Additional Signal Box information from Roy Hart
Reading your reference on the title page to some new material on the Par to Newquay branch, I was struck by the photos of St Blazey box. The following may be of interest:
ST BLAZEY SIGNAL BOX
St Blazey box opened in 1908, replacing an old Cornwall Mineral Railway box on a site opposite. In 1908 and for some years afterwards, the box has a dual function: note that the nameboard is off-centre.
This is because as built, the Par end of the building was a 2-storey yard and control office, with windows down almost to floor level, and with a separate entrance and staircase. The nameboard was therefore central to the 'signal box' part of the building. This arrangement came to an end about 1920, but the altered brickwork is still visible - and the signalman has a great space at the Par end of the box.
When the old cast iron nameplates were needlessly and foolishly removed in the 1980s they repeated the old position of the nameboard.
BUGLE SIGNAL BOX
As with St Blazey, I enjoyed visiting this box back in the 1960s. Bugle had a 41 lever frame (same size as SBZ) which was installed in 1930 when the line to Goonbarrow was doubled. By the 1960s Bugle was very quiet, while Goonbarrow was busy.
The website photos show the box after the economies of 1964, when it became Bugle Ground Frame ( not Molinnis GF as some references say). There were now two working levers (gate bolt and up distant -the down distant was fixed) and 39 spares!
Roy Many thanks Roy, I'll add the info to the relevant signalboxes
ST BLAZEY SIGNAL BOX
St Blazey box opened in 1908, replacing an old Cornwall Mineral Railway box on a site opposite. In 1908 and for some years afterwards, the box has a dual function: note that the nameboard is off-centre.
This is because as built, the Par end of the building was a 2-storey yard and control office, with windows down almost to floor level, and with a separate entrance and staircase. The nameboard was therefore central to the 'signal box' part of the building. This arrangement came to an end about 1920, but the altered brickwork is still visible - and the signalman has a great space at the Par end of the box.
When the old cast iron nameplates were needlessly and foolishly removed in the 1980s they repeated the old position of the nameboard.
BUGLE SIGNAL BOX
As with St Blazey, I enjoyed visiting this box back in the 1960s. Bugle had a 41 lever frame (same size as SBZ) which was installed in 1930 when the line to Goonbarrow was doubled. By the 1960s Bugle was very quiet, while Goonbarrow was busy.
The website photos show the box after the economies of 1964, when it became Bugle Ground Frame ( not Molinnis GF as some references say). There were now two working levers (gate bolt and up distant -the down distant was fixed) and 39 spares!
Roy Many thanks Roy, I'll add the info to the relevant signalboxes
6C53 caught in brilliant sunshine, Burngullow and Carlyon Bay
Hi Keith, The first offerings of 2016. The bright morning sunshine got weaker towards lunchtime on 6th Jan. I ventured out to see the returning JIA working from Treviscoe (6C53). It is pictured at Burngullow on arrival back from the branch, and passing Carlyon Bay with 66199 the locomotive.
Cheers, Craig Many thanks Craig
Cheers, Craig Many thanks Craig
6c53 66199 6th Jan 2015 Copyright Craig Munday
A smashing picture as 6c53 66199 passes Carlyon Golf course. 6th Jan 2015 Copyright Craig Munday
153325 Citizensrail.org on tour, working the St Ives Branch on a sunny Friday, 7th January, 2016 by Roger Salter
160107a 153325 with St Ives pictured in the background, runs alongside the Golf Coarse at Lelant with the 14.03 St Ives-St Erth service. Copyright Roger Salter
A visit to Probus Signalbox in 1964
by Roy Hart
Reading the late Cyril Hitchens' piece about Probus reminded me about a visit I made to Probus box in 1964: the box was reached up a quiet farm track, then down a path along the cutting. It was a ground-level wooden structure, on the outside of a curve, so the signalman's eyes were at wheel level of trains.
The story began in the 1890s, when the Great Western resolved to double the Cornish main line. The problem was not the widened earthworks, but the viaducts. Between St Austell and Truro were 9 viaducts: St Austell, Gover, Coombe, Fal, Probus, Tregarne, Tregeagle, Truro and Carvedras. Probus was to be replaced by an embankment, the others by wider, masonry structures.This made traffic management difficult, with Grampound Road the only passing place. At Probus was a small box, Probus siding. It lay to the west of the later Probus Halt. The long single line section from Grampound to Truro was a difficulty and Probus siding had just a small loop with no room for expansion, so the box was closed and a new, long crossing loop installed, with a box at each end: Probus East and Probus West. With the completion of doubling in the area in 1896, Probus West remained as a break- section box: Probus.
Probus box was an example of the old-time railway: in 1964 I found the signalman ensconsed in an armchair with the two resident cats. The box had four signals only by then. The frame was the original from the 19th century. So low was the structure that ballast was thrown up like bullets by passing trains.
This quaint little spot was obliterated in 1965. Today it is possible to spot the notch in the cutting near the overbridge where the box once stood.
Many thanks to Roy for this additional information.
by Roy Hart
Reading the late Cyril Hitchens' piece about Probus reminded me about a visit I made to Probus box in 1964: the box was reached up a quiet farm track, then down a path along the cutting. It was a ground-level wooden structure, on the outside of a curve, so the signalman's eyes were at wheel level of trains.
The story began in the 1890s, when the Great Western resolved to double the Cornish main line. The problem was not the widened earthworks, but the viaducts. Between St Austell and Truro were 9 viaducts: St Austell, Gover, Coombe, Fal, Probus, Tregarne, Tregeagle, Truro and Carvedras. Probus was to be replaced by an embankment, the others by wider, masonry structures.This made traffic management difficult, with Grampound Road the only passing place. At Probus was a small box, Probus siding. It lay to the west of the later Probus Halt. The long single line section from Grampound to Truro was a difficulty and Probus siding had just a small loop with no room for expansion, so the box was closed and a new, long crossing loop installed, with a box at each end: Probus East and Probus West. With the completion of doubling in the area in 1896, Probus West remained as a break- section box: Probus.
Probus box was an example of the old-time railway: in 1964 I found the signalman ensconsed in an armchair with the two resident cats. The box had four signals only by then. The frame was the original from the 19th century. So low was the structure that ballast was thrown up like bullets by passing trains.
This quaint little spot was obliterated in 1965. Today it is possible to spot the notch in the cutting near the overbridge where the box once stood.
Many thanks to Roy for this additional information.
St Austell in the 1970's
We are very fortunate to receive the following pictures from ?? Hanwell particularly of the signalbox at St Austell which is still there albeit boarded up (2016) with an uncertain future. Many thanks
A Peak approaching St Austell with an up service. Copyright Julian Hanwell
Looking towards the east from the up platform at St Austell, the start of the bank down towards Par is obvious. Other than the elimination of the Semaphore signal little has changed in this view other than that nowadays the pointwork on the extreme left goes nowhere. Copyright Julian Hanwell
A small 'knot' of young enthusiasts gather at the foot of the platform slope. The old down station building very much in use. Copyright Julian Hanwell
St Austell Signal box complete with nameplate and operational. Copyright Julian Hanwell.
Inside St Austell Signal Box. Copyright Julian Hanwell.
Inside the box at St Austell, a view of the lever frame and instrument shelf. Copyright Julian Hanwell.
A fine action shot as the Signalman, Mr Roger Mathews, demonstrates the art of 'lever pulling' in St Austell Signal Box. Copyright Julian Hanwell