Eggesford box

Great modelling. Having always been a drawing board and craft knife type it really impresses me with what can be achieved with the newer technology. Try dentils or corbels for the projections under the roof line. No doubt someone with more architectural knowledge than me will be able to elucidate further.

Well, finally, after finding it once and then promptly misslaying it again, in the depths of the garage, have come up with what I think must have been the final diagram from Warminster box. Not much left by this time and working TCB to Westbury.

Not to be compared to the fine examples of 'high fidelity' modelling but when scanning in some old negatives I came across these. The box is based on Knightcote which was a small break section box just north of Fenny Compton. I made it on the occasion of the retirement of the, sadly, late Bob Small, relief signalman at Leamington Spa, Knightcote being Bob's first box. It was actually a musical jewellry box, when you lifted the lid it played ' If I where a rich man'!

Hi, just to prove I have not gone completely into hibernation have finally just about finished my model of a LSWR type 1 signal box though I think you can go on adding details ad infinitum, especially to the interior. Somewhat slow progress as for much of the time 72 hour working weeks have been the norm but things should now ease up. The box is a bit of an amalgam of Crediton and Portsmouth Arms. I intend it to be platform mounted with the ground dropping away behind the platform and a level crossing just at the end of the platforms Thanks again for the inspiration to get me doing a bit more modelmaking.

There was a David & Charles book, The Longmoor Military Railway by D. W. Ronald and R. J. Carter which gives some details of rolling stock and also lists films which included scenes on the LMR which come to the surprising total of 14

The G A Pryer book on signalling diagrams give the following dates for Silverton signal box:- 01/09/1964 Up refuge siding taken out of use 04/12/1967 All remaining points and discs out of use, which would have included the mill siding 12/05/1968 Box closed I note the date of closure of the box does not agree with the Staionmasters and even if the dates are correct the mill siding could have been disused before 1967. edit last para added.

Homage to those early eighties uniforms which did not suit anyone regardless of shape and size!. Martyn Taylor on the left. I once saw him pick up a wasp put it on the back of his hand and stroke it and not get stung. Charlie Daniels (no, not that one) who was an evacuee in the war and still sounded as though he had just arrived from the east end the previous day. Ironing technology had still to reach north Devon at this time!

A few shots of a 31 derailed in the yard at Barnstaple about 1980 Edit for inventing a new class of loco, thanks Terry!

I only went to Hele once and I was hoping the building I was thinking of would appear in yhe background of one of the photos to see if we where both thinking of the same place. Sadly not, the best I can do is the siding in the foreground of the HST and a shot of the box diagram showing the siding trailing back from the up loop.

Are you sure you are not thinking of Hele and Bradninch? I am not to sure myself though so I may be talking rubbish. I am sure someone will come along and clarify before to long.

The interior is not finished yet by a long way. Meant to put in an enquiry for help while I am at it. Has anyone got any photos of the single story end, forecourt elevation of the station buildings at either Copplestone, Morchard Road or Umberleigh which where all similar? One part of the buildings that I have not got photos of or seen any in any books. If ever I do get around to building a layout based on the North Devon it will need to be a 'rose tinted spectacles' version with lovingly tended gardens hence a building with living accomodation to get by SWMBO who tends to refer to a seventies based theme depreceatingly as 'Jimmy Saville trains'. Any ideas of building a layout with, on the facia, a grinning, waving Sir Jimmy declaring 'This is the age......of the train' have been somewhat overtaken by recent events.

I think the roof looks ok but if you think the pantiles look a little to large have you thought of trying some sheets from one of the continental manufacturers though I have a suspicion they may err on looking a little too small.

I think one of the things about the layout topics and other forums is that it can spur you on and give you inspiration if you have it in the back of your mind to try something similar. Finally got around to having a go at making a LSWR type 1 box myself. No where near finished but I thought I would post a few photos of my slow progress One of the reasons progress has been so slow is that I have never known a structure to be such a mare to construct with false starts attempting a 'thin frame' type of construction which I should really have known better than to try and repeatedly getting glue on the glazing at each fresh attempt at the windows. Admittedly looking even more battered having been thrown in the bottom of my bag but in the hope it will give encouragement to others when things are not going so well, the grisly remains! N.B. the two brass wires sticking up will be for the internal lights. I intend to bend them to follow the internal roof timbers, trim them to length and solder a light to them.

No shots of trains I am afraid but thought these photos of some of the signalling at Aylesbury in 1986 may be of some interest.

Either that or I was making use of the Network Rail pogo stick!

And another train for the layout, an Eastleigh to Derby train at Leamington (I cannot move that quick, it stopped for relief).

Hi, as well as relay cabinets near pointwork you are also likely to have a cabinet which may or may not look similar to a relay cabinet containing point clips and scotches in case of point failures (or if certain contractors have been working in the area a cabinet that used to contain....).

Some more shots of people Llanidloes road level crossing Caersws Sat 20.06.87 Phil Stevens, Park Jct Newport Fri 23.08.85 Aberbeeg Wed 14.05.86 Southminster Wed 04.09.85

Hi Bill, nice to see your progress. A few photos of the south end of Crediton including a 'Pillbox' brake in view of Bachmanns latest release. Well Mike I know the others who where older and less naive than the young me said it was his wife/partner though if he had two women on the go it would explain his lack of energy in other respects! I can remember once visiting a box in Cumbria and the signalman and his female visitor going through a complicated rigmarole to explain she had merely turned up owing to a puncture on her car. The father of a friend of the family was a signalman ending his days either at Braunton or Instow. According to the friend he hung his duster outside to dry to tell his lady friend if the coast was clear! Returning to Crediton, another of the relief signalmen was Ken Davey, always dressed in a suit complete with an attache case which contained his food and a neatly folded lever cloth. Incidently, there was a box duster but each signalmen also had their own personal duster. There was also Ray Allen. Ray used to call me Bo, abbreviated from Bo Diddley owing to my small size (5' 6" with the build of a Whippet); a bit of a joke as Ray was even shorter than me. I was told that shortly before the panel was commisioned it was placed on the block shelf. The existing equipment was piled up on framing at either end of the shelf to the extent that Ray had to stand on a chair to ring the block bell. The last time I saw Ray was on one of the few down trains that stopped at Tiverton Junction. I stared bored out of the window in the darkness as the carriage drew to a stand opposite the signalbox. I met the equally bored stare of the signalman and realised it was Ray. There then followed a mimeing session that would have left Marcel Marceau speechless with admiration. Much to the amusment/bemusement of the two women sat at the same table! When learning at Crediton with Dave Northcott one day a train drew to a stand to give up the token for the section from Eggesford and Dave and the driver had a slightly heated conversation. I asked Dave what it was about and it revealed that some drivers did not uderstand how Salmon Pool Crossing operated. It had not long been converted to an AOCL (Automatic Open Crossing Locally Monitored). It has possibly a unique configuration with two parallel single lines over it. Only one train was allowed to pass over it at a time. The first train to hit the approach controls got priority over the crossing with a white flashing light to proceed. Any other train approaching the crossing on the other line would get an illuminated sign saying literally 'Wait'. On this day a passenger from Barnstaple and a stone train from Meldon where both approaching the crossing. The stone train hit the approach controls just before the passenger, got the white light to proceed and trundled slowly up to the home signal to wait. The passenger was brought to a stand at the 'Wait' sign with the driver clearly able to see his home signal off a little further up the track. The passenger driver was not amused thinking Salmon Pool was controlled directly from Crediton box. Such situations where not much appreciated by any motorists at Crediton or even the signalmen as you would have to pull off before the train passed over Salmon Pool to avoid delay and then the barriers would be down at the crossing by the box with the signals off and the passenger train stood at Salmon Pool waiting for the crossing to go through its sequence and recieve its white flashing light. Enough for one night, I hope the photos are of some use, David

When the station site at Braunton was being redeveloped in the late 70s/early 80s the waiting shelter on the up platform was demolished and behind one layer of boarding these where revealed:- They ended up in the goods shed at Barnstaple for onward movement to the NRM as far as I know.

Hi Ian, hope the below of some use. Nearly gave the station manageress a heart attack as not wearing HiViz at time and she glanced up from car park and saw a strange figure dressed all in black about to hurl himself off station roof!

Carrying on with our ramblings about Crediton box. After a fortnight at Eggesford I finally arrived at Crediton. Compared to Eggesford the box was cramped but I soon got to think of it as cosy. The box contained a 22 lever Stevens frame with 15 levers working with the levers standing upright in the frame when normal. Apart from the block bell to Eggesford, the tension adjusters and the frame all the rest of the equipment was of western pattern. I presume most of the southern equipment had been replaced when the layout was altered in 1971. The levers had been fitted with standard western Ivorine lever leads (description plates) but you could see the holes at the bottom of the levers where the southern plates had been fitted. Here I met the only resident signaller, Ray Knight; who, I hate to say, reminded me of no one more than Sheriff Roscoe P Coletrain out of the Dukes of Hazzard! There where two vacancies at Crediton as not only was it a bottom grade box (A) but the hours put most people off. It was worked on two ten hour shifts 0300/1300 and 1300/2300 with one turn on a Sunday which was 1120/2025. The vacancies where covered by relief men from Exeter. I do not think Ray was that keen to teach me fearing the loss of his overtime. As it was , once I took on we covered the box between us for most of the time as with resignalling in the offing the Exeter men where tied up with covering the vacancies on the mainline. Most of the time I learnt with the relief men. Covering a wider variety of boxes relief men where often the best to learn with. There was Dave Northcott, a large gentleman both in size and volume, known to everybody as Basher. The first time I learnt with him I went away hoping I would not be on with him to much. I soon learnt, however, his bark was much worse than his bite and got to really enjoy his company. I can still remember him asking me rules. If I did not know the answer back would come the comment in a loud voice "Clem will smack your ar*@e if you don't know that!". A complete contrast was 'Rigor' who would spend most of the shift slumped in the chair virtually horizontal. The first shift I was on with him he barely said a word. Now 'Rigor' lived at Copplestone and on lates his other half would often drive to the box and spend the evening with him. I knew this and was slightly miffed at his lack of conversation. Come late afternoon 'Rigor' started to suggest that I may as well get away early as while learning it would be my only chance to do this. I knew what his ulterior motive was so the veritable picture of beaming fresh faced innocense I said no that was all right, I did not mind staying. Phil Arnold who tended an allotment overlooking the box told me the next day how a mini had arrived outside the box whilst I was out to a train, 'Rigor' had emerged from the box and then the car had roared away with its driver in high dudgeon! I think 'Rigor' twigged afterwards that I had been making a point and was more sociable in future, even giving me some strawberries. More on learning and details of the box later but here is a shot of a 47 entering the newly singled section to Cowley.

The one of the lonely traveller reminds me of a B&W photo in Amateur Photographer many years ago. A misty, dull, miserable day. The end of a platform with a Crewe nameboard, a few BRUTEs and sat on a seat, back to the photographer slumped down and shoulders hunched despondently a lone passenger. The caption....'Never on a Sunday'

Certainly looks a lot sprucer than in my day though someone appears to have used 0 gauge gas lamps on an 00 model!

I do not think it has changed much but some photos of the downside shelter at Crediton. On a Sunday when things where quiet I used to go up to the platform and sweep and mop out the shelters on the up and downside and clean the windows. A few memories of learning the job. One Wednesday at Barnstaple the station supervisor, Owen Gregory, told me I was going to Eggesford on the next Monday. This was a bit of a surprise to me. I had put in an application for the signalmans job at Crediton some six months previously and heard nothing. Since the Exeter resignalling had been announced right afterwards I had assumed that the vacancy would be frozen. It turned out that the idea of sending me to Eggesford was because there was only one mode of signalling instead of the three at Crediton so I would do my first fortnight of training at Eggesford. Eggesford box was roomy, being a replacement for the old box which had suffered badly from subsidence. The old box had been to the LSWR type i box design like most of the others on the line though it had appeared different as it was the only one to be built with a gabled roof instead of a hipped roof which all the others had. Anyway, the replacement had a twelve lever frame, eight working and four spaces giving plenty of room and was a standard WR prefabricated design. When I first went there it still had an arrangement of slats above the windows to act as a light baffle (I presume). When the box was later repainted these where removed. The box faced a hillside so low sunlight causing a glare was not a problem. The slats collected rainwater and would funnel it down your neck when you went out for the token. The box looked a bit 'bareheaded' though without the slats. Eggesford box with Bill Butt stood on the landing On my first day at Eggesford I met Harry Toulson who lived opposite in the station house with his wife Betty. Harry and Betty had met when they both worked on the trams in Leeds and to listen to Harry you would think he had only just moved down from there. Harry was the local rules expert and he would sit me down at the table with him the other side and we would go through the rule books for the entire turn. I went home with my head buzzing and had to sit down again at home with the books to get everything straight in my head. That is not a criticism by the way, I really appreciated all the trouble he was taking. One day Betty turned up with Harrys dinner. I pulled her leg about there being no pie for me. The next day she appeared and presented me with a whole apple pie she had baked just for me! It was Harry who told me that the slats above the windows where fitted to reduce glare from spotlights as the box had come from a marshalling yard in Birmingham. Years later I had to smile as the box was actually second hand from Ashendon Junction. The location is even more rural than Eggesford with no road near and Ashendon village away on a hill. I have since had occasion to go to Ashendon to clear cattle from the line, its site only marked by the up and down lines slewing away from one another and then back again as a reminder of the flying junction that once existed there. Doubtless the confusion was because the box had been located on the GWRs direct line TO Birmingham. Until the booking was abolished at Banbury South signalbox a little while ago, all the up Chilterns services had AL entered in the remarks column in the train register for Ashendon line. Sadly, Harry died a few years ago of cancer. He is the only Eggesford signalman that I have not got a photo of. A year or so ago, Betty was still living in the station house. The other signalman I learnt with was Jimmy Hughes who used to come to work in his scrap metal lorry. Learning with him was much more relaxed, I think I read the newspapers more when I was with him than I did the rule book. Bill Butt, the other resident was on annual leave when I was learning so I must have had a day or two with Bill Woolridge who was a reliefman based at Eggesford who I had already met at Barnstaple. The first time I was entrusted to change tokens at Eggesford I was stood on the crossing as the train approached and realised at the last moment that I had the token in the wrong hand. I do not think many signalmen exchange tokens with their arms crossed! Eggesford was always my favourite location on the line and I spent many hours taking photos around there. The scenery is still the same (except for there being more of it!) but it does not seem the same without the human presence. Later we shall go on to Crediton and my learning there. David.