Fiskerton Junction Signal Box Track Diagram
I first visited this box on 14 July 1967. I visited 3 boxes that day, see my "boxes visited" log.
www.flickr.com/photos/192151030@N08/51601553262/in/album-...
The level crossing controlled by Fiskerton Jn box was always called “Morton”. Prior to Fiskerton Jn SB opening in 1929, Morton Crossing was a typical mid-section level crossing worked by a crossing keeper, with hand-operated gates and (most likely) a 2 lever ‘throw over’ pattern ground frame, operating just distant signals to protect the level crossing – In common with several other level crossings along that line, the gate ‘targets’ served as the stop signals.
Fiskerton Jn box opened 7 April 1929, part of the work done by the LMS which included a new west curve from Rolleston West Jn. The main purpose of the new curve was to facilitate heavier coal trains from the mid Notts collieries, bound for London and other southbound destinations. This route avoided the more steeply graded one via Kirkby-in-Ashfield.
The 1929 notice can be seen, starting here www.flickr.com/photos/192151030@N08/51856464378/in/album-...
The frame here was a Railway Executive Committee (REC) (LMS) pattern tappet frame of 30 levers, at 4½ centres. The gate wheel was not of the usual Midland ‘crab’ style, - best described as a ‘ship’s wheel’ pattern, as it had spokes extending beyond the circumference of the wheel.
A locking diagram can be seen here www.flickr.com/photos/192151030@N08/51858449480/in/album-...
So, in 1929, as the Fiskerton Jn – Rolleston West Jnt goods curve was only planned for daytime usage, a ground frame (Morton Crossing) was also provided on the other side of the road to facilitate night (and weekend) control of the level crossing by a crossing keeper to benefit from the economies of staff grade saving.
The ground frame had an 8 lever frame and slotted the main line home and distant signals, in addition to control of the gate stops and locks. A 1970 track diagram is here www.flickr.com/photos/192151030@N08/51858654527/in/datepo...
In Fiskerton Jn box there was a ‘Gate Disengager’ lever (23), which could only be reversed after the Up & Dn Main homes & distants were cleared and the box switched out.
A photo taken in the locking room is here, along with some detailed text explanation. www.flickr.com/photos/192151030@N08/51857789941/in/album-...
A locking diagram can be seen here, along with some detailed text explanation. www.flickr.com/photos/192151030@N08/51858449480/in/album-...
Signal 13 was added 1936.
The route to Rolleston West closed 1 March 1965.
As previously stated Morton Crossing Gate Box was there before 7 April 1929 when Fiskerton Jn box opened. The ground frame cabin seemed to be still connected up but not used by early 1980's as, by then, Fiskerton Jn box was open continuously.
Fiskerton Jn box became a fringe box to the East Midlands Control Centre (EMCC) on 3 November 2016 and then was closed, taken over by EMCC (Netherfield Workstation) on 24 October 2016. The level crossing was renamed Morton Road and MCB-OD (Barriers with Obstacle Detection by radar).
The work comprised three stages:
Stage 1 covered from Burton Joyce to a temp fringe at Fiskerton Jn (Lowdham SB abolished).
Stage 2 extended to a temp fringe at Staythorpe Xing (Fiskerton Jn SB, plus Fiskerton Stn & Rolleston GBs abolished).
Stage 3 then extended to the final link-up with Doncaster panel beyond Newark Castle.
There was incorrect naming of Morton LC as ‘Morton Road’ LC! So to this day, the new interlocking provided for the LC is still known as Morton Road, with the only amendment achieved being the name of the LC corrected as displayed on Workstation screens etc.
Fiskerton Jn box, along with both Staythorpe Crossing & Newark Castle boxes were all noted to still be in situ seen by Peter Churchman from a train on 15 October 2021.
The "Newark Advertiser" on 6 May 2020 reported that Network Rail had submitted a planning application to move Morton signal box in Nottinghamshire to the Vale of Berkeley Railway in Gloucestershire. www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/news/signal-box-is-on-track-fo...
At the time of posting this (1 February 2022) a funding appeals page was on the Vale of Berkeley Railway's web site valeofberkeleyrailway.co.uk/2020/02/04/2545/
UPDATE 21 September 2023 - the above link doesn't now work and I can see no mention of the Signal Box on the Website for the Vale of Berkeley Railway.
My external photo of the box is here www.flickr.com/photos/192151030@N08/51856277834/in/album-...
A photo showing both Fiskerton Jn signal box and Morton Crossing ground frame cabin is here www.flickr.com/photos/192151030@N08/51858122224/in/album-...
Additional Links about this box can be seen here
signalbox.org/photo-gallery/london-midland-scottish-railw...
www.railscot.co.uk/locations/F/Fiskerton_Junction/
www.derby-signalling.org.uk/Newark.htm
The Sectional Appendix pages are here
www.flickr.com/photos/192151030@N08/51750960355/in/photos...
www.flickr.com/photos/192151030@N08/51859997075/in/datepo...
The quite accurate location of the box was 472357 (Easting) 351497 (Northing), seen here on the NLS maps maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=16&lat=53....
A more detailed 25 inch to the mile map is here maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=16&lat=53....
Fiskerton Junction Signal Box Track Diagram
I first visited this box on 14 July 1967. I visited 3 boxes that day, see my "boxes visited" log.
www.flickr.com/photos/192151030@N08/51601553262/in/album-...
The level crossing controlled by Fiskerton Jn box was always called “Morton”. Prior to Fiskerton Jn SB opening in 1929, Morton Crossing was a typical mid-section level crossing worked by a crossing keeper, with hand-operated gates and (most likely) a 2 lever ‘throw over’ pattern ground frame, operating just distant signals to protect the level crossing – In common with several other level crossings along that line, the gate ‘targets’ served as the stop signals.
Fiskerton Jn box opened 7 April 1929, part of the work done by the LMS which included a new west curve from Rolleston West Jn. The main purpose of the new curve was to facilitate heavier coal trains from the mid Notts collieries, bound for London and other southbound destinations. This route avoided the more steeply graded one via Kirkby-in-Ashfield.
The 1929 notice can be seen, starting here www.flickr.com/photos/192151030@N08/51856464378/in/album-...
The frame here was a Railway Executive Committee (REC) (LMS) pattern tappet frame of 30 levers, at 4½ centres. The gate wheel was not of the usual Midland ‘crab’ style, - best described as a ‘ship’s wheel’ pattern, as it had spokes extending beyond the circumference of the wheel.
A locking diagram can be seen here www.flickr.com/photos/192151030@N08/51858449480/in/album-...
So, in 1929, as the Fiskerton Jn – Rolleston West Jnt goods curve was only planned for daytime usage, a ground frame (Morton Crossing) was also provided on the other side of the road to facilitate night (and weekend) control of the level crossing by a crossing keeper to benefit from the economies of staff grade saving.
The ground frame had an 8 lever frame and slotted the main line home and distant signals, in addition to control of the gate stops and locks. A 1970 track diagram is here www.flickr.com/photos/192151030@N08/51858654527/in/datepo...
In Fiskerton Jn box there was a ‘Gate Disengager’ lever (23), which could only be reversed after the Up & Dn Main homes & distants were cleared and the box switched out.
A photo taken in the locking room is here, along with some detailed text explanation. www.flickr.com/photos/192151030@N08/51857789941/in/album-...
A locking diagram can be seen here, along with some detailed text explanation. www.flickr.com/photos/192151030@N08/51858449480/in/album-...
Signal 13 was added 1936.
The route to Rolleston West closed 1 March 1965.
As previously stated Morton Crossing Gate Box was there before 7 April 1929 when Fiskerton Jn box opened. The ground frame cabin seemed to be still connected up but not used by early 1980's as, by then, Fiskerton Jn box was open continuously.
Fiskerton Jn box became a fringe box to the East Midlands Control Centre (EMCC) on 3 November 2016 and then was closed, taken over by EMCC (Netherfield Workstation) on 24 October 2016. The level crossing was renamed Morton Road and MCB-OD (Barriers with Obstacle Detection by radar).
The work comprised three stages:
Stage 1 covered from Burton Joyce to a temp fringe at Fiskerton Jn (Lowdham SB abolished).
Stage 2 extended to a temp fringe at Staythorpe Xing (Fiskerton Jn SB, plus Fiskerton Stn & Rolleston GBs abolished).
Stage 3 then extended to the final link-up with Doncaster panel beyond Newark Castle.
There was incorrect naming of Morton LC as ‘Morton Road’ LC! So to this day, the new interlocking provided for the LC is still known as Morton Road, with the only amendment achieved being the name of the LC corrected as displayed on Workstation screens etc.
Fiskerton Jn box, along with both Staythorpe Crossing & Newark Castle boxes were all noted to still be in situ seen by Peter Churchman from a train on 15 October 2021.
The "Newark Advertiser" on 6 May 2020 reported that Network Rail had submitted a planning application to move Morton signal box in Nottinghamshire to the Vale of Berkeley Railway in Gloucestershire. www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/news/signal-box-is-on-track-fo...
At the time of posting this (1 February 2022) a funding appeals page was on the Vale of Berkeley Railway's web site valeofberkeleyrailway.co.uk/2020/02/04/2545/
UPDATE 21 September 2023 - the above link doesn't now work and I can see no mention of the Signal Box on the Website for the Vale of Berkeley Railway.
My external photo of the box is here www.flickr.com/photos/192151030@N08/51856277834/in/album-...
A photo showing both Fiskerton Jn signal box and Morton Crossing ground frame cabin is here www.flickr.com/photos/192151030@N08/51858122224/in/album-...
Additional Links about this box can be seen here
signalbox.org/photo-gallery/london-midland-scottish-railw...
www.railscot.co.uk/locations/F/Fiskerton_Junction/
www.derby-signalling.org.uk/Newark.htm
The Sectional Appendix pages are here
www.flickr.com/photos/192151030@N08/51750960355/in/photos...
www.flickr.com/photos/192151030@N08/51859997075/in/datepo...
The quite accurate location of the box was 472357 (Easting) 351497 (Northing), seen here on the NLS maps maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=16&lat=53....
A more detailed 25 inch to the mile map is here maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=16&lat=53....