Trivia: disused/dismantled railways in the UK with signals still in situ

[Harbornite]

I was thinking about this after exploring the Grimsby-Louth line on google maps and finding an old semaphore post. Other examples that spring to mind are the Penmaenpool home and distant (albeit with an unoriginal arm) and the signals on the mothballed Dudley- Walsall route which is now being cleared. How many other examples can you think of where there are surviving signals or signal posts on disused lines (preferably on lines that are dismantled and can be walked).

Thanks.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Before it was turned into a cycleway, the Spen Valley line between Dewsbury and Ravensthorpe had no track but did have illuminated colour light signals visible from passing Huddersfield to Leeds trains!

 

[tsr]

There are at least one or two ground position light signals at Selsdon for the disconnected lines on the disused branch platforms.

As I understand it, any removal works are deemed more disruptive than leaving the disused signals functioning and in situ.

 

[AlterEgo]

The long-dismantled Newport Pagnell branch still has a signal post extant by the site of the old Newport Pagnell station.

 

[pompeyfan]

There's a proud looking semaphore on Hayling Island, just before the bridge on the long gone Hayling Billy line.

 

[neonison]

The semaphore which used to protect the level crossing outside Shildon wagon works has been restored on the roundabout which now occupies the same spot.

 

[The Planner]

One on the Great Central somewhere near Willoughby.

 

[Ianno87]

Potton station (on the former Varsity Line between Sandy and Cambridge) still has the remains of a semaphore post alongside what's left of the old station.

 

[Tim R-T-C]

At Ballachulish up in Scotland there is a signal by the road from the line closed in 1966

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Parts of the Croxley Green branch did for a while - track was "borrowed" in July 1996 to urgently repair the WCML after the collision ...

 

[Railsigns]

At Ballachulish up in Scotland there is a signal by the road from the line closed in 1966

That signal was moved there from Fort William in the 1980s (it was the Mallaig Junction Up Branch distant signal).

 

[John Webb]

One on the Great Central somewhere near Willoughby.

This one, I think, photographed 8 years ago:
Disused railway signal gantry, Willoughby

© Copyright Andy F and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
(Click on the photo to go to the larger original)

 

[physics34]

There are at least one or two ground position light signals at Selsdon for the disconnected lines on the disused branch platforms.

As I understand it, any removal works are deemed more disruptive than leaving the disused signals functioning and in situ.

they even renewed it with LEDs!!!

 

[Deepgreen]

I recall when the up West Croydon to Victoria fast lines connection at Windmill Bridge junction was removed during that junction's remodelling in the 1980s, the up signal remained long after the track has been removed and was lit (permanently at red, of course).

 

[Shrimper]

Skelton Junction has a few on the loops and the Glazebrook line.

There is a shunt signal for a disconnected siding in the vicinity of Northwich too.

Between Hyde North and Guide Bridge you can also see the remnants of some former semaphore signals for the removed lines in the overgrowth.

 

[Thebaz]

There are at least one or two ground position light signals at Selsdon for the disconnected lines on the disused branch platforms.

As I understand it, any removal works are deemed more disruptive than leaving the disused signals functioning and in situ.

Yes, I see them every day and they're still showing red! I wonder how much money has been wasted keeping them illuminated since Network rail severed the siding there? Must have been a good ten years ago.

 

[work-traveller]

That signal was moved there from Fort William in the 1980s (it was the Mallaig Junction Up Branch distant signal).

That signal has always struck me as one that was installed post-closure.

 

[Crossover]

Before it was turned into a cycleway, the Spen Valley line between Dewsbury and Ravensthorpe had no track but did have illuminated colour light signals visible from passing Huddersfield to Leeds trains!

One of them is still there, albeit no longer lit and very very battered last time I saw it!

There are at least one or two ground position light signals at Selsdon for the disconnected lines on the disused branch platforms.

As I understand it, any removal works are deemed more disruptive than leaving the disused signals functioning and in situ.

Yes, I see them every day and they're still showing red! I wonder how much money has been wasted keeping them illuminated since Network rail severed the siding there? Must have been a good ten years ago.

Removing the signals requires re-doing the interlocking. It is fairly likely, I would have thought, that the controlling box still "thinks" all the junctions are still there, despite being plain-lined. Of course, signals generally have proving circuits so the signals need to display a danger aspect at all times. If they stop working, it would impact on any other line nearby that relied on that being the case

 

[GW43125]

How long did the track and signalling remain in situ on the long-gone Down Goods at Stapleford & Sandiacre?

 

[GW43125]

The old lines to Curzon St still have the junction signals. Though I'm told these are to go in the resignalling.

 

[JonathanP]

I've always found it amusing that there's still a working red signal facing the level crossing at Weymouth where the Quay branch comes in.
Faithfully protecting the Weymouth station area with it's red aspect, day and night, for the past 18 years, waiting for the train which will never come.

 

[mr_moo]

The former branch from Seaton Junction to Seaton, now the Seaton tramway, still has some semaphore posts in place, albeit minus arms and very rusty. I use the trams at least once a year (I have relatives in that area) and always think it would be lovely to see them restored.

 

[Dr_Paul]

Before it was turned into a cycleway, the Spen Valley line between Dewsbury and Ravensthorpe had no track but did have illuminated colour light signals visible from passing Huddersfield to Leeds trains!

There's not much point having signals on a bike-way, most cyclists would just ignore them.

 

[Dr_Paul]

I think it's gone now, but the starter signal on platform 1 at Twickenham for many years showed a red light after the connection to the up slow had been dismantled and the track itself was quite unusable.

 

[jochta]

Spotted these recently on the Wisbech branch at the severed A47 level crossing - https://goo.gl/maps/NzSHkjuqTot

 

[RichmondCommu]

I'm pretty certain that there is a semaphore signal at Middleton Top on the Cromford and High Peak trail although its some years since I was last up there.

 

[jochta]

There's a semaphore on the Ipswich Docks branch visible from the site of Ranelagh Road level crossing. See https://goo.gl/maps/Evupa9RpSY62

 

[Harbornite]

Other examples I can think of are the the level crossing lights on the Cambrian line near Oswestry and the signal guarding the short branch leading to the now lifted Albion oil sidings, although this is pushing it.

 

[Harbornite]

There's a semaphore on the Ipswich Docks branch visible from the site of Ranelagh Road level crossing. See https://goo.gl/maps/Evupa9RpSY62

That's an interesting example. Looking at google streetview, it seems as though the crossing gates were only removed in 2013. I wonder if any bits of them were preserved?

 

[Parallel]

I've always found it amusing that there's still a working red signal facing the level crossing at Weymouth where the Quay branch comes in.
Faithfully protecting the Weymouth station area with it's red aspect, day and night, for the past 18 years, waiting for the train which will never come.

Is it this one? http://stevestrainpics.weebly.com/uploads/6/9/0/5/6905506/1238474_orig.jpg?684
NB: Not my picture

If so a stub of the Weymouth Quay line can be used to stable diesel stock I believe.