Chiltern Signal Boxes 1980's

[BN79]

Is anybody aware of any links for the Signal Box diagrams for Marylebone, Sudbury Hill and Northolt Junction East Signal Boxes as they were in the 1980's?

Having worked on the line for 20 years, as well as working with many of the staff who were on the line in the 1980's, I've only been able to find diagrams for the remainder of boxes along the line.

The only diagrams readily available for Marylebone, Sudbury Hill and Northolt Junction East are all from early in their lives and not representative of their latter period of use. I had heard that Sudbury Hill was an NX panel before it closed, but hadn't seen anything to substantiate this.

Any help or assistance would be gratefully received.

[alancolq]

Hi - I have a sketch of Northolt Jcn East and West Ruislip when I visited them on a Sunday in c. Jan 1989. I have it stored away in my garage somewhere following a few moves so if you bear with me I shall have a hunt for it this weekend. I'll msg here again when I have found it!
Alan

[BN79]

Thanks very much Alan. That would be great!

[John Hinson]

I worked all of those boxes when I was a Relief Signalman and probably have the details but unfortunately my present circumstances are such that I doubt I could produce anything for you for a good six weeks. Thefore I hope Alan can help you with some of them. If you need more, give me a nudge in six weeks time if you haven't heard more from me.

Sudbury Hill did not have an NX panel, there would be no need for "exit" buttons for such a simple layout. Switches were provided on the block shel in lieu of the frame in 1994.

The layout at Marylebone had been rationalised very little while I was there.

Best regards,

John

[Stuart Johnson]

Pending John's availability, here are diagrams of Sudbury Hill and Northolt Jn East which owe a lot to his assistance.

https://flic.kr/p/22KGCgm

https://flic.kr/p/23Qu1BZ

I think the date for replacement of the frame at Sudbury Hill by switches should be 1984, since the box was abolished on 29/5/1990. By 1977 the layout at Sudbury Hill had been reduced to up and down mains and platform loops, so that only levers 2,3,4,5,6,8,9,14,43,44,45,49,50, 51,52 and 53 were working.

[John Hinson]

I think the date for replacement of the frame at Sudbury Hill by switches should be 1984, since the box was abolished on 29/5/1990.

Well spotted! Just checked my card index again and it does indeed say 1984.

John

[Russell Maiden]

If this works, the link should bring up a picture I took in the 1970s shewing the interior of Northolt Jn East, including an oblique view of the diagram. The layout is clear but the numbering is not, unfortunately.https://www.flickr.com/photos/69499916@N08/39948757911/in/dateposted-public/

[BN79]

Thanks very much for the above. A great evocative shot of Northolt Junction East too. I'd been told that the box was deliberately torched, but I'm not sure how close to the official closure date this was. I wonder whether Temporary Block Working was required before the commissioning of the IECC.

Thanks for clearing up my confusion regarding thr panel at Sudbury Hill too.

[Russell Maiden]

Just to complete the picture, so to speak, herewith a picture I took in passing of the exterior of the box. This was from a Down Marylebone-High Wycombe train circa late '60s or early '70s (date to be confirmed in due course). https://www.flickr.com/photos/69499916@N08/25080581637/in/dateposted-public/

[S&TEngineer]

I can't immediately access my records at present, but in the back of my mind I seem to remember a problem with the frame in Northolt East Junction and a plan to remove the mechanical locking and provide full electric interlocking instead (whilst retaining the lever frame itself).

[John Hinson]

I can't immediately access my records at present, but in the back of my mind I seem to remember a problem with the frame in Northolt East Junction and a plan to remove the mechanical locking and provide full electric interlocking instead (whilst retaining the lever frame itself).

Not a problem with the (double twist) locking as such, but electric locking was fitted when the "London Pride" depot opened.

John

[Stuart Johnson]

I'd been told that the box was deliberately torched, but I'm not sure how close to the official closure date this was.

I don't believe that was the case. I don't remember it, and there's nothing in any contemporary records to suggest it happened.

[scarpa]

I can confirm the signalbox fire was after commissioning and complete removal of the mechanical signals operated by Northolt East Jct.