removed as part of the conversion of the viaduct into the Monk Bridge Viaduct Garden.

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

 

[Lucy1501]

The post still survives for Seacombe Junction’s Down Dee Jct home signal, which was abolished in 1988.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Hadfield H11 signal, I guess, which I probably once operated from the signal box in my youth.

Between Hadfield station platform and the still 'in situ' bridge over Platt Street, Hadfield; beyond which the Longdendale Trail / Trans Pennine Trail heads off Eastwards towards Crowden / Woodhead.

 

[Omnidekkalover]

Old semaphore on the high peak trail approaching parsley hay

 

[MadMac]

"Redundant structures related to railway signals" would include signal boxes. Is Clapham Jct "A" still standing? Decommissioned last century, I believe but it would be nice of it was in the "too difficult to remove" category...

The former box at Newton, near Glasgow, still stands some 30+ years after it ceased to have any operational purpose: I understand that removing it would be a monumental task due to how it was built and the electrical isolations necessary.

Shieldmuir, near Motherwell, had a rather elaborate signal structure which became redundant in 1984: some years later, we tried to get the Civil Engineer to remove it (it was their maintenance responsibility) but couldn’t get them to do anything about it. AFAIK, it’s still there.

 

[jfollows]

Between Hadfield station platform and the still 'in situ' bridge over Platt Street, Hadfield; beyond which the Longdendale Trail / Trans Pennine Trail heads off Eastwards towards Crowden / Woodhead.

My friend Neil (@nferguso), with whom I visited Hadfield box, wrote a nice article including a diagram at https://signalbox.org/branch-lines/hadfield-signal-box/

H12 was the next up signal, on a gantry rather than a post. Since you said “gantry” it’ll be this one.

 

[Harpo]

Could be a few ‘Trigger’s broom*’ structures out there.


* ‘Had this broom all my life. It’s had x new handles and y new heads.’

 

[AndrewE]

Could be a few ‘Trigger’s broom*’ structures out there.
* ‘Had this broom all my life. It’s had x new handles and y new heads.’

yes, but if it is redundant nobody will be keeping it maintained...

 

[starlight73]

if you are including signals on defunct lines - In the 2000s there were still signals at Glazebrook East junction on the Cadishead branch (Wikipedia)… you can just see one poking out of the foliage here…


photo by David Dixon, CC-BY 2.0, source

alt text: a photo of the lines at Glazebrook East Junction. There is a siding on the right, with a row of 3 signals, one of which disappearing into the bushes

I think some of this was obliterated when network rail tidied up the area in the 2010s


maybe there are more around Skelton Junction too near Altrincham.

and without derailing the thread too much … maybe the Ogmore Valley Extension(?) between Tondu and Margam in south wales - I think it’s overgrown but still there

 

[david_g]

Braunston & Willoughby down distant, visible from the Oxford Canal. The Great Central hereabouts closed in 1966

 

[AndrewE]

Braunston & Willoughby down distant, visible from the Oxford Canal. The Great Central hereabouts closed in 1966

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!)

 

[High Dyke]

There used to be a concrete signal post on the route of the Southwell branch (closed fully in 1964). It's now an access road for the racecourse. I haven't travelled up there for a few years though.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

There's a signal protecting the exit from a very overgrown track by Rose Grove station, mustn't've had a train in a while given the height of some of the trees

There's also an "empty signal case" on approach to Warrington Central

 

[Rail Ranger]

if you are including signals on defunct lines - In the 2000s there were still signals at Glazebrook East junction on the Cadishead branch (Wikipedia)… you can just see one poking out of the foliage here…

View attachment 179150
photo by David Dixon, CC-BY 2.0, source

alt text: a photo of the lines at Glazebrook East Junction. There is a siding on the right, with a row of 3 signals, one of which disappearing into the bushes

I think some of this was obliterated when network rail tidied up the area in the 2010s


maybe there are more around Skelton Junction too near Altrincham.

and without derailing the thread too much … maybe the Ogmore Valley Extension(?) between Tondu and Margam in south wales - I think it’s overgrown but still there

That signal is not on the route from Skelton Junction to Glazebrook (closed here on 3rd August 1982). That line joined nearer the signal box. It was probably to do with the former oil traffic to the terminal on the north side of the Manchester Ship Canal (on the pre-1893 alignment of the line to Skelton Junction).

 

[j37401]

Probably not the oldest. But there was a remaining semaphore at the Mouldsworth end of the line to West Cheshire Jct. even though this shot was taken a while ago, i'm sure i've seen a recent pic of it still standing. Line closed in 1991. https://www.flickr.com/photos/93173...iiJD5-2jVSeLo-2jVCbt3-2jVAQY9-2ko6Z2R-2jVAoiA

 

[DelW]

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.