This part of our website is created from information originally shown on the Midland Railway Signalman’s Association web pages.
On our former website, a link to the now dormant Signalman’s website showed some important information about the Midland Railway signal boxes and highlighted the fact the Midland Railway – Butterley is lucky enough to have a unique collection of the signal boxes used by the Midland Railway.
We aim to recreate and preserve this information here whilst adding additional items and content that are connected to the signal boxes and may be of interest to you.
Operational Signal Boxes
The Midland Railway – Butterley is home to a unique collection of signal boxes originally built by the Midland Railway Company over a hundred years ago. The boxes are operated by fully trained signalmen who were members of the former Midland Railway Signalman’s Association.They are aiming to preserve the concept of semaphore signalling by keeping the boxes in a good working condition. Three of the signal boxes at the Midland Railway – Butterley, situated at Hammersmith, Swanwick Junction and Butterley Station are operational and are currently 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’ within Hammersmith Station limits. ‘Butterley frame’ is released by tablet under OTW and by lever from the Hammersmith signal box under ETB. This arrangement is, we believe, unique in preservation.
Kilby Bridge Signal Box
The former Kilby Bridge signal box now controls the terminus at Hammersmith. Built in 1900, the signal box was closed by British Rail on 29 June 1986 and moved to Midland Railway – Butterley a month later. It was originally acquired for use at Swanwick Junction but it was decided to install it at the Terminus at Hammersmith where it was rebuilt in March 1987. The signal box was commissioned in September 1989. The box is designated as a Type 3b box and contains a 32 tumbler lever frame.
Ais Gill Signal Box
The former Ais Gill signal box, now at Butterley Station, was built in 1900. The signal box is well known for being originally situated on the summit of the Settle and Carlisle Railway, at 1,166 feet above sea level. It is in remarkable condition considering its previous location. The signal box at the Butterley Station is type 2a.
Kettering Station Signal Box
The former Kettering Station signal box now controls train operations at Swanwick Junction Station. Trains are ‘crossed’ here on the passing loop and, in addition to the museum connection, there are two other single line branches which are controlled; the ‘Butterley Works Branch’ and the former ‘Swanwick Colliery Branch’. More white levers are being painted in their correct colours as the installation at Swanwick expands to include the back branch platform points and associated signals. After the final installation is completed, most of the 44 levers will be in use.
This is the third box to be used at the Swanwick Junction Complex. The first was a crossing box from Holbrook Crossing on the Ripley branch line. Block bells and instruments were installed in the signal box for training purposes.
The second signal box was installed in Winter 1985 and was formerly located at the south end of Derby Midland Station. This was brought into use in April 1986.
The current signal box is from Kettering Station. It was originally built in 1913 and contains a 44 lever tappet frame. It was closed at Kettering on 6th December 1987 and was moved to Midland Railway – Butterley during the weekend of 4th/5th June 1988 directly to its present location. It was re-commissioned in the Spring of 1990.
ETB, OTW and OES?
Signalling block systems enable the safe and efficient operation of railways, so as to avoid collisions between trains. Block systems are used to control trains between stations and yards, and not normally within them. Any block system is defined by its associated physical equipment and by the application of a relevant set of rules. Some systems involve the use of signals, while others do not. Some systems are specifically designed for single track railways, where a danger exists of both head-on and rear-end collision, as opposed to double track, where the main danger is rear-end collision.
ETB
The term ETB means Electronic Token Block and is a signalling method of working for single railway lines. The electric token system was designed by Edward Tyer and patented by him in 1878. After having been tested between Lockerbie and Lochmaben and later between Newmains and Morningside, the system was first put into everyday service in 1880 on the newly opened line between Dalmally and Oban. The main advantage of the electric token system is the ability to obtain a token at whichever end of the single line section it is needed. Signalmen do not have to know beforehand the order in which trains are expected to pass through the section, which can change because of out of course running. (Source: Railway Signs and Signals of Great Britain).
OTW
This term means One Train Working and is also a signalling method. If a single track branch line is a dead end with a simple shuttle train service, then a single token is sufficient. The driver of any train entering the branch line (or occupying any part of it) must be in possession of the token, and no collision with another train is possible. This is the situation at the Midland Railway – Butterley. (Source: Railway Signs and Signals of Great Britain and Wikipedia).
OES
OES is the older version of the One Train Working method outlined above. In past times and for convenience in passing it from hand to hand, the token was often in the form of a staff, typically 800 mm long and 40 mm diameter, and is referred to as a ‘Train Staff’. Such a staff may have been a wooden staff with a brass plate stating the section of line on which it is valid, or it may be in the form of a key. In UK terminology, this method of working was originally referred to as One Engine in Steam (OES). Here at the Midland Railway – Butterley we use Tyers No. 6 tablet instruments. (Source: Railway Signs and Signals of Great Britain and Wikipedia).
Non-Operational Signal Boxes
The Midland Railway – Butterley is home to a unique collection of signal boxes originally built by the Midland Railway Company over a hundred years ago. The boxes are operated by fully trained signalmen who were members of the former Midland Railway Signalman’s Association.They are aiming to preserve the concept of semaphore signalling by keeping the boxes in a good working condition. Three of the signal boxes at the Midland Railway – Butterley, situated at Hammersmith, Swanwick Junction and Butterley Station are operational and are currently 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’ within Hammersmith Station limits. ‘Butterley frame’ is released by tablet under OTW and by lever from the Hammersmith signal box under ETB. This arrangement is, we believe, unique in preservation.
Linby Station Signal Box
The former Linby Station signal box is located on the Swanwick Junction complex and is open to the public as a demonstration signal box. It has been rebuilt on a brick base and has been renamed ‘Brands Crossing’ signal box after the name of the former colliery on the Swanwick Junction Complex. The box was re-opened by Ian Allen on 10th May 1994.
The box was originally built in 1895 as a Type 2b signal box and was subsequently extended. The original frame is installed as is the wheel to operate crossing gates. There is a proposal to install crossing gates over the lines of the narrow gauge and the diesel depot at Swanwick Junction. These gates would then be controlled by the wheel in the Brands Siding signal box. A special treat awaits you here – go take a peek!
Linby Colliery Sidings Signal Box
The former Linby Colliery Sidings signal box is currently located opposite the demonstration signal box on the Swanwick Junction complex and is used as a secondhand book shop. It is a Type 2b signal box which was originally built in 1894. The frame has been dismantled.