OLD PLYMOUTH . UK
Plus parts of the South Hams and West Devon
www.oldplymouth.uk
 

RAILWAYS IN OLD PLYMOUTH  |  GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY
MAIN LINE, BRENT STATION TO PLYMOUTH STATION (MILLBAY)

NORTH ROAD WEST BOX

The first North Road West Signal Box was erected by Messrs Saxby and Farmer in 1876 in connection with the new North Road Plymouth Station and the Cornwall Loop line that enabled the London and South Western Railway Company's trains that had come from Lydford down the mixed gauge Great Western Railway Company's Launceston Branch to access their terminus at Devonport.  It was on the Down side of the tracks and had 27 levers.

When the lines to Plymouth Station at Millbay were remodelled and North Road Plymouth Station was enlarged, a new North Road West Signal Box was erected by the Great Western Railway Company on the Up side and opened in November 1908.  It had 59 levers and measured 38 feet by 13 feet.

North Road West Box.
The Inner Home Signals seen  above were for Platforms 6, 7 (with Inner Distant Signal for North Road East Signal Box) and 8.
©  R K Blencowe.

Accompanying North Road West Box in this 1937 photograph is GWR King-class number 6014 "King Henry VII" in streamlined format.
New in May 1928, number 6014 had the streamlining fitted in March 1935 but it was removed again in January 1943.
From the author's collection.

The rear of North Road West Box is just visible over the top of the building
 on the left of Saltash Road in this official GWR photograph taken on December 14th 1936
 in preparation for the removal and replacement of the railway bridge.
©  Great Western Railway Company.

On Sunday June 6th 1937 a temporary siding for the use of the engineers was installed on the Up side of the Main Line between Devonport Junction Signal Box and North Road West Box.  The facing connection was worked from a ground frame locked by the main Signal Box and a new Up Main Inner Home signal was erected 96 yards from the Box.  The new signal was accompanied by a three-shot detonator.  The former Home signal was moved 41 yards further out from the Box and became the Outer Home. The work was supervised by Inspector Harris.

When worked started in 1937 on modernising the Station, North Road West Signal Box had to be bodily moved so that a new road under-bridge capable of taking four tracks could be put in place.  This work was undertaken between January 22nd and 27th 1938.  Platforms 7 and 8 were also added at that time.  That Box remained in use, open continuously, until the re-signalling in 1960 and the opening of the Plymouth Panel Box on November 26th 1960.

In 1957 North Road West Signal Box, which was 638 yards from Devonport Junction Signal Box was open continuously.  The Box was not provided with a closing switch.

The signalling regulations for this Box required that as soon as the signalman receives the "Is Line Clear?" request from North Road East Signal Box he should ask the same of Devonport Junction Signal Box immediately if the train is not stopping at North Road Plymouth Station.  This instruction would have mainly applied to goods trains as the majority of passenger trains stopped.  Otherwise, "Is Line Clear?" should be asked just before the train is due to depart. 

For Up trains  the "Is Line Clear?" code should be sent to North Road East Signal Box immediately upon receipt from both Devonport Junction Signal Box or Cornwall Junction Signal Box.

Just beyond North Road West Signal Box, at 246 miles 10 chains, was a board indicating a Permanent Speed Restriction of 15 mph to Millbay and 25 mph towards Devonport Junction Signal Box.

The actual name on the nameplate on the signal box was "North Road West Box" - the word 'Signal' did not appear.
The author owns the signal box nameplate.