Beds and North Herts Advanced Motorists
Registered Charity No 1052278
www.bedsnhertsam.org.uk
Registered Charity No 1052278
www.bedsnhertsam.org.uk
Beds and North Herts Advanced Motorists
Tuesday 13th July 2010
Somewhat disappointingly only thirteen people attended the visit to the St Albans Signal box, despite well over twenty indicating that they would come, but for those who did attend it was a very enjoyable evening. Especially so for your Treasurer, Diane, who gamely volunteered to operate the lever frame and send a train from Harpenden to Napsbury via St Albans and is clearly wasted as an accountant!
The evening began with explanations from Tony Furse of the various signals in and around the signalbox, including semaphore and colour light signals and this was followed by a talk in the ground floor room of the signalbox by Richard Kirk about the history of the box from its building in 1892 to its closure as a signalbox in 1979. This was followed by a period of hibernation – as a listed Grade 2 building – but with the structure steadily disintegrating until local residents formed the Trust in 2004, raised the necessary funds from charities and donations and ultimately spent over £150,000 to rebuild and refurbish the structure and landscape the grounds.
Once the garden area was largely completed efforts concentrated on the inside of the box which has had the largest part of the ground floor apparatus removed (for a disability friendly toilet and meeting room), whilst the 44 lever frame on the upper floor was completely renovated and fully restored with working block instruments, telegraph and telephone equipment, signal repeaters, and track circuits. Indeed Rob Crisp was able, with the aid of a computer, to demonstrate signalling a train from Harpenden to Napsbury, ie. the signalboxes either side of St Albans, and with instruction it was this that Diane was able to accomplish as well. He also explained the use of the various instruments as well as the basic principles of signalling and afterwards everyone was free to ask questions, pull the levers, use the block bells and generally play trains. In due course the Trust anticipates obtaining listed Museum status and there are already many relics and artefacts from the Midland Railway on show.
As a member of the Trust your Chairman was able to help with questions and overall it was clear that those who attended had a thoroughly enjoyable evening with the majority not realising the complexity of the operation and not least the sheer physical effort involved in the “good old days”. Many thanks to the members of the Trust who helped make the visit a success.
Arthur Cushway
Somewhat disappointingly only thirteen people attended the visit to the St Albans Signal box, despite well over twenty indicating that they would come, but for those who did attend it was a very enjoyable evening. Especially so for your Treasurer, Diane, who gamely volunteered to operate the lever frame and send a train from Harpenden to Napsbury via St Albans and is clearly wasted as an accountant!
The evening began with explanations from Tony Furse of the various signals in and around the signalbox, including semaphore and colour light signals and this was followed by a talk in the ground floor room of the signalbox by Richard Kirk about the history of the box from its building in 1892 to its closure as a signalbox in 1979. This was followed by a period of hibernation – as a listed Grade 2 building – but with the structure steadily disintegrating until local residents formed the Trust in 2004, raised the necessary funds from charities and donations and ultimately spent over £150,000 to rebuild and refurbish the structure and landscape the grounds.
Once the garden area was largely completed efforts concentrated on the inside of the box which has had the largest part of the ground floor apparatus removed (for a disability friendly toilet and meeting room), whilst the 44 lever frame on the upper floor was completely renovated and fully restored with working block instruments, telegraph and telephone equipment, signal repeaters, and track circuits. Indeed Rob Crisp was able, with the aid of a computer, to demonstrate signalling a train from Harpenden to Napsbury, ie. the signalboxes either side of St Albans, and with instruction it was this that Diane was able to accomplish as well. He also explained the use of the various instruments as well as the basic principles of signalling and afterwards everyone was free to ask questions, pull the levers, use the block bells and generally play trains. In due course the Trust anticipates obtaining listed Museum status and there are already many relics and artefacts from the Midland Railway on show.
As a member of the Trust your Chairman was able to help with questions and overall it was clear that those who attended had a thoroughly enjoyable evening with the majority not realising the complexity of the operation and not least the sheer physical effort involved in the “good old days”. Many thanks to the members of the Trust who helped make the visit a success.
Arthur Cushway
Meeting Report