KSE Signalling Project

No, not in the blackmail sense... To operate the heavy signals and points, the levers in the box are pretty long, and travel a greater distance in order to move the point rodding or wires only a little way. A nice bit of physics / mechanics in action... As you may recall from previous posts, we have been stripping and painting (in primer) the 22 levers for the box, ready for their installation. These have had the lower sections painted in grey enamel to match everything else under the box and aid maintenance / inspection. We have also been cleaning up and preparing the pivots for installation, along with the plates that link the levers, lever tails and pivots. These had previously been painted in red oxide, but the oil holes for the bearings themselves were pretty solidly caked! Fortunately, removing one split pin and applying a bit of force resulted in separation. It was then a straightforward job to drill out the excess paint from the oil holes, remove any loose primer and polish up ...

Kirkby Stephen East is a unique and atmospheric heritage railway station, steeped in the rich history of northern England’s railways. Once a vital junction on the South Durham & Lancashire Union Railway, the station is now being lovingly restored by a dedicated team of volunteers and enthusiasts. Central to this restoration is the revival of its historic signalling infrastructure - an ambitious project that brings the past to life and ensures the station can once again function as an operational hub for heritage trains.  This multi-phase endeavour begins with the faithful reconstruction of an extraordinary survivor from the early days of railway signalling... Phase 1 – Rebuilding the S&DR Signal Box Kirkby Stephen East had no fewer than three signal boxes throughout its working life! Since taking over the site and redeveloping the trackwork, the need for signalling has become a priority - even going so far as to reinstate the two tall timbers needed for the iconic signal g...