Common Lane Signal Box
Common Lane signal box was the GLR's first purpose built signal box and was constructed in the Autumn of 1989. Unusually, the signalbox structure was built around the lever frame! John Gartell and his Father, Alan, had laid the concrete base around the steelwork supporting the lever frame so that the 18 lever 'Stevens' frame could be installed by John 'CJ' Penny and Garry Shaftoe who had rescued the lever frame from a railway scrapheap at Salisbury. The lever frame was installed, painted and many of the levers connected to various signals and points before the upper structure of the box had any walls, windows or roof! Construction of the walls and roof continued steadily using reclaimed materials with much of the woodwork being completed by Alan Gartell. Once the structure was watertight John Penny and Garry Shaftoe began the 'fitting out' to recreate a typical small signalbox on a 'Southern' theme using much of their own personal collection of signalling equipment such as block indicators and signal repeaters etc. A genuine railway coal fired stove was installed together with authentic heavy duty railway brown 'lino'. Railway telephones, cupboards and booking desk were added to create the right ambience.
As time progressed and the track layout expanded so the signalling was altered to cater for the changes. Some of the levers were converted to 'push-pull' operation so that one lever could effectively control two signals - the compact overall size of the box meant that the lever frame could not be extended even in the unlikely event that more levers of the correct pattern could be found. More signal indicators and other equipment was added together with a working 'track circuit' - used to indicate to the signalman the exact position of a train on his illuminated track diagram. The lower portion of the signalbox known as the 'locking room' was also being continuously filled up with more and more electrical equipment such as relays and batteries - all necessary to make the signalling and telephone equipment work.
Common Lane box serves as the 'Control' point for the GLR on open days as it houses the public address system for Common Lane station and is ideally placed to supervise the coaling and watering operations of the steam locos together with the shunting of all trains that start or terminate at the station.
Common Lane signal box was the GLR's first purpose built signal box and was constructed in the Autumn of 1989. Unusually, the signalbox structure was built around the lever frame! John Gartell and his Father, Alan, had laid the concrete base around the steelwork supporting the lever frame so that the 18 lever 'Stevens' frame could be installed by John 'CJ' Penny and Garry Shaftoe who had rescued the lever frame from a railway scrapheap at Salisbury. The lever frame was installed, painted and many of the levers connected to various signals and points before the upper structure of the box had any walls, windows or roof! Construction of the walls and roof continued steadily using reclaimed materials with much of the woodwork being completed by Alan Gartell. Once the structure was watertight John Penny and Garry Shaftoe began the 'fitting out' to recreate a typical small signalbox on a 'Southern' theme using much of their own personal collection of signalling equipment such as block indicators and signal repeaters etc. A genuine railway coal fired stove was installed together with authentic heavy duty railway brown 'lino'. Railway telephones, cupboards and booking desk were added to create the right ambience.
As time progressed and the track layout expanded so the signalling was altered to cater for the changes. Some of the levers were converted to 'push-pull' operation so that one lever could effectively control two signals - the compact overall size of the box meant that the lever frame could not be extended even in the unlikely event that more levers of the correct pattern could be found. More signal indicators and other equipment was added together with a working 'track circuit' - used to indicate to the signalman the exact position of a train on his illuminated track diagram. The lower portion of the signalbox known as the 'locking room' was also being continuously filled up with more and more electrical equipment such as relays and batteries - all necessary to make the signalling and telephone equipment work.
Common Lane box serves as the 'Control' point for the GLR on open days as it houses the public address system for Common Lane station and is ideally placed to supervise the coaling and watering operations of the steam locos together with the shunting of all trains that start or terminate at the station.