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Photo Album
Dereham Central Signal Box
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Photo Album
Dereham Central Signal Box
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In 2001, we began a major project to rebuild Dereham Central Signal Box. This will form the first part of our fledgling signalling system, controlling the yard at Dereham, and eventually connecting to boxes further down the line at Hardingham and Wymondham. We were generously donated the former Stratford Southern box, together with the levers and locking frame, and since then a great deal of work has been put in to restoring it to its former glory. Worthy of particular mention are the efforts of: Ian Nugent, whose carpentry skills are unmatched; Mike Boakes, who made a top-class job of the brick base of the new box; Derrick Plyer who has coordinated the whole project, and has made sure that everything looks as authentic as possible; and many others who have put in a great deal of time and effort to make the project a success.
![Base of the New Box](javascript:toggle_image ("base.jpeg", 200, 151, 550, 417))
The first stage in construction of the new signal box was the brick base on which everything else will be built. As the new box is slightly shorter than the original, some new foundations were required at the end nearest the camera. The concrete floor had been poured only a few days previously, and the brickwork is nearing completion.
4th August 2000. Photo: Barney Stratford
![Top Half of the New Box](javascript:toggle_image ("top.jpeg", 200, 132, 550, 363))
The top half of the new box was originally part of Stratford Southern box in London, which was a most unusual structure in that it was supported on legs to allow a siding to pass underneath. The legs and locking room have now gone, and it will be rebuilt in a more conventional manner, with the top half being craned onto a totally new locking room.
4th August 2000. Photo: Owen Stratford
![First Light](javascript:toggle_image ("firstlight.jpeg", 149, 200, 410, 550))
Having finished building the locking room, it was time to hire in a crane to lift the top half of the box into place. Volunteers arrived at first light to begin preparing the box for lifting, removing anything that might get damaged and attaching straps to hold the signal box square as it is lifted.
7th December 2000. Photo: Owen Stratford
![Preparing to Lift](javascript:toggle_image ("lift1.jpeg", 200, 132, 550, 365))
As the sun rose, final preparations were made, including attaching girders underneath the box to spread the load. The new locking room can be seen on the left of the photo.
7th December 2000. Photo: Owen Stratford
![The Box Takes Flight](javascript:toggle_image ("lift2.jpeg", 200, 133, 550, 366))
After the final preparations were made, it was time to try to lift the box. Ropes were attached to the box so that it could be steadied and guided gently into position.
7th December 2000. Photo: Alan Cooper
![The New Box In Position](javascript:toggle_image ("lift3.jpeg", 200, 132, 550, 365))
It took three attempts to move the box's six tonnes into the correct position so that the joints lined up. However, it did all fit together properly eventually, and then work began to finish the joints off, which took the remainder of the day. Meanwhile, the crane was used to change a bogie on one of the railcars.
7th December 2000. Photo: Owen Stratford
![April 2001](javascript:toggle_image ("apr2001.jpeg", 200, 132, 550, 365))
Four months after the box was lifted onto the base, you can begin to see just how much work has been put in. Most of the old cladding has been removed, to be replaced with brand-new pressure-treated timber. The blue plastic covers areas which currently have no cladding to protect it from the elements. The door and windowsills have also been removed to be replaced.
15th April 2001. Photo: Owen Stratford
![The Signal Frame](javascript:toggle_image ("frame.jpeg", 200, 132, 550, 365))
The frame for the new box was installed on the 16th of September: a hard day's work, as those cast iron stanchions are incredibly heavy! Many hours had previously been spent in cleaning them up with a wire brush, and painting them, and in ensuring that the job is done as well as possible. The photo shows the frame just after it was installed. Once all the levers and interlocking have been added, it will look very different!
16th September 2001. Photo: Owen Stratford
![Pulling Levers](javascript:toggle_image ("levers.jpeg", 200, 132, 550, 365))
Having put the frame in its final position, we couldn't resist adding a couple of levers!
16th September 2001. Photo: Barry Brackpool
![September 2001](javascript:toggle_image ("sept2001.jpeg", 200, 132, 550, 365))
By the end of September, most of the work on the outside of the box had been completed, with all the old cladding replaced and painted in the traditional green and cream, and most of the damaged windows and window frames replaced.
28th September 2001. Photo: Owen Stratford
![Adding Windows](javascript:toggle_image ("windows.jpeg", 200, 150, 550, 412))
The structure of the signal box is now nearing completion, with just the roof area left to restore. This view shows Derrick puttying in the locking room's windows, making it much easier to see when you're working inside the box.
29th March 2002. Photo: Paul Mobbs
![Scaffolding](javascript:toggle_image ("scaffolding.jpeg", 200, 148, 550, 407))
By now, the only part of the box's structure still needing work is the roof. The box was therefore covered in scaffolding, to enable those involved with the project to work on the roof in safety.
9th July 2002. Photo: Tony Hendry
![Removing the Old Roof](javascript:toggle_image ("roof1.jpeg", 200, 148, 550, 407))
When the signal box first arrived at Dereham, its roof was in a poor state. It was therefore replaced with a temporary roof to prevent further decay until we were ready to restore the box. A fine spell of weather in early July 2002 meant that we could do the necessary work, and the photo shows the box with its temporary roof partially removed.
9th July 2002. Photo: Tony Hendry
![The New Roof](javascript:toggle_image ("roof2.jpeg", 200, 148, 550, 407))
Having removed the old roof, a new one was built in its place. It is now ready to have the slates added.
9th July 2002. Photo: Tony Hendry
![Slates](javascript:toggle_image ("slates.jpeg", 200, 132, 550, 365))
Ian Nugent cements the ridge tiles to the signal box roof after Owen and Pat have added more slates.
22nd July 2002. Photo: Owen Stratford
![Adding Steps](javascript:toggle_image ("steps.jpeg", 200, 132, 550, 365))
The steps up to the new box could be added during Autumn 2002. They originally came from a different box, so they needed to be slightly modified before they could be attached.
23rd November 2002. Photo: Owen Stratford
![May 2003](javascript:toggle_image ("may2003.jpeg", 200, 132, 550, 365))
A general view of the signal box in May 2003. It is now at the stage where signalling equipment is beginning to be installed. If you look closely, you can see the restored levers in the windows.
5th May 2003. Photo: Owen Stratford
![Restored Levers](javascript:toggle_image ("restored.jpeg", 200, 132, 550, 365))
This photo shows the signal frame with the first 20 levers installed. Each was stripped down to bare metal, and primed ready for the top coat to be applied. This will be done once the internal fabric of the box is completed.
5th May 2003. Photo: Owen Stratford
![September 2004](javascript:toggle_image ("sept2004.jpeg", 200, 132, 550, 365))
By September 2004, the inside of the box had been rubbed down and painted, and the installation of the signal frame was well advanced. As well as the levers being painted, the frame for the electric locking has been installed behind the lever frame. At the same time, the wire-runs to the signals were being laid out across the yard.
5th September 2004. Photo: Owen Stratford
![June 2007](javascript:toggle_image ("jun2007.jpeg", 200, 132, 550, 365))
With much of the structural work in the signal box completed, the focus has moved to the lengthy task of installing point rodding and signal wire runs, as well as infrastructure projects elsewhere on the line. In the meantime, the block shelf has been installed, and further levers have been added to the frame.
3rd June 2007. Photo: Owen Stratford