A Night in West Box (Exeter West Signal Box) 

Thank you. Have you taken a look at our other videos?

@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 👌👍

@@philipatkinson7039 we hope you enjoy them all.

Have you visited the signal box at St Albans, it’s lovely

Thankyou.

hear hear

Thanks, why not pop down for a visit?

@@exeterwestgroup6466 I was so close one time, but it was closed!

@@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.

This indicates that the lever is electrically locked and is released by another signal box, often “Line Clear” being shown in the block instrument.

Crewe Heritage Centre

Staff and ticket is interesting enough in itself.

@@exeterwestgroup6466 Now retired but when I look back the staff in the railways helped you stay out of trouble, studied Nursing and its the opposite.

@@perpetualgrin5804 the railway’s always been a family

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.

@@exeterwestgroup6466 can you not wear gloves?

@@dyztructive you can but they are inconvenient when having to use the telephone, write in the register book and during warmer weather.

Its a Freight, mineral, or ballast train stopping at intermediate stations(“H”Headcode)

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😕

I wondered that, and also why the next box didn't peg line clear or train on line when train entering section was forwarded.

@@rosspoldark6571 the goods Lines are worked by bell only and do not have a controlling block instrument.

@@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.

@@exeterwestgroup6466 nope sorry :(

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.

@@exeterwestgroup6466 OK that makes sense - thanks

It helps to stop the handles getting surface rust on them

I know its like a troubleshooter for the signalbox indicator but whats the name of that?

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 :)

for lego train set that im planning to build for my nephew

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 Never heard that expression before. Most Western signalmen used the term 'knocking out'

@@anubis6864 that comes from knocking the spag. Slide out of position on the old block instruments.

No. It’s in the box’s special instructions. We are required to do so because of the close proximity of our signal boxes.