Crewe North Junction signal box facts for kids
A signal box is a special building used to control trains and railway tracks. The Crewe North Junction signal box was one of these important buildings. It had a special control panel called a Westinghouse All Electric Style 'L' lever frame. This signal box started working on March 29, 1940. It was part of a big project to update the signals at Crewe railway station.
The signal box was used for many years until July 19, 1985. It was then closed down because Crewe station was getting a new design for its tracks and signals.
Contents
Where Was It Located?
The Crewe North Junction signal box was found just north of Crewe railway station. It was right where the lines to Chester met the main West Coast Main Line. From this signal box, workers could also see trains coming from and going to Manchester and Sandbach. They could also see all the platforms on the north side of the station.
Today, the signal box is still in its original spot. It is now part of the Crewe Heritage Centre. Here, a team of signal experts shows how the signalling worked. They even do demonstrations and simulations for visitors.
How Was It Built?
The Crewe North Junction signal box had a control panel called a Westinghouse Style 'L' lever frame. This type of panel was also used in the Crewe South Junction signal box.
The North Junction signal box was built in a very strong way. It had walls made of reinforced concrete that were 15 inches thick. Its roof was even thicker, at 18 inches of concrete. This strong design was because it was built in 1940, during World War II. It was made to survive an air raid and keep working safely.
How It Worked
Who Worked There?
When it first opened, four people usually worked in the signal box. These were two signalmen, a signal box-lad, and a regulator. Later on, it was mostly just the signalmen and the box-lad.
Nearby Signal Boxes
At first, the Crewe North Junction signal box worked with eight other signal boxes nearby. Over time, some of these closed down. For example, Crewe No.3 box closed in November 1958. Crewe Station 'B' box closed in June 1960. When these closed, their control was taken over by Crewe South Junction.
Crewe South Junction
Crewe South Junction was another signal box. It was built with the same design as North Junction. It also started working at the same time. These two boxes used a system called Absolute block signalling. This system uses a block bell to talk between the boxes for each platform.
When a train entered a platform, North Junction would tell South Junction "Train on line." This was known by special track circuits or by seeing the train. When South Junction saw the whole train leave the platform, they would say "Out of Section." This made sure no part of the train was left behind.
Platforms 4, 5, and 6 were "Up platforms." This meant trains could only go "Up" into them, towards South Junction. Platform 3 was special because it was "bi-directional." Trains could go to or from South Junction using this platform. Platform 2 was "Down only," meaning trains only came from South to North.
Crewe South Junction closed on June 2, 1985. This was just over a month before Crewe North Junction closed. Its signalling was then controlled by the Crewe Signalling Centre. This center is still used today. The control panel, or lever frame, from Crewe South was saved. It is now used at the Great Cockcrow Railway.
Crewe Station 'A'
This signal box controlled Platform 1, Down Through 1, and the Horse Landing Siding. Crewe Station 'A' also used absolute block signalling for Platform 1 and Down Through 1. It had a bell and a direction selector in North Junction.
Like South Junction, Crewe Station 'A' closed on June 2, 1985. This box was also saved and moved to the Crewe Heritage Centre. You can see it there now. It was planned to be connected to Crewe North Junction box again. This would allow demonstrations with both boxes working at the same time.
Coal Yard
The Coal Yard signal box is about 986 yards north of North Junction. It is on the West Coast Main Line. It had two lines going to Coal Yard (Down Fast and Down Slow) and two lines coming from Coal Yard (Up Fast and Up Slow).
This line used a system called track circuit block. This meant a train describer was needed in both North Junction and Coal Yard. Workers would type in a train's special code. This code would then show up on the describer in the next box. The Coal Yard box is still open today.
Sydney Bridge / Sandbach PSB
The Sydney Bridge signal box was 1168 yards away on the Manchester Lines. It also used Track Circuit Block. On June 5, 1959, Sydney Bridge closed. It was replaced by the Sandbach Power Signal Box (PSB), which was much further away. This change did not affect Crewe North Junction much. The only difference was where the train describers were connected. Sandbach box closed in March 2006. At that time, control of the Manchester line went to the new Manchester South SCC.
Steelworks
The Steelworks signal box is 1 mile and 421 yards away on the Chester Lines. It uses Absolute block signalling. This means there is a block instrument in each signal box. The Steelworks box is still working on the Chester Lines.
Salop Goods
The Salop Goods box is 760 yards away at Salop Goods Junction. It is on the Up and Down Chester Independent Lines. This line used track circuit block signalling.
The Signal Box Today
The Crewe North Junction box is still in the same place where it was built in 1939. It is now part of the Crewe Heritage Centre. A team of signal experts uses the box for demonstrations. It looks almost the same as when it closed. Some parts, like the number of relays and the battery backup room, were removed. These were not needed once it stopped controlling real trains.
Signalling at Crewe Now
Today, all the signalling at Crewe is controlled by a modern power signal box. This box is a short distance northwest of the station. It controls all the lines at Crewe North Junction and Crewe South Junction. It also controls trains entering the station. This signalling center was only meant to be a "temporary measure" from 1985 for about three years. But it still controls Crewe's trains even now!
Images for kids
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Track diagram from Chester side (right part)
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Track diagram from Chester side (middle part)
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The Crewe North Junction signal box today
