Signal Box Bromley Cross railway station

bromley cross station showing original low level platform , signal box

the signal box @ station smith , yardley type 1 brick box opened in december 1875, timed service new connections short sidings opened winter, these works being checked , approved minor modifications board of trade inspector in documentation dated february 1876. 1 interesting requirement wicket gates had locked levers in signal cabin , basic protection can dated certainty time. box, 1 of 3 types, supplied manchester-based emily sophia yardley, widow had taken on late husband s ironmongery business, step-brother william smith, recorded in april 1861 census records being engineer aged 21. extension goods yard @ station 1900s, new loop lines , increased signalling, brought enlargement of lever frame in signal box. inserting new frame required partial removal of of front brickwork of 1875 cabin. can seen today in distinct contrast between older brick lower down , quite different brick face on upper area. signal box has operating floor 8ft 7in above platform level, according lyr engineer s office drawings. bromley cross signal box formerly acted fringe power boxes @ preston (which controls line blackburn) , manchester piccadilly (which supervises passing loop , line south towards bolton) - train description systems incompatible each other , box here retained act link between them. sole use supervise adjacent pedestrian foot crossing , protecting signals (with 4 working levers), since interface between 2 signalling centres has been upgraded can communicate directly.

in circa 2004 signal box modernised timber work replaced in pvc (the windows replaced in different pattern), , new steel steps , oversized metal safety cage added. in november 2016 foot crossing entirely renewed, short timber-topped former link platform running under front of signal box removed, exposing lowest brick layers of box first time in many decades.