is located at our principle station and was erected between 1968-69, at this time British Railways had just ceased steam train operations and Nine Elms Locomotive sheds and Goods Depots in South London had just been closed. As a result Nine Elms 'B' signal box lever frame became available.
Three club members were able to purchase the lever frame for Willowbank signal box.
The lever frame was dismantled and transported to Thames Ditton and and re-erected in Willowbank signal box. Originally the station layout on the railway was a simple passing loop, but over the years since 1968 the railway tracks have altered greatly both in Willowbank station and around the site to meet the current requirements of today.
Lever Plates
On the left are reproductions of the signal lever description plates. The area of the railway controlled by the signal box is about half of the layout, this is achieve using mechanical signals which are electrically operated at a scale of 3 inches to a foot.
The station can be accessed by both the main and local lines, trains can also avoid the station if necessary. There is one arrival platform and two departure platforms and a trailing siding within the station
The departure end of the station is now a complex junction with two sidings as well as a branch line. Trains leave Willowbank station area, and cross the public access level crossing to proceed towards Hampton Court Junction.
Willowbank Signal box interior.
Red levers work the signals, and the black / blue levers work the points. Indicators behind the levers indicate the position of the points and signals.
The block shelf above the lever contain the Block Bells & Block instruments, the Angel Road block instruments are located at the far left hand end nearest the door. The track diagram dominates the center area above the block shelf, the diagram contain lights to show the position of the trains, The whole area is track circuited to detect the trains and work the signalling system.
Red box in the center of the block shelf below the diagram houses the extra signal control switches. These allow control of additional signals and level crossing lights and gate indications as we can't fit any more levers in the signal box.
Signal box diagram
Double click on diagram get a detailed, printable PDF file in a new window - (309Kb file)
Ring the block bell for
Branch Passenger
train
Tyer's Block Instrument
This One-Wire Two-Position block instrument at Willowbank signal box is connected to Angel Road signal box and full block signalling system is used between these signal boxes on the main line.
Tyer's & Co. produced a range of two-position instruments for different railways, and more or less cornered the market in early block signalling days. The instruments were unduly complex, owing to the desire to operate the block needles for both lines of a double track, and the bell, over one telegraph wire.
This also limited the functionality of the instrument, and it was only possible (without further complexity) to show two block indications. These were, basically, "Train on line" or "Train not on line" to indicate the state of the block section. This was achieved by miniature signal arms representing the starting signal at the box concerned, and the one on the opposite line at the next box. In simple terms, the starting signals at the boxes concerned should correspond to the indication given.
The two plungers operate the same block bell - the significant difference between them being that the top plunger raises, and the lower plunger lowers the acceptingwhite signal indicator arm
Willowbank signals
Outer Home Signal gantry
This is the first set of signals in the Willowbank signalling area.
At present these are temporary automatic 3 aspect signals which will eventually be replaced with 2 mechanical home and distant signals.
The left hand track is the Up Local line and the right hand track is the Up Main line.
Willowbank Home Signal gantry can be see in the left background, and is shown in the next picture.
Home Signal gantry
Pictured with all the signals in place, hopefully we will replace the colour light signal in the near future with a mechanical.
left to right
Up Local Home - No.3a
Up Local to Up Loop Home - No.3b
Up Local to Up Main home - No.3d
Up Main to Up Loop Home - No.1b
Up Main Home and Distant- No.1a
Up Local Arrivals Starter Signal
Pictured just outside Willowbank station signal box this signal protects the Up Loop points outside the signal box.
When the Up Loop points are reversed and the signal is cleared a small 'L' lights on the post under the counter weight.
When the Up Local is selected, which is straight on, there is no light indication.
There is no equivalent adjacent signal on the Up Main line
Station departure gantry
Pictured
with all of the current mechanical signals in place.
left to right
Up Local to Up Siding Shunt No.8a.
Up Local Platform Starter and Distant - No.8b.
Up
Loop Platform Starter & Distant
No.9c.
Up
Loop Platform to Up Main Starter No.9e.
Up Main Starter & Distant No.14a.
Advance Starter signals At the level crossing, we can see the advance starter signals.
On the left is the Up Local advance starter No.21
On the right is the Up Main advance starter No.22
In the background is located the level crossing gates which are shut against the road.
Level Crossing Gates
This view shows the general view that greets our visitors when they arrive at the railway. The main station Willowbank is located behind the white fence in the middle of the picture in the far distance.
The full sized signal on the left comes from Tolworth station in Surrey and was the down home signal at that location.
This was acquired on the 30th January 1972 for the princely sum of £1, when it was decommissioned by British Railways.
It took 2 years to reassemble and erect the signal, including a major paint strip & repaint.
To learn more about UK Railway Signalling, I would strongly recommend the following site The Signal Box
Comments, feedback and corrections are welcome. Please use the 'Contact us' link above..
Last modified:
