Last update 1 December 2008
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Phil Deaves, Swindon, Wiltshire
I am always grateful for additional information, whether entirely new records (particularly historical records), or information to fill in gaps or correct errors, via the email address above. Thank you.
This listing has all current, and recently closed, signal boxes on Network Rail, together with the signal prefix codes. This photograph shows a prefix code "in action" at Minster. This listing attempts to show changes in line control, but only for recent history. The phrase "control passed to..." refers either to a modern signalling installation, or to just one traditional absolute block signal box. Thus, where signal boxes A, B and C once existed and B has closed, this page does not refer to both A and C, but just one.
Only the first change of control is shown. For example, Stone Crossing is shown as controlled by Dartford (D). Reference to Dartford shows that this has passed control to Ashford North Kent Signalling Centre (NK). Only the first link is shown under Stone Crossing. Where a box closes and leaves very long block sections between remaining adjacent boxes, a subjective assessment has been made of the closest box as "controlling" the line. This is not a perfect system by any means, but it helps to keep the tables small. In cases where the direct "descendant" is not known, a later "descendant" is substituted.
The symbol - (hyphen) in the code column indicates that it is known that no code was ever carried. A blank means that no code is known: there may or may not have been one allocated.
An attempt has also been made to quote opening and closing dates.
Please remember that these pages concentrate on signal box prefix codes; therefore data presented primarily concerns these signal boxes only. Only current and a selective few closed signal boxes that never had prefix codes are shown.
Please note that mileages quoted are for the signal boxes themselves, not necessarily for any nearby junction.
Further information about signalling may be found at the Signal Box web site. The Signalling Record Society may also be of interest. In addition, the definition of various signalling-related signs can be found on the "Rail Signs" pages. To see how all this fits into one comprehensive network, the Sectional Appendix will be of interest.
The codes can be found on these pages:
Introduction A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Non-National Rail
Special thanks to Andrew Laing for checking every "current 'box" entry and regularly supplying observations, Simon Lowe for so willingly sharing his historical Scottish 'box files and giving insights into Scottish railway history, John Creed for sharing his Southern 'box files and thoroughly checking it, and David Allen for willingly sharing his collection of "yellow notices" with me. Thanks also to Richard Smith, David E Belcher, Wobbly Bob, Andy Williams, Danny Scroggins, Jeremy Barker, Geoff Mayo, Greg Scott, Brian Carter, Paul Steane, Darren A Towler, Martin James, Derek Kaye, Phil Lucas, David Stickland, Dan Beaumont, Chris Pittock, Natalie Jones, Mark Coletta, Pete Hawkins, Peter Elbro, Colin Avey, Peter Tatlow, Jo Sharpe, Malcolm Chainey, John Hillmer, Dave Harries, Keith Long, Roger Smith, Jeffrey Harris, Bob Barnes-Watts, Mike Pain, Stan Driver, Richard Maund and others wishing not to be named for additional data and corrections.
