Public Access To Wrawby Junction

[RichmondCommu]

G'day everyone,

As I'm back in the East Midlands for the week I was thinking of heading up to North Lincolnshire at the weekend to photograph some of the signal boxes that are due to close at the end of the year. Wrawby Junction being one of them I was wondering if it was possible to walk from the nearby village to the signal box? Anyone got any ideas? Suggestions for a pub stop would also be welcomed although the CAMRA guide says that there is a pub in Wrawby itself.

Any information / suggestions for a good day out searching for signal boxes in North Lincolnshire would be much appreciated!

Kind regards,

Richmond Commuter!

 

[Mugby]

If you're travelling by train, you could take the opportunity to have a ride on the Saturdays only service from Sheffield, via Gainsborough to Barnetby.

 

[lincolnshire]

G'day everyone,

As I'm back in the East Midlands for the week I was thinking of heading up to North Lincolnshire at the weekend to photograph some of the signal boxes that are due to close at the end of the year. Wrawby Junction being one of them I was wondering if it was possible to walk from the nearby village to the signal box? Anyone got any ideas? Suggestions for a pub stop would also be welcomed although the CAMRA guide says that there is a pub in Wrawby itself.

Any information / suggestions for a good day out searching for signal boxes in North Lincolnshire would be much appreciated!

Kind regards,

Richmond Commuter!

Wrawby Signal Box is a difficult place to get to, as years ago the only way we could get to the box on that side of the railway was walk from Barnetby Station end, in latter days we was able to drive down after sidings had been removed.
We also used to go in the other side down the tip side by van, that too was on railway land. There was a way close to it but it had to be accessed by going right through Barnetby village to far end and down a road which got you close.
If your on foot I think your best shots will be off the train itself, also there are two pubs in Barnetby one oppersite the station and the other on the road into Barnetby.

Good luck on getting your pictures.

 

[55z]

There is a public footpath across the Lincoln line which there is a view of the box walkable from the station just look on streetmaps or other websites. This is the closest you can get to the box on public accessable land/footpath.

 

[John Webb]

A look at http://www.geograph.org.uk/gridref/TA0409 will give you an idea of the footpaths nearby, plus a number of pictures of the box - so obviously some people were able to get near it!

 

[CaptainHaddock]

Suggestions for a pub stop would also be welcomed although the CAMRA guide says that there is a pub in Wrawby itself.

The pub adjoining Barnetby station is reasonably good. Usually 3 real ales on and they also show sport on the big screen if that's your kind of thing.

http://www.whistleandflute.net/bars.html

There is a pub at Wrawby called the Black Horse, but I've not been in so can't comment on how good it is.

http://whatpub.com/pubs/SCU/121/black-horse-wrawby

 

[NSEFAN]

A look at http://www.geograph.org.uk/gridref/TA0409 will give you an idea of the footpaths nearby, plus a number of pictures of the box - so obviously some people were able to get near it!

As an aside, the where's the path site is very useful for finding footpaths as it gives a direct comparison with the OS map and google earth view.

 

[RichmondCommu]

If you're travelling by train, you could take the opportunity to have a ride on the Saturdays only service from Sheffield, via Gainsborough to Barnetby.

I'm planning to drive as there are other signal boxes that I'd like to take a look at and by the looks of things they'll all be gone by January 2016. At some point I would like to travel along the Brigg line and the other routes in Lincolnshire but I suspect they'll be there long after the signal boxes have gone. Thanks for the suggestion though
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

The pub adjoining Barnetby station is reasonably good. Usually 3 real ales on and they also show sport on the big screen if that's your kind of thing.

http://www.whistleandflute.net/bars.html

There is a pub at Wrawby called the Black Horse, but I've not been in so can't comment on how good it is.

http://whatpub.com/pubs/SCU/121/black-horse-wrawby

Many thanks for this The pub that was mentioned in the CAMRA guide was the Jolly Miller in Wrawby. My youngest son mentioned that he might be interested in coming along and he's currently on antibiotics so if he drives we can try one or two pubs!

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

A look at http://www.geograph.org.uk/gridref/TA0409 will give you an idea of the footpaths nearby, plus a number of pictures of the box - so obviously some people were able to get near it!

As an aside, the where's the path site is very useful for finding footpaths as it gives a direct comparison with the OS map and google earth view.

There is a public footpath across the Lincoln line which there is a view of the box walkable from the station just look on streetmaps or other websites. This is the closest you can get to the box on public accessable land/footpath.

Thanks for the map advice everyone. It does appear that it is possible to get close to the signal box from either Wrawby or Barnetby so I'll take my walking boots and see how far I can get.

 

[Donny Dave]

The pub adjoining Barnetby station is reasonably good. Usually 3 real ales on and they also show sport on the big screen if that's your kind of thing.

http://www.whistleandflute.net/bars.html

There is a pub at Wrawby called the Black Horse, but I've not been in so can't comment on how good it is.

http://whatpub.com/pubs/SCU/121/black-horse-wrawby

Many thanks for this The pub that was mentioned in the CAMRA guide was the Jolly Miller in Wrawby. My youngest son mentioned that he might be interested in coming along and he's currently on antibiotics so if he drives we can try one or two pubs!

Thanks for the map advice everyone. It does appear that it is possible to get close to the signal box from either Wrawby or Barnetby so I'll take my walking boots and see how far I can get.

The Black Horse in Wrawby serves some excellent food. Another good pub in the area for food is the Sloop Inn at Barton (depending on when you come up, there could well be a navigator for hire ).

 

[RichmondCommu]

The Black Horse in Wrawby serves some excellent food. Another good pub in the area for food is the Sloop Inn at Barton (depending on when you come up, there could well be a navigator for hire ).

Many thanks for this! Hoping to head up on Saturday or failing that Sunday. Heading back to London on Monday afternoon. Whats the beer like at the Black Horse? In other words can I get a decent pint of bitter?

 

[66Yorks]

Of course you can get a decent pint. You're in the North!

Many thanks for this! Hoping to head up on Saturday or failing that Sunday. Heading back to London on Monday afternoon. Whats the beer like at the Black Horse? In other words can I get a decent pint of bitter?

 

[lincolnshire]

A look at http://www.geograph.org.uk/gridref/TA0409 will give you an idea of the footpaths nearby, plus a number of pictures of the box - so obviously some people were able to get near it!

First picture of Wrawby Box the guy is stood in the middle of the rails to get that one at the junction outside the box.

The other one with the new timbers on the left you may get by going down that road with the gate on near the metal farm building.

The one looking at the box from the shunting signal and points is again I would say well on Network Rail land.

It will keep you out of mischief getting round all the boxes before they go in January as the ones they can remove will be gone very fast afterwards as its bad for the image of Network Rail.

 

[RichmondCommu]

First picture of Wrawby Box the guy is stood in the middle of the rails to get that one at the junction outside the box.

The other one with the new timbers on the left you may get by going down that road with the gate on near the metal farm building.

The one looking at the box from the shunting signal and points is again I would say well on Network Rail land.

It will keep you out of mischief getting round all the boxes before they go in January as the ones they can remove will be gone very fast afterwards as its bad for the image of Network Rail.

That was the shot that I had in mind. If I see a train pass by that's a bonus! I'm hoping to get see the couple of signal boxes on the Brigg line and of course the box at Barnetby. They look like being the easiest to find.

 

[lincolnshire]

Yes you should get a good picture of the box from that farm building area, and you should,t have to wait long for a train to pass either as its the route from the busiest rail connected Port of Immingham for freight.

Barnetby East is a good example of a very large wood built box, same size approx as what Barnetby West used to be before it was demolished years ago.

Kirton Lime Sidings is worth a picture too, nice little compact signal box between Brigg and Northorpe.

Do your best as after Christmas it will be the end of them all and hello York ROC.

 

[RichmondCommu]

Many thanks to all of you who provided information. I've had a lovely day up in North Lincolnshire as did my wife which is no mean feat given that my wife has broken a bone in her right foot and isn't the worlds greatest rail enthusiast! Wrawby Junction is certainly an impressive size given that it is only operated by one person. Thanks again, Richmond Commuter!

 

[railnerd]

Hi.
Wrawby is certainly impressive but it does have a good majority of white levers. Most of them are together in the frame. Also, bearing in mind most of the trains are on the scunthorpe line, the conflicts of train movements are seldom.
Barnetby box is more interesting as it controls line movements through the station and there are more interesting block bell sequences to brocklesby jn.
Its a simular story at stafford. The bigger box is single manned and the smaller one is double. The bigger box at stafford just controls trains straight through and the smaller does the junction and station.
That said, i have been lucky enough to be in the big stafford box and see the signaller running up and down the frame!
Oh and for those who dont know, if anyones in a rush to do lincs boxes before they go, forget the brigg line and barton branch. They aint going nowhere yet. Just concentrate on wrawby to grimsby.

 

[lincolnshire]

Hi.
Wrawby is certainly impressive but it does have a good majority of white levers. Most of them are together in the frame. Also, bearing in mind most of the trains are on the scunthorpe line, the conflicts of train movements are seldom.
Barnetby box is more interesting as it controls line movements through the station and there are more interesting block bell sequences to brocklesby jn.
Its a simular story at stafford. The bigger box is single manned and the smaller one is double. The bigger box at stafford just controls trains straight through and the smaller does the junction and station.
That said, i have been lucky enough to be in the big stafford box and see the signaller running up and down the frame!
Oh and for those who dont know, if anyones in a rush to do lincs boxes before they go, forget the brigg line and barton branch. They aint going nowhere yet. Just concentrate on wrawby to grimsby.

I can remember Wrawby Signal Box when he had all 3 routes working 24 hours a day and shunting yard trains and tip trains back and forth, that was a time when some signalmen would just about be running up and down the box and others could just take it all in there stride.
Forty years ago the was also a book lad too, that job went and then they was on there own, so as well as signalling trains and shunting movements as all points then was mechanical rodding worked ones there was two coal fires to keep going and bring up the coal from the heap down at the bottom of the stairs and the box to clean and be kept tidy, windows to wash ( usually sundays) etc all in a days work.
Some points was converted to electric after Doncaster was modernised and the old point motors refurbished and installed there instead.

How times have changed no wonder signal persons in these new ROC,s need to go to the gym to keep fit.

 

[railnerd]

Hi.
Windows to wash in signal boxes??
Sorry... not familiar with that phrase

 

[lincolnshire]

Hi.
Windows to wash in signal boxes??
Sorry... not familiar with that phrase

Yes signal box windows need cleaning then, you usually wash them.

Especially in that area as it usually had some wind blowing through the middle of a valley as the line was between too hills, it is usually cool at Barnetby even in the middle of summer.If it was very dry all the dust off the nearby fields used too blow, at Elsham next box towards Scunthorpe I have known it when the S & T have had to come out and dig the gate rodding out of the blown soil off the fields as it was gaming up the gate operation back in the days of hand wheel operated gates.

 

[DaveHarries]

I tried to get some photos of Wrawby Junction when travelling by car between Thirsk and Corby a couple of months ago. I went by car down Marsh Lane to try and access the way across the field just the other side of the treatment works (?) but gave up after finding the lane gated and secured with a "Private" sign on it.

Not expecting to be up there again this year so will have to contend with the photos - not especially good ones - that I got from Barnetby station in June 2014.

Dave

 

[RichmondCommu]

Forgot to mention that of all the signal boxes we visited Roxton Sidings was our favorite. This signal box was mentioned in a previous thread and is in splendid isolation! I'd be interested to know why there were ever any sidings there as any possible need for them is certainly not obvious! The road leading up to it is so quiet that we were able to clean on the crossing gates whilst waiting for the train to pass. Loved the old wooden gates, the box itself and of course the signals. I hope to be back up there in a few weeks time to take a few more photographs whilst the weather is still decent.

Forgot to say that it took a while to find it!

 

[Signalmans Eye]

early 60s spent a few years working at Patricroft stn box cleaning windows was done on night turn the box was pretty high we used to clamber thro an open window onto a footwalk around the signalbox about a foot wide No rails to stop you fallin off and the walkway was none to steady.method of cleaning varied from bucket o water and chamois or water with vinegar in for good polish results to metal polish applied with newspaper.
signallers you ain't lived.

 

[RichmondCommu]

early 60s spent a few years working at Patricroft stn box cleaning windows was done on night turn the box was pretty high we used to clamber thro an open window onto a footwalk around the signalbox about a foot wide No rails to stop you fallin off and the walkway was none to steady.method of cleaning varied from bucket o water and chamois or water with vinegar in for good polish results to metal polish applied with newspaper.
signallers you ain't lived.

Stand by for a stupid question but why were there no hand rails?

 

[lincolnshire]

Forgot to mention that of all the signal boxes we visited Roxton Sidings was our favorite. This signal box was mentioned in a previous thread and is in splendid isolation! I'd be interested to know why there were ever any sidings there as any possible need for them is certainly not obvious! The road leading up to it is so quiet that we were able to clean on the crossing gates whilst waiting for the train to pass. Loved the old wooden gates, the box itself and of course the signals. I hope to be back up there in a few weeks time to take a few more photographs whilst the weather is still decent.

Forgot to say that it took a while to find it!

The days of sidings at Roxton would have been from the days when farmers loaded produce into trains, sugar beet for Brigg Sugar Beet factory which also had its own sidings and a Signal Box much in the same style as Roxton.
The signal box was down the line towards Grimsby from Hibalstow AHB crossing.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

early 60s spent a few years working at Patricroft stn box cleaning windows was done on night turn the box was pretty high we used to clamber thro an open window onto a footwalk around the signalbox about a foot wide No rails to stop you fallin off and the walkway was none to steady.method of cleaning varied from bucket o water and chamois or water with vinegar in for good polish results to metal polish applied with newspaper.
signallers you ain't lived.

There would be a handrail attached to the box sides so it was hold on with one hand and clean windows with the other one, since most signal box windows slide sideways it was easy to get outside on to walkway. Some did have a handrail behind you to stop you falling off, but you would,t want to be very well built ( Fat ) or else you would,t fit. Some had a plank of wood which was hinged to lower at the top of the access stairs to give you access to the walkway.

I always remember talking to a new signalman at Barton Hill who started work in Railtrack / Network days, after his training and bull **** about working for a wonderful go ahead company in these modern times, after signalling school to come to Barton Hill which was still a frame and semaphore signals and barriers controlled by a hand wheel. But the best was you had to chop the sticks and light a fire each morning when you arrived as that was the only form of heating in at that time and was only a 2 shift box. Bet he never got any training on fire lighting and chopping sticks and making a fire and bet he soon learned the art of fire lighting.

How time have changed for signallers .

 

[Boothby97]

I tried to get some photos of Wrawby Junction when travelling by car between Thirsk and Corby a couple of months ago. I went by car down Marsh Lane to try and access the way across the field just the other side of the treatment works (?) but gave up after finding the lane gated and secured with a "Private" sign on it.

Not expecting to be up there again this year so will have to contend with the photos - not especially good ones - that I got from Barnetby station in June 2014.

Dave

I've walked down that way (using the public footpath) a few times over the past few years and never had any issues.
This was the best view I got (taken last October) https://www.flickr.com/photos/sboothby/15656930731/in/album-72157641570905095/