I don't think this is too difficult to guess, even with the panel blanked out.

 
I don't know the answer, but the box looks too immaculate to be an operational one on network Rail, so I think it's on a preserved line.  I do know that the GWSR was in use today because I saw an engine in steam at Cheltenham Racecourse station, so I'll guess Toddington or maybe Winchcombe on GWSR.

 
Sorry, not a box on the GWSR.

You are right about this box being immaculate. Very friendly Bobby too.

 
Blue Anchor signal box, West Somerset Railway?

 
Not Blue Anchor, sorry.

 
Ingrow?

 
Williton signal box

 
Yep Williton. Asked if I could pop up to the box after trains were out of section and bobby had completed his duties. He had 90 minutes before next train. I have been in this box before but can't find the photos. When I was here previously there were fewer levers in use. Today there are 24, with 23 in use. Two further levers to the side for crossing gates interlock.



I did a drone flight here filming two trains passing. All the staff were friendly and genuinely interested in the drone footage. No concerns about what I was going to do after I explained my flight plan, competence and insurance. Whenever possible, as a courtesy, I'll inform anyone who may have concerns about a drone.

Later, at another location I didn't have such a friendly interaction. I've detailed that in my 'Stations from the air' thread available to established forum members.

 

It's been a hot minute since I was there, too.  Probably 10 years.  And before that (gulp) the best part of fifty years ago now, when I could often be found here

I'm so pleased to see the place well looked after and the developments such as EKT working and an illuminated diagram

 
Maybe our Witham Bobby can answer but what does lever 1 unlock/release?

 

 

Well, it used to be the Up Distant Signal on the end of that one.  The GW usually used "fixed distant" signals at passing places on single lines.  As in fixed at "caution" in order to remind drivers of the speed restriction entering the loop.  This would perhaps be 15 or 20mph.  When the Minehead Branch was upgraded in the 1930s, the pointwork at each end of the loops was laid-out for 40mph running, and automatic token exchange apparatus was installed.  So fast trains could rocket past places like Williton and Blue Anchor without having to loose much speed and time.  So, workable distant signals were installed.  If the section ahead was clear, and the token had been obtained, the signalman could load up the auto exchanger with the token and clear the signals, including the distant, and later watch the train clatter past.

When we came to re-open the line, we took the decision (encouraged by the Railways Inspectorate) to use only fixed distant signals.  With a 25mph line speed limit (or 40mph for DMUs) there would be no time saving by having these signals workable

Now, as the picture shows, the lever is a release, for the ground frame that gives access off the Down Loop into the yard.  The shunter needing to make a move into or out of the yard will call-up the bobby and ask for a release, which enables the ground frame to be used at the location, to shift the points.  Once the release lever in the 'box is reversed, all the levers for the running signals that could lead to conflicting moves will be locked normal, so that the signals can't be cleared. 

I don't know the exact setup at Williton for this, but it's usual for the signaller reversing the release lever resulting in a key in normally locked an instrument at the ground frame to becoming released.  The key can then be inserted in a lock on the ground frame to enable its levers to be operated.  When the shunting operations are complete and the running line is again clear, and the levers in the ground frame have been set back to their usual positions, the key can be removed from the lock and put back into the instrument, the signaller advised, following which the release lever in the 'box can be restored to normal, and the running signal levers are then freed to be operated.

You'll note that the top of the lever has been cut off.  The lever is in effect a switch, needing not much effort to work.  You wouldn't want to put your weight behind it and give a big swing.  The shortness of the lever is a reminder.  Helpful in not ending up on your a*se

 
Thanks WB!

Deleted another question when I realised I had access to the S-R-S diagram for the box when the distant signals were worked. A lot more red levers in JM's photo than in BR days!

Many thanks, Oxonhutch (heritage railway signalman).

 
The signallar explained to me that many of the semaphores are motor operated now, after the signalling was upgraded. Same for the points. The furthest mechanical 'pull' from that box is 667yds to signal 20. Can't quite read the lever in my photo. I think 20 is the Down Main Distant Starter.

 
Why are there so many instruments and bells on the shelf?

 

They are in the main electric lock plungers and repeaters. The bottom row are mainly brass plungers for the electric locks. For mainline passenger running the route ahead of a signal must be proved clear (using track circuits) before the lock will release the lever allowing it to be pulled. There are a lot of track circuits in this layout - check the number of pairs of lamps in the track diagram hanging above.

The layout is also quite large so not every signal and its lamp can be seen from the 'box. The round instrument with the red coloured face-tops are signal arm repeaters telling the signaller if the arm is horizontal (on:stop) or lowered (off:go). The rectangular wooden boxes in the middle are lamp repeaters to show that all the signal lamps are still working.

Two of the three points are motor worked (blue over black levers), and these will have Normal/Reverse indicators on the shelf to show that they have responded correctly. Note that the quadrant plates (on the floor) for these two levers have two notches in the metal that the other levers do not. To move these points the lever is moved to the furthest notch and when the motor has done its job, the indicator will show if the movement has been completed and then the lever can then be moved fully over releasing the locking on the appropriate signals.

The red cabinets left and right facing inwards are the token instruments to prove to the train crew and the signaller that they are the only train authorised to occupy that bit of single line. The bells associated with these instruments are in the top corners of the 'box. Part of the case for the left hand one can just been seen.

 

Yes.  The layout was made much more flexible by adding "outer" home signals further out than the ones inherited from BR, which were close to the junction points at each end of the loop (The Western never used the description "outer home".  The first stop signal is always simply the "home").   These new home signals, combined with advanced starting signals out on the single line allow shunting operations at Williton to go out onto the single line without a token being drawn and with a train coming towards Williton.  There's a clearing distance between the last starting signal out on the single line and the first home signal in the opposite direction (I hope that's clear enough.  easier to explain with a diagram or, better still, on site)

I think 20 is the Down Outer Advanced Starting signal.  There are no working Distant signals at Williton now.  If thee was, it's lever would be coloured yellow

The Western named stop signals that were in rear of the signalbox as home signals, and those in advance of the box as starting signals.  Hence home, inner home etc and starting, advanced starting, outer advanced starting etc.

"In rear of" means on the approach to something, such as a signal, a platform, a junction.  "In advance of" means something beyond a specific place or object.  As in, if you're travelling down the Minehead Branch, the level crossing at Blue Anchor is in advance of the Down Platform, whereas. if you were travelling up the branch, you get to the level crossing first, so it's in rear of the Up Platform.  This easy to explain and understand concept has been replaced in modernised rule books by some extremely confusing (to me, at least) "Plain English"

 

The best example I came across was where 'a distant signal' was going to be renamed 'a signal far away'! 

 

Thanks for the very helpful description. Embarrassed that I was utterly thrown by it - until thinking of this in terms of the expansion of the universe when for some reason something instantly clicked with me, but it's not good to be thinking 'Yes, the 'In advance of' item is the one that's more red shifted.

Still turning this over in my head... the meaning of 'Advance' as progress, forward movement - to reach the item more distant than whatever is the focus it's necessary to advance further, so the far object is 'In advance of'.... **Breathes again**

Mark

Mark