Signal Boxes

I've always had a fascination with the control towers on US railroads. As a youth I spent many hours being a pest in several of the interlocking and yard towers around Springfield, Mass. So I was completely intrigued by the British system of boxes.

There are three signal boxes in the Penzance area. The first being the Penzance Signal Box at the station, controlling the platforms and old goods tracks. My version of this is completely scratchbuilt using Metcalfe brick cardstock, Downsglaze windows, and a Wills interior with frame. I'm not too happy with this as I feel the proportions aren't quite right. The brick part is too tall.

There was a signal box at Ponsendane to control entrance to the carriage sidings and the new goods shed. The original had a flat roof out of deference to the family that provided the land and didn't want their view of the sea disrupted. My model is the Hornby kit with Metcalfe brick substituted for the wooden sheathing. Eventually I'll replace the roof, though I don't actually have a proper spot for it.

The third box was at the Long Rock Depot. I'm using a Prototype Models cardstock kit, not pictured here.

Signal boxes serve two main functions -- aligning track properly by activating points, and controlling the signals to permit/deny train movement. The Great Western Railway in the era of my layout was controlled by lower-quadrant semaphore signals -- operated from a signal box by means of cables and rods. The Signal Box is a great web site devoted to British signalling, which taught me a great deal. My friend Michael Taylor also has a lot about signal boxes on his site.

There will be operating semaphore signals on my railway at some point -- if I can ever manage to get them built. I dream about using a scaled down lever frame to actually operate signals, and maybe even the turnouts.