GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Hatton Station: gwrhj1940

A low resolution version of the Signalling Diagram for Hatton North Signal Box, showing the post 3rd June 1901 track layout. This was the date when the goods loop parallel to the north curve branch line was brought into use and the up refuge siding was converted into the up goods passing loop. This Signalling diagram has been reproduced courtesy of the Signalling Record Society (S.R.S.). Details of how to purchase their full resolution content is available here.

This was the second Hatton North Signal Box, the first was located just to the north of the station in the fork between the main line and what became the south curve. This curve was the original junction to the Bearley branch, but with the opening of the north curve on 23rd July 1897 the original signal box was renamed the Hatton Middle Signal Box. Two nameplates for Hatton Middle Box, and one each for Hatton North Box, Hatton South Box and Hatton Branch Box were ordered on 4th June 1896 (order 147).

Hatton North Signal Box is identified as a type GW5, also known as the 1890 pattern. The lower lock room was constructed entirely from brick, while the upper operating room had a brick back wall with the brickwork returning for some distance on either side wall. The roof was gabled with finals and two rocket vents on the ridge. Slatted vents were also found near the apex of each of the side wall wooden panelling. The stairs were outside and there was no porch or veranda. The operating floor windows were of the small pane type.

Hatton North Signal Box was 22 feet, 5 inches long, by 12 feet wide and the operating floor was five foot, six inches above rail level. Hatton North Signal Box housed a double twist lever frame with 25 levers at five and a quarter inch centres. As built, 18 were working levers and 7 spares, but six of these spares were utilised following the 1901 changes to the track layout and two other levers were released by the introduction of an additional small two lever frame for the placing of detonators on the up and down lines adjacent to the Signal Box. The table below gives the opening hours for Hatton North Signal Box for a selection of years:

The Signal Box here controlled the block sections on the main double line. The Signal Box also controlled the short block section on the Bearley branch North curve. The Signalman sent messages to the preceding Signal Box to give permission for trains to enter the relevant block section on their line and used signals to indicate to train drivers when they were allowed to proceed. Distant Signals, distinguished by their forked tails and yellow colour (post September 1927) gave train drivers advance warning of the status of the next ‘Stop’ Signal. In addition to the Branch Junction, the Hatton North Signal Box also controlled train movements associated with the up goods running line and down branch goods running line. The Signalman could set a route with the point switch levers. These were interlocked with various types of signals (including ground signals), operation of which informed the locomotive driver of the selected route and when to proceed. This interlocking with signals ensured that these indicated to other trains, when they could no longer proceed safely and had to stop.

Positioning Signal Boxes to give good visibility of the most complex trackwork was important to ensure safe operations. The cross-over at the junction had track circuits powered by batteries. These gave the signalman a ‘Vehicle on Line’ indication when a train, locomotive or rolling stock was occupying this particular section of track and prevent the signalman from giving the ‘all clear’ if the crossing was fouled.

Hatton North Signal Box closed on 1st September 1969, following the replacement of the mechanical signalling. The trackwork had been simplified during the previous six months as follows:
21st April 1968 - Up refuge siding taken out of use
20th June 1968 - Branch line goods loop taken out of use
22nd September 1968 - North curve singled

Robert Ferris

back