Netherfield Junction Signal Box Track Diagram
I visited this box on 3 January 1967. I visited 4 boxes that day, see my "boxes visited" log.
www.flickr.com/photos/192151030@N08/51601553327/in/album-...
It might be useful to look at a map to see the Colwick complex and I have circled in red the name Netherfield Junction here www.flickr.com/photos/192151030@N08/52092783898/in/album-...
In early times there were 2 boxes here, "Colwick West Junction" at the junction (West end of triangle West-East-North) and "Colwick Station" at the Nottingham end of the station originally at the location of the level crossing before being replaced by the bridge. Both boxes opened 23 August 1875.
By 1909 the level crossing had gone and points could be rod worked a greater distance so the GNR opted for a more centrally sited box to replace both, they did it on the cheap by converting a waiting room on the island platform into a signal box by adding bay windows either side and placing the lever frame at right angles to the track - this opened 19 April 1909.
By the late 1950's the station (and the box) were in a dire state of repair and so a new box was built at the west end of the station, this is the box I visited, this opened 13 October 1960.
It was a 40 lever R.S.Co ‘GN of I’ frame. Although it might seem that the frame was second hand in fact it wasn't!
Peter Churchman advises me:- "Unlike LMS/BR(LMR) and its predecessors, LNER/BR(ER) didn’t manufacture their own lever frames, instead buying from contractors as required.
According to a former locking fitter colleague, when BR(ER) were looking to source some new mechanical lever frames and replacement parts in mid/late 1950s, they were offered a good deal on a large consignment of lever frame parts they had in store. These had originally been manufactured for the GNR (Eire), and to their spec. For whatever reason, (e.g. an anticipated order that never came, or an order that was subsequently cancelled?) this large quantity of parts was in store and so immediately available (and it no doubt suited the makers to reclaim the space taken!). I believe the parts were then stored at Leyton workshops (former GE?), which became ER’s mechanical signalling hub.
As a result, almost all new and replacement frames on ER were latterly of this pattern, including several assembled for new SBs (Twenty Foot River, Gainsborough Trent Jcts, Horns Bridge, Seymour Jct, Dovecliffe, Netherfield Jct and Hubberts Bridge come to mind!)."
A close-up photo of the frame at Netherfield Junction is here www.flickr.com/photos/43709405@N07/6890703496/in/photolis...
The diagram as opened is here www.flickr.com/photos/192151030@N08/52093005819/in/album-...
It seems that in 1960 there was no inkling as to what was to happen 4 years later because the layout didn't have any gaps or allowances in the numbering for the GNR - MR link.
13 December 1964 the GNR - MR link opened as part of a plan to close all GC/GN lines North/West/South of Nottingham. The lever frame had to be completely relocked, though by chance levers 37 & 38 retained the same function! This is the layout I drew on my visit.
23 May 1965 - The Hall SB closes, now works AB to Trent Lane Junction.
12 August 1968 - Branch to Colwick North Junction closed (1st time).
7 December 1969 - Midland line from Nottingham resignalled, now works TCB to Trent PSB. The signalling notice is here www.flickr.com/photos/192151030@N08/albums/72177720295414664
4 January 1970 - GN line to Trent Lane Junction closed but down line retained as siding with a run round loop to serve a private siding.
12 April 1970 - Former Up Branch over Netherfield Lane reopened as the Gedling Colliery Branch. Netherfield Lane box also reopened for a while as a GB on the single line.
25 June 1972 - Colwick East Junction SB closed, now works AB to Rectory Junction.
28 September 1980 - Carlton & Netherfield Station SB closed, crossing worked from here using CCTV, 3 signals added, now works AB to Lowdham.
15 November 1991 - Gedling Branch closed.
25 August 1994 - Burton Joyce Down IBH added (crossing altered from AOC to AHB), 1 signal added.
13 October 1998 - Gedling Branch reopened, regular trains ran only throughout 1999, facing points eventually plain lined 2005.
28 July 2013 - Box closed, all routes resignalled and controlled from EMCC Netherfield Workstation.
Some photos of that last day are here:
1) The last train has gone, preparations being made for possessions www.flickr.com/photos/43709405@N07/9397011485/in/photolis...
2) Sending 7-5-5 to close the box www.flickr.com/photos/43709405@N07/9399776432/in/photolis...
3) The last entries in the Train Register Book www.flickr.com/photos/43709405@N07/9399776934/in/photolis...
I didn't take any photos of the box. However some more photos of the box can be seen here:
1) A 1962 external view www.flickr.com/photos/192151030@N08/52093114669/in/album-...
2) A 1996 external view www.flickr.com/photos/llangollen_signalman/48846206066/in...
3) A 2012 interior photo www.flickr.com/photos/43709405@N07/6890703046/in/photolis...
4) A 2012 photo of the Box Diagram www.flickr.com/photos/43709405@N07/6890702110/in/photolis...
5) The Box Diagram with possessions on, 2 days before the box closes www.flickr.com/photos/69838920@N04/9371382079/in/photolis...
6) .. and an interior shot on the same day www.flickr.com/photos/69838920@N04/9374156060/in/photolis...
7) To finish, a look back after the first train passed in 1960 www.flickr.com/photos/walnut_rede/9335600389/in/photolist...
Because of the changes which affected this box during the 1960s there are a number of Sectional Appendix versions which might apply. However, I've used the pages which are most relevant to the period I visited (1967):
1) The ex MR Nottingham Midland to Newark line - 1969 page 183 www.flickr.com/photos/192151030@N08/52105395799/in/photos...
2) The Aslockton to Netherfield Junction line - 1969 page 192
www.flickr.com/photos/192151030@N08/52105141291/in/photos...
3) the Netherfield Junction to Nottingham London Road - 1969 pages 194 & 195. www.flickr.com/photos/192151030@N08/52105141261/in/photos...
www.flickr.com/photos/192151030@N08/52105650030/in/photos...
4) The curve to Colwick North via Netherfield Lane was closed by 1969 so for, that bit, I've used the 1967 supplement page 43 www.flickr.com/photos/192151030@N08/52104117677/in/datepo...
The quite accurate location of the box was 461849 (Easting) 340855 (Northing), seen here on the NLS maps maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=16&lat=52....
A more detailed 25 inch to the mile map is here maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=16&lat=52....
Netherfield Junction Signal Box Track Diagram
I visited this box on 3 January 1967. I visited 4 boxes that day, see my "boxes visited" log.
www.flickr.com/photos/192151030@N08/51601553327/in/album-...
It might be useful to look at a map to see the Colwick complex and I have circled in red the name Netherfield Junction here www.flickr.com/photos/192151030@N08/52092783898/in/album-...
In early times there were 2 boxes here, "Colwick West Junction" at the junction (West end of triangle West-East-North) and "Colwick Station" at the Nottingham end of the station originally at the location of the level crossing before being replaced by the bridge. Both boxes opened 23 August 1875.
By 1909 the level crossing had gone and points could be rod worked a greater distance so the GNR opted for a more centrally sited box to replace both, they did it on the cheap by converting a waiting room on the island platform into a signal box by adding bay windows either side and placing the lever frame at right angles to the track - this opened 19 April 1909.
By the late 1950's the station (and the box) were in a dire state of repair and so a new box was built at the west end of the station, this is the box I visited, this opened 13 October 1960.
It was a 40 lever R.S.Co ‘GN of I’ frame. Although it might seem that the frame was second hand in fact it wasn't!
Peter Churchman advises me:- "Unlike LMS/BR(LMR) and its predecessors, LNER/BR(ER) didn’t manufacture their own lever frames, instead buying from contractors as required.
According to a former locking fitter colleague, when BR(ER) were looking to source some new mechanical lever frames and replacement parts in mid/late 1950s, they were offered a good deal on a large consignment of lever frame parts they had in store. These had originally been manufactured for the GNR (Eire), and to their spec. For whatever reason, (e.g. an anticipated order that never came, or an order that was subsequently cancelled?) this large quantity of parts was in store and so immediately available (and it no doubt suited the makers to reclaim the space taken!). I believe the parts were then stored at Leyton workshops (former GE?), which became ER’s mechanical signalling hub.
As a result, almost all new and replacement frames on ER were latterly of this pattern, including several assembled for new SBs (Twenty Foot River, Gainsborough Trent Jcts, Horns Bridge, Seymour Jct, Dovecliffe, Netherfield Jct and Hubberts Bridge come to mind!)."
A close-up photo of the frame at Netherfield Junction is here www.flickr.com/photos/43709405@N07/6890703496/in/photolis...
The diagram as opened is here www.flickr.com/photos/192151030@N08/52093005819/in/album-...
It seems that in 1960 there was no inkling as to what was to happen 4 years later because the layout didn't have any gaps or allowances in the numbering for the GNR - MR link.
13 December 1964 the GNR - MR link opened as part of a plan to close all GC/GN lines North/West/South of Nottingham. The lever frame had to be completely relocked, though by chance levers 37 & 38 retained the same function! This is the layout I drew on my visit.
23 May 1965 - The Hall SB closes, now works AB to Trent Lane Junction.
12 August 1968 - Branch to Colwick North Junction closed (1st time).
7 December 1969 - Midland line from Nottingham resignalled, now works TCB to Trent PSB. The signalling notice is here www.flickr.com/photos/192151030@N08/albums/72177720295414664
4 January 1970 - GN line to Trent Lane Junction closed but down line retained as siding with a run round loop to serve a private siding.
12 April 1970 - Former Up Branch over Netherfield Lane reopened as the Gedling Colliery Branch. Netherfield Lane box also reopened for a while as a GB on the single line.
25 June 1972 - Colwick East Junction SB closed, now works AB to Rectory Junction.
28 September 1980 - Carlton & Netherfield Station SB closed, crossing worked from here using CCTV, 3 signals added, now works AB to Lowdham.
15 November 1991 - Gedling Branch closed.
25 August 1994 - Burton Joyce Down IBH added (crossing altered from AOC to AHB), 1 signal added.
13 October 1998 - Gedling Branch reopened, regular trains ran only throughout 1999, facing points eventually plain lined 2005.
28 July 2013 - Box closed, all routes resignalled and controlled from EMCC Netherfield Workstation.
Some photos of that last day are here:
1) The last train has gone, preparations being made for possessions www.flickr.com/photos/43709405@N07/9397011485/in/photolis...
2) Sending 7-5-5 to close the box www.flickr.com/photos/43709405@N07/9399776432/in/photolis...
3) The last entries in the Train Register Book www.flickr.com/photos/43709405@N07/9399776934/in/photolis...
I didn't take any photos of the box. However some more photos of the box can be seen here:
1) A 1962 external view www.flickr.com/photos/192151030@N08/52093114669/in/album-...
2) A 1996 external view www.flickr.com/photos/llangollen_signalman/48846206066/in...
3) A 2012 interior photo www.flickr.com/photos/43709405@N07/6890703046/in/photolis...
4) A 2012 photo of the Box Diagram www.flickr.com/photos/43709405@N07/6890702110/in/photolis...
5) The Box Diagram with possessions on, 2 days before the box closes www.flickr.com/photos/69838920@N04/9371382079/in/photolis...
6) .. and an interior shot on the same day www.flickr.com/photos/69838920@N04/9374156060/in/photolis...
7) To finish, a look back after the first train passed in 1960 www.flickr.com/photos/walnut_rede/9335600389/in/photolist...
Because of the changes which affected this box during the 1960s there are a number of Sectional Appendix versions which might apply. However, I've used the pages which are most relevant to the period I visited (1967):
1) The ex MR Nottingham Midland to Newark line - 1969 page 183 www.flickr.com/photos/192151030@N08/52105395799/in/photos...
2) The Aslockton to Netherfield Junction line - 1969 page 192
www.flickr.com/photos/192151030@N08/52105141291/in/photos...
3) the Netherfield Junction to Nottingham London Road - 1969 pages 194 & 195. www.flickr.com/photos/192151030@N08/52105141261/in/photos...
www.flickr.com/photos/192151030@N08/52105650030/in/photos...
4) The curve to Colwick North via Netherfield Lane was closed by 1969 so for, that bit, I've used the 1967 supplement page 43 www.flickr.com/photos/192151030@N08/52104117677/in/datepo...
The quite accurate location of the box was 461849 (Easting) 340855 (Northing), seen here on the NLS maps maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=16&lat=52....
A more detailed 25 inch to the mile map is here maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=16&lat=52....