This is the Official RU-vid Channel of the Exeter West Group, who maintains and runs the preserved Exeter West Signal Box, now currently preserved at the Crewe Heritage Centre.
@@joswin we certainly do. If you contact us via Facebook messenger we can supply you with the relevant contact details regarding training. If you don’t have access to Facebook please let us know.
@@exeterwestgroup6466 The levers look somewhat short, and the frame looks to be raised off the ground a lot higher than on other boxes- And a lot shinier.
@@BrokenIET the frame is a standard design built by the Midland Railway Company. There are many examples around the uk and a large number of them preserved too. If you type “MR LeverFrame” in Google you should get more examples.
@@lp-trainfan are you on Facebook? Or do you have email? Our technical team could send you some photographs, drawings and a video explaining how a bell works.
Absolutely brilliant. Thats how the signaller should be dressed for their shifts. I was taking line blocks between northorpe and kirton lime sidings other week and the signaller a mr keogh was dressed very smart in his shirt, trousers, waistcoat and tie. He's originally from Exeter i believe and it was a privilege for him to let me sit inside the box with himself and talk about an array of things, both railway and others.
@exeterwestgroup6466 I'll be watching them all pal, especially when we are waiting for the possessions on midweek nights and weekends. I've subscribed aswell brother 👌👍
It's lazy signalling to ask a line clear from the next box when the train from the preceding box isn't in section yet. Ask for the line clear once it's in section.
Good evening, I would kindly like to know the meaning of the white cusp band present on some levers. Thanks again for your availability and collaboration
Firstly it stops the lever tops from rusting from the natural oils and sweat on your hands. Secondly it prevents you getting sores on your hands from touching really cold metal and prevents your hands from sticking making the lever movements smooth and elegant.
Spent some nights in the boxes on the southern region . With signalmans permission , and the atmosphere in those boxes at night was thought provoking . Cost me a kebab the next time though .😁 Very handy for letting machinery and trains into and out of possession .
I've lived in Exeter all my life, and somehow I haven't come across this box before! Really great to see something like this preserved. Although I have to ask, where is it actually located?
Good evening, it is not yet entirely clear to me whether those old electric block systems (Absolute block system, if I am not mistaken) with a wooden case were or were not influenced by the passage of trains for the purpose of occupying and freeing the section (block) towards to which and from which the train was respectively headed or from which the train came. Furthermore, it is not clear whether there is an electrical connection between the lever that controls the opening of the starting signal and the apparatus with wooden case. In other words, was it possible to pull the lever that activated the starting signal towards you without first having received electrical consent from the next station? However, it is common ground that where there is a token block it is possible to activate the lever that opens the starting signal even before having handed over the token to the driver, unless there is an error on my part. Thank you very much for your availability and collaboration
My Father was a signalman at Browney Co Durham main line to London, I visited once aged 15 and he let me have a go at pulling the distant signal off, a mile of cable to raise the signal it was impossible, He then got his duster in his hand and threw the lever back and Bingo locked amazing strength needed to pull those levers
Maybe Taunton West Station (136 levers) and Stonehouse Bristol Road (34 levers) never had freight/mineral trains calling at intermediate station thus no recollection of the 3-bell code. I certainly remember 5 for express freight, 1-4 I believe for partially fitted freight, 1-3-1 for parcels trains etc. Love the video as it brings back memories of my night shifts as a booking boy from 1965. Very few trains but was always kept busy polishing the lino floor, black leading the frame (black stuff up my nose) and burnishing the levers not to mention using newspapers and water to clean the windows. Happy days never to be forgotten and controversial as it might be but I thought Taunton West Station was the best "large" signal box down in the West Country and a Summer Saturday was absolutely thrilling albeit non-stop entries in the register.@@exeterwestgroup6466 👍👍
In case anyone is confused, Becky Hales is my daughter, she was never a signalman. Just a "You Tube" oddball that I have to use her account as I can't work out how to create my own. Doh😕
Exeter West used to control the the western end of Exeter St Davids, however in the 1970s the box became surplus to requirement once colour lights an a new signalling centre were installed. The box was then moved to Crewe Heritage centre (somehow) and now gives demonstrations to the public of the operations of a large signalbox in the days of steam. The fact that the box now resides at Crewe heritage centre means that no trains pass the box. Any sound effects are played through speakers, and the track circuits and bells done by another signaller.
Fascinating to watch this. My great grandfather was a signalman at St Albans, around the 1930s/40s; and I think prior to that at Leighton Buzzard. I imagine his work very similar to this.
I had forgotten just how quiet it is in a Signal Box at night when you're on your own and there are no trains around. Thank you for bringing the memory back. Andrew.
Firstly it stops the lever tops from rusting from the natural oils and sweat on your hands. Secondly it prevents you getting sores on your hands from touching really cold metal and prevents your hands from sticking making the lever movements smooth and elegant.
As a former Movements Inspector I was very impressed with the way that the two Signalmen worked the frame without getting flustered especially when the bell signals were not recognised. I have subscribed to your channel and will watch more videos later. Andrew.
@@exeterwestgroup6466 Good luck with sorting your technical issues out, I am half way through your night shift video and will comment on it later. Looking forward to some new videos, the on screen written details on what's happening are a really good idea especially for those viewers not as knowledgeable as you are. Andrew.
VSC Clapham junction opened in stages 1980, it was a Disaster! Contractors installed cheap substandard relays which kept failing, constant points track circuit failures. ASE was 'Wrong man for the job'had to be paid off, replacement narcissistic told by Chairman BR Board that he was to be sacked with Chief signal engineers in 6 months unless failure rate dropped, sent questionnaire, I made lots of recommendations.2 were carried out, 4 men on each mtc faulting shift, top grade didn't want to do outside work, told ASE that had to have all 4 men out on track, which is what they did. 2nd recommendation can't say, but improved railway operations considerably. Bought in Man from Swanley led a task force team, found lots of equipment faults, reduced failure rate.
It’s a Welwyn release. It resets the Welwyn circuit in conjunction with the block instrument and track circuit in the event of a cancellation or failure.
@@exeterwestgroup6466 interesting :D I was very interested in signalboxes. even I just made my own with lego mindstorm nxt kit. Unfortunately I am still trying to learn how to code (programming) the smart brick to make these bell codes that I got from the simulator that I had downloaded to try it. thank you so much for replying and I am looking forward to watch for any new videos :)
@@exeterwestgroup6466 Might consider it in the future. I'm about to start training in Rawtenstall West at the ELR very soon. Currently studying my rules!
Always will miss those times when these boxes were in their heydays of operations all over the world. Something we grew up with almost never seen in most places.
It comes from the days when block instrument handles were kept in the relevant position by a metal peg/pin. The term “pegging out” means to withdraw the Peg does restoring the block to the normal position “line blocked” or “normal”.
@@exeterwestgroup6466 I was devestated when Taunton West Station box was bulldozed to the ground absolutely heart wrenching as you must have thoughts when the same happened to Exeter West box. Taunton West was of brick construction. Was that the case with Exet er West?
@@beckyhales1619 Exeter West signal box, upon closure in 1984, was dismantled by the Exeter West Group and moved “off-site” ready for rebuilding as a museum.
The Box at Pz is still active, not as much as when I was a Shunter there in the 70s 80s when I would pull levers for Monty Richards the Bobby, when I had a 10 min break, but still going.
