The Signalling Record Society

Regional & Other Boundary Changes

This page should be regarded as “Work in Progress”. The webmaster will welcome additional information for this page.

Over time the various railway companies reoganised and the boundaries of the various traffic and engineering areas changed which can sometimes make it difficult to locate and research signalling information. As one might exxpect, the traffic and engineering changes did not always take place at the same time! Nationalisation and privatisation did not stem this flow of change as Railtrack and Network Rail continued the ingrained habit of reorganisation.

On this page are recorded some of the implemented boundary changes that were published through the medium of weekly engineering notices and the amendments to the timetable appendices or through other sources. Some of the information shown is derived from such copies of the engineeting notices as we have in our digital archive. Looking through this page may well assist in determining where to look for information about specific places of interest at different time periods.

London Midland & Scottish Railway

From 1928 engineering notices seem to have been published fortnightly with a supplement in the intermediate weeks.

Central Division (Former Lancashire & Railway lines).

Notices:

• C All Lines including Preston & Wyre Joint.

Midland Division (Former Midland Railway lines).

Notices:

• M1 All former Midland Railway Lines.

Northern Division (Scotland)

Sections covering:

1. Highland north.
2. Caledonian north plus Highland south.
3. Glasgow and south west.
4. Glasgow south

Notices (initially):

• All sections north of Glenboig published weekly.

Notices (from 1928, possibly earlier):

• N Published fortnightly with a supplement a week later and divided into sections:
  1. Passenger train alterations.
  2. Freight train alterations.
  3. Miscellaneous instructions.
  4. Appendix instructions.
  5. Hours of Opening at Signal Boxes.
  6. Engineering and signal alterations &c.
  7. Permanent way and other works.
• N1 Special Traffic items (north) published weekly.
• N2 Special Traffic items (south) published weekly.

Western Division (Former London North Western Railway lines).

Notices:

• W1 Published fortnightly with a supplement a week later.
• W2 Published fortnightly with a supplement a week later.
• W3 Published fortnightly with a supplement a week later.

Cheshire Lines.

Simply numbered in sequence each fortnight.

Southern Railway

Alterations to signalling were published in a series of notices with numbering restarted at 1 with the first notice of each year.

1948 Nationalisation

The bulk of the lines operated by the “Big Four” railway companies were divided into six Operating Areas. Later these were called Regions:

• Eastern. The Great Eastern and Great Northern sections of the former London & North Eastern Railway, south of Shaftholme Junction; Kings's Lynn Docks & Railway; Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway.
  
  
• London Midland. The London Midland & Scottish Railway lines in England and Wales; Cheshire Lines Railway; Mersey Railway.
  
  
• North Eastern. The North Eastern section of the former London & North Eastern Railway from Shaftholme Junction northwards.
  
  
• Scottish. The former London Midland & Scottish Railway lines in Scotland together with the former London & North Eastern Railway lines in Scotland.
  
  
• Southern. The former Southern Railway; East Kent Light Railway; Kent & East Sussex Railway.
  
  
• Western. The former Great Western Railway; Clifton Extension Railway.

The former London Midland & Scottish Railway lines in Northern Ireland (Northern Counties Committee) intially remained under the control of British Railways and were then transferred to the Ulster Transport Authority in April 1949.

Initially the Regions generally perpetuated the arrangements in place immediately prior to nationalistation.

London & North Eastern Railway lines in the Manchester area transferred to London Midland Region.

1949 Boundary Alterations

From London Midland to Eastern

London, Tilbury & Southend Lines.

London Midland Region internal

Langton and Sandon Dock stations from Midland to Western Division.

1949 Weekly Notices

From week 13 (commencing 26th March), possibly earlier, the internal format of the weekly notices was standardised across all regions. The sections were:

1. Temporary Speed Restrictions
2. Temporary Engineering Works
3. Signalling and Permanent Way Alterations
4. General Instructions and Notices
5. General Instructions and Notices not affecting train crews

The London Midland Region fortnightly notices became weekly notices: week 6 was for one week followed by week 13. However, the situation on Western lines is confusing as week 8 was for 2 April 1949, week 13 for 7 May 1949 and week 37 for 22 October 1949.

The following notice series then ensued:

• C London Midland Region, Central Division
• M1 London Midland Region, Midland Division; Midland & Great Northern
• M2 London Midland Region, Midland
• W1 London Midland Region, Western Division north of Crewe
• W2 London Midland Region, Western Division, Crewe and south therof

1950 Boundary Alterations

From Southern to Western

Cowley Bridge westward Southern to Western: S&T only transferred, Traffic remained Southern.

1953 or 1954

Some time in July 1953 the London Midland Region notices changed and became:

• C London Midland Region, Central Division
  
  Hover your mouse here to see the lines listed in the notice for week 10, 1955
  
  

  Manchester to Wakefield
  Thorpes Bridge to Rochdale via Oldham
  Middleton Junction to Oldham
  Castleton to Bolton
  Rochdale to Bacup
  Todmorden to Gannow Junction
  Milner Royd to Bradford
  Rishworth to Sowerby Bridge
  Heckmonwike to Thornhill
  Barnsley to Horbury
  Wakefield to Goole Goods
  Bessacar to Shapton
  Shapton to Brierley Hill
  Methley Junction to Pontefract
  Newtown to Heaton Lodge
  Thornhill to Leeds
  Waterloo Sidings to Ashton Moss
  Micklehurst Line
  Penistone to Springwood
  Spen Valley to Farnley
  Batley to Birstall
  Farnley to Leeds
  Manchester to Liverpool
  Pemberton Loop
  Wigan to Southport
  Fazakerley to Rimrose Road
  Sandhills to North Docks
  Windsor Bridge to Fleetwood
  Clifton Junction to Radcliffe
  Kirkham & Wesham to Blackpool South
  Poulton to Blackpool North
  Lostock Hall to Walton
  Sandhills to Southport
  St Lukes to Whitehouse
  Aintree to Sefton
  Bolton to Hellifield
  Daisy Fields to Accrington
  Great Harwood to Rose Grove
  Manchester to Colne
  Bury Loop
  Stubbins Junction to Bacup
  

  ---

  Manchester to Sheffield
  Barnsley to Mexborough
  Brancliffe to Kirk Sandall / Bullcroft / Thrybergh
  Doncaster to Leeds
  

  ---

  Shaftholme to York
  Thirsk to Melmerby
  Chaloners Whin to Altofts
  Burton Salmon to Bolton-on-Dearne
  Garforth to Castleford
  Seamer to Hull
  Hull Yards
  Hull and Leeds
  Staddlethorpe to Thorne
  Goole to Haxey
  Reedness to Fockerby
• 
  M1 London Midland Region, Midland Division; Midland & Great Northern
• 
  M2 London Midland Region, Midland Lines
• 
  M3 London Midland Region, Midland Lines
  
  Hover your mouse here to see the lines listed in the notice for 1955
  
  

  West London Line
  West London Extension Line
  Acton area
  West London Line
  Victoria to Norwood via Thornton Heath
  Balham to East Croydon & Norwood via Crystal Palace
  Farringdon to Herne Hill
  Blackfriars to Hither Green
  Latchmere Junction to London Bridge
  Latchmere Junction to Richmond
  Acton Lane to Richmond
  Fenchurch Street to Shoeburyness
  Upper Holloway to Barking to Tilbury
  Thames Haven
  Bethnal Green to Stratford / Temple Mills area
• 
  W1 London Midland Region, Western Division, Crewe and south therof
  
  Hover your mouse here to see the lines listed in the notice for week 31, 1954
  
  

  Euston to Crewe via Trent Valley
  Broad Street to Old Kew Junction
  Kentish Town to Camden
  Poplar to Dalston Station
  Tilbury Branch
  North Pole to Willesden No.1
  Camden to Watford (Electric Lines)
  Rickmansworth & Croxley Green branches
  Oxford to Banbury & branches
  Roade to Rugby via Northampton
  Blisworth to Northampton Castle
  Duston Junction to Northampton
  Rugby Midland to Peterborough
  Luffenham and Uppingham branches
  Rugby to Wharf
  Coventry to Nuneaton
  Coventry Avoiding Line
  Crewe Goods Lines
  Nuneaton No.1 to Midland Junction
  Nuneaton to Loughborough Derby Road
  Stafford to Wellington
  Harlescott Crossing to Crewe
  Rugby to Stafford via Birmingham
  Proof House Junction to Bushbury
  Dudley to Wichnor Junction
  Norton Branches
  Ryecroft Junction to Rugeley
  

  ---

  Paddington to Reading to Didccot
  Didcot to Aynho Junction
  Builth Road to Central Wales Junction
  Hereford to Shrewsbury
  Shrewsbury to Harlescott Crossing
  Old Oak Common to Chester via Bicester
  Cheltenham to Tyseley
  Oxford to Wolverhampton via Worcester
  Stourbridge Extension Line
  Wellington to Market Drayton
  

  ---

  Eastern Area, Central Section
  Eastern Area, Northern section
  Eastern Area, Eastern Section
  Eastern Area, LT&S
  
• 
  W2 London Midland Region, Western Division north of Crewe
  
  Hover your mouse here to see the lines listed in the notice for week 31, 1954
  
  

  Basford Hall Junction to Gretna Junction
  Weaver Junction to Edge Hill
  Whelley Line and branches
  Boars Head Junction to Adlington Junction
  Crewe to Holyhead
  Mold to Corwen East
  Chester to Birkenhead Woodside
  Hooton to Helsby Junction
  Chester to Acton Grange Junction
  Liverpool to West Kirby
  Bidston to Seacombe
  Crewe to Manchester
  Ashbourne to Edgeley Junction
  Stenson Junction to Stoke Junction
  Manchester Exchange to Liverpool
  Fletcher Street to Kenyon Junction
  Eccles Junction to Springs Branch
  Roe Green to Bolton Great Moor Street
  Tyledesley to Pennington
  Pennington to Bickershaw
  Springs Branch to Huyton
  Blackbrook Branch
  St Helens to Widnes
  Skelton Junction to Ditton Junction
  Manchester Central to Liverpool Central
  Godley Junction to Glazebrook
  Wrexham to Dee Marsh
  Carnforth to Whitehaven to Carlisle
  Siddick Junction to Whiehaven
  Buckhill to Calva Junction

  ---

  Gobowen (at least) to Chester
  Ruabon to Barmouth Junction

  ---

  Manchester to ????
  Ashburys / Hyde to Hayfield / Macclesfield

  ---

  Kirkby Stephen to Tebay
  Penrith to Kirkby Stephen

1957 Boundary Alterations

From 12.1 am on Monday 4th March various lines were exchanged between the Eastern and North Eastern Regions and London Midland Region lines in the Leeds and Wakefield areas transferred to the North Eastern Region. An asterisk (*) indicates that the transfer had already taken place.

At the same time, divisional boundary changes took place in both the London Midland and North Eastern Regions. [North Eastern Weekly Notice 8].

Eastern Region to North Eastern Region

Nostell and Staincross (Smithies excluded)

London Midland Region to Eastern Region (Doncaster District) *

London Midland Region to North Eastern Region

North Eastern Region new Leeds Operating District

North Eastern Region new Wakefield Operating District

North Eastern Region Wakefield District to Hull District *

London Midland Region Midland Division to Central Division

1958 Boundary Alterations

In 1958 the regional structure based largely on the big four company boundaries was amended to a geographic one. The nature of the change led to it being usually referred to by the term “Penetrating Lines” as the lines that penetrated another geographic region were the ones transferred. The changes were implemented from 12.1 am on Saturday 1st February.

The London Midland Region took the opportunity to transfer various lines from the Liverpool District into the Western Lines.

From Eastern to London Midland

From London Midland to Eastern

From London Midland to North Eastern

Lines in North and West Yorkshire.

From London Midland Region to Western Region

From North Eastern Region to London Midland Region

From Southern Region to Western Region

From Western Region to London Midland Region

From Western Region to Southern Region

London Midland Internal Central to Western Lines

1959 London Midland Region Notices

From week 35 (29th August) the weekly engineering notices were redesignated:

• C became CE
• M1 became ME1
• M2 became ME2
• M3 became ME3
• W1 became WE1
• W2 became WE2

1962 London Midland Region Traffic Area Reorganisation

From week 46 (10am Sunday 18th November) the traffic control boundaries were altered with lines north of Crewe (Coppenhall Junction), Goostrey, Sandbach Junction (Middlewich Line), North Rode and Christleton moving from Western Lines to North Western Lines.

From the same date the former Great Central lines from Marylebone to Culworth Junction were transferred from Midland Lines to Western Lines. The same notice mentioned that trains were being diverted to Marylebone whilst Eusston was being reconstructed and the previous week's notice mentioned that an extract of the Midland Appendix had been produced for trainmen diverted to Marylebone.

Midland Lines transferred to North Western Lines as part of this process (date unknown) were Miller's Dale Lime Co.'s Sidings Down Distant Signal to Manchester Central via Cheadle Heath and via Stockport T.D., Miller's Dale Junction to Ashwood Dale, Chinley to Totley Tunnel East, Macclesfield Central to Manchester (Piccadilly) via Rose Hill, Hayfield to Manchester (Piccadilly) via Guide Bridge and via Belle Vue, Manchester Central and Godley to Liverpool Central and branches, Dunford Bridge to Manchester (Piccadilly).

1963 Boundary Alterations

Changes implemented from 1st January 1963.

From Southern to Western

From Western to London Midland

All lines north of the following locations:

1966 Section D Items

From April four weekly notices containing the accumulated Section D items were introduced to reduce printing the same information every week. The weekly notices still contained Section D items that needed to be published before the next four weekly notice appeared.

Supplementary Operating Notices continued to be published until 1971.

1967 Regional Merger

The Eastern and North Eastern regions merged back together.

1968 London Midland Notices Revised Coverage from Week 39

Entries beyond the regional boundary shown separately and not as part of the through route.

M ME MED Midland Lines

N NE NED Western Lines north, formerly NE2

W1 WE1 WED Western Lines south

W2 WE2 WED Western Lines north

1974

From Western to London Midland

London Marylebone to Birmingham Moor Street

Sectorisation

The commercial aspects of the railway were transferred to the new railway business sectors whilst operations remained regional.

2021 Boundary adjustment

Great Western to London North Western