Midland Railway Signalman's Association

The Midland Railway - Butterley is home to a unique collection of signalboxes originally built by the Midland Railway Company over a hundred years ago. The boxes are operated by fully trained signalmen who are all members of the Midland Railway Signalman's Association. They are aiming to preserve the concept of semaphore signalling by keeping the boxes in working condition. Three of the signalboxes, situated at Hammersmith, Swanwick and Butterley are used to control trains on the railway using ETB and OTW(OES) regulations. Tyers No. 6 tablet instruments are used throughout. The ETB section is between Hammersmith and Swanwick with Butterley being a ground frame in Hammersmith station limits. Butterley frame is released by tablet under OTW and by lever from Hammersmith under ETB. This arrangement is, we believe, unique in preservation. There are 4 non-operating boxes on site; Linby Station box is used as a demonstration box; the box originally at Upper Portland is in store; The Desford Colliery Sidings box is used as an S&T store and the Linby Colliery box is used as Swanwick Station office. Come and see the boxes working every weekend at the Midland Railway Centre, Ripley, Derbyshire.

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Link Lines

The Signalbox: If you haven't visited this site yet, do so NOW! It's brilliant. A true Signalman's delight. Free cuppa also provided. Don't forget to sign the Train Register.

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