GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Warwick Station: gwrw2172

View of Warwick South Ground Frame, which was brought into operation on 27th June 1909 to control the Leamington end of Coventry Road goods yard. The Warwick end of the goods yard was controlled by the new signal box located on the up platform. The ground frame had four levers protected by a small timber cabin measuring seven foot by five foot wide. This information was included on the order for the cast nameplate, which was issued on 5th May 1909. The Ground Frame was de-commissioned in April 1961 when the goods yard's rails were lifted. Identical operating instructions were included in the Service Time Table Appendix’s for March 1921, March 1929 and April 1953 and these are reproduced below:

Working Ground Cabins, Points and Electric Bell
1. Ground Cabins are fixed at the North and South ends of Warwick Station, each containing four levers, viz:-
One Lever to work Points
One Lever to work Electric Lock
Two Levers to work Siding Discs 2.

The Points worked from the Ground Cabins are:-
South End, - Points leading from Up Main Line into Goods Yard
North End, - Points leading from Down Main Line to Sidings
The Points at each end are controlled from the Station Signal Box.

A Telephone is provided as a means of communication between the Station Box, the Ground Cabins, the South end of Up Yard and North end of Down Yard, and Guards and Shunters, when shunting, must use the instruments when requiring to communicate with the Signalman.
The Ground Cabins must be kept locked when not in use, and the keys held by the Signalman at the Station Box.
The Ground Cabins must be worked by a Porter, who must go to the Station Box for the key, and after the completion of the work he must lock up the Cabin and take the key to the Signalman. When returning the key he must inform the Signalman that the work is complete and that the Main Line is clear.
Entries must be made in the Signalman’s Train Register of the times each key is taken from the Box and returned, and these entries must be initialled by the Signalman and the man using the key.

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