The Signalling Record Society

Signal Box Registers

Regarded by many as as our “Flagship” publications, the Signal Box Registers are a series of books listed all the known signal boxes in the British Isles. For each signal box, information is included of dates of opening and closing, signal box type, size, lever frame and so on.

The first volume was published in 2007 and volumes have periodically been published since then. Some volumes are still being compiled but will appear in due course. Some others have been updated with second or even third editions.

The locations of most of the signal boxes listed have been mapped on our OS Map Page. Well worth a visit!

To purchase copies of volumes currently available, please visit our on-line Bookstall.

What you can see in the Registers

Locations are listed in line of route order.

The type of information included against each location is shown in the image to the right and each column is explained here.

Ref: This is the RailRef identity of the location or signal box. It is in two parts - line reference followed by a sequential number. Gaps are left in the sequence numbers to allow for additional information to be inserted when more information is discovered. Click the link to discover more about the RailRef system.

M: the recorded milepost mileage for the location.

Name: The recorded name of the signal box at this location.

#: Number used to indicate when there has been more than one signal box here.

Signal Box: A description of the signal box itself including opening and closing dates; the type of signal box; and the size and type of construction. The type coding was devised by members of this Society and first published in “The Signal Box”. The codes are explained in the register itself.

Locking Frame: The type coding was also devised by our members and, like the signal box type, is now used by most authors when describing signal boxes. Where known the distance between the centres of each lever is shown as is the number of levers. Where we can, we show the date of manufacure of the frame. The codes are explained in the register itself.

BS: Whether or not a 'block switch' was provided. If one was provided the signal box could be closed while leaving the line open to traffic but with longer block sections.

Notes: The number of any note giving more detail than can be fitted into the column.

Arrangement of Volumes

The volumes primarily follow the Regional organisation that came into being with the formation of British Railways on 1 January 1948. On that date the 'big four' (Great Western, London & North Eastern, London Midland & Scottish, and Southern) were split across six regions.

It has been necessary that the London Midland Region area is split over multiple volumes simply because of the volume of information. Separate volumes cover Ireland + Isle of Man and the London Underground Lines.

Where lines appear in more than one volume the information may well have changed between the publication dates.

Volume 1: Great Western

The first edition was published in 2007 and a second edition followed in 2011. The third edition was published in late 2022. Each edition is fully updated to the latest known detail at the time date of publication. Members (only) may view an on-line version of the register by clicking on this link. To view the register, members will need the passwords they can obtain from the Member's Forum. Extent of cover: Barry Brecon & Merthyr Cambrian Cardiff Clifton Extension Joint Didcot, Newbury & Southampton Ealing & Shepherds Bush Great Western Great Western & Great Central Joint Halesowen Joint Hammersmith & City Joint Hotwells & Avonmouth Midland & South West Junction Neath & Brecon Port Talbot Rhondda & Swansea Bay Rhymney Severn & Wye Joint Shrewsbury & Hereford Joint Shrewsbury & Wellington Joint Taff Vale Vale of Neath Vale of Towy Joint West London West London Extension Weymouth & Portland Joint Worcester Joint Wrexham & Minerva Joint

Volume 2: Midland

This volume has not yet been published. Extent of cover: Ashby & Nuneaton Joint Carlisle Goods Traffic Cheshire Lines Clifton Extension Great Central & Midland Joint Great Northern & Midland Joint Great Western & Midland Joint Halesowen Joint Hull & Barnsley & Midland Joint London, Tilbury & Southend Midland Midland & Furness Joint Midland & Great Northern North & South West Junction Otley & Ilkley Joint Portpatrick & Wigtownshire Severn & Wye Joint Somerset & Dorset Joint South Yorkshire Joint Stratford-upon-Avon & Midland Junction Swinton & Knottingley Tottenham & Hampstead Joint Wath Curve Whitechapel & Bow

Volume 3: Eastern

The third volume in the series comprises the lines of the Southern Division of the London & North Eastern Railway. First published in 2012, a second edition was published in 2022. Extent of cover: Cheshire Lines East London Great Central Great Central & Great Northern Joint Great Central & Metropolitan Joint Great Central & Metropolitan Joint Great Central & Midland Joint Great Central & North Eastern Joint Great Central & North Staffs Joint Great Eastern Great Northern Great Northern & Lancashire & Yorkshire Joint Great Northern & London North Western Jooint Great Western & Great Central Joint Manchesster South Junction & Altrincham Midland & Great Northern Oldham, Ashton & Guide Bridge South Yorkshire Joint Tottenham & Hampstead Joint Wath Curve

Volume 4: Southern

This volume was published in 2009 Volume four takes in the Southern Railway including lines in the Isle of Wight. Also included are the various Military railways within its borders, the East and West London lines and the Railway. Extent of cover: Brookwood Cemetary East London Freshwater, Yarmouth & Newport Great Western & South Western Joint Isle of Wight Isle of Wight Central London, Brighton & South Coast LBSC & LSW Joint London, Chatham & Dover London & South Western Longmoor Military Somerset & Dorset Joint South Eastern West London Extension

Volume 5A: London Midland South

This volume will include all signal boxes in the southern part of the London, Midland & Scottish Railway and British Railways London Midland Region, Western Lines including those in Central and South Wales. This volume has not yet been published. Extent of cover: London & North Western North London North Staffordshire West London West London Extension

Volume 5B: London Midland North

This volume will include all signal boxes in the northern part of the London, Midland & Scottish Railway and British Railways London Midland Region, Western Lines including those in North Wales. This volume has not yet been published. Extent of cover: Birkenhead Joint Cockermouth, Keswick & Penrith Furness Fylde Joint Lancashire Union London & North Western Manchester Ship Canal Maryport & Carlisle Mersey North Union Oldham, Ashton & Guide Bridge Rowrah & Kelton Fell Whitehaven, Cleator & Egremont Wirral

Volume 5C: Lancashire & Yorkshire

This volume will include all signal boxes in the Central Lines part of the London, Midland & Scottish Railway and British Railways London Midland Region. This volume has not yet been published. Extent of cover: Fylde Joint Lancashire & Yorkshire Lancashire Union Liverpool Overhead Methley Joint Committee South Yorkshire Joint

Volume 6: Scotland

The Scottish volume was published in 2012. Extent of cover: Bangour Hospital Cairnryan Military Caledonian Campbeltown & Machrihanish Carlisle Citadel Joint Carlisle Goods Committee Dumbarton & Balloch Dundee & Arbroath Glasgow & Paisley Joint Glasgow, Barrhead & Kilmarnock Joint Glasgow South Western Glasgow Underground Glengall Hospital Granton Gas Works Great North of Scotland Highland North British Peterhead Prison Portpatrick & Wigtownshire Robroyston Hospiatl Wemyss Private

Volume 7: North Eastern

Published in 2023. Members (only) may view an on-line version of the register by clicking on this link. To view the register, members will need the passwords they can obtain from the current issue of SRS News. Extent of cover: Hull & Barnsley Methley Joint Committee North Eastern Swinton & Knottingley Joint

Volume 8: London Transport

The London Transport volume includes all the lines that came within the London Transport orbit in 1932 plus some later additions. It also includes some sections of line belonging to the main line railways that are served by London Underground trains. Published in 2019 Extent of cover: Bakerloo Barking to Upminster Central City Widened Lines Croxley Depot District East London East Putney to Wimbledon Hammersmith & City Ilford to Woodford Jubilee Kilburn to Watford DC Loughton to Ongar Metropolitan Northern Northern City Piccadilly Studland to Richmond Victoria Waterloo & City West London Whitechapel & Bow

Volume 9: Ireland & Isle of Man

This volume includes all the railways of Ireland, both north and south of the border. Also included are the railways of the Isle of Man. It was published in 2015. Extent of cover: Belfast & County Down Besssbrook & Newry Carnlough Ironstone Castlederg & Victoria Bridge Cavan & Leitrim Clogher Valley Cork & Macroom Direct Cork & Muskerry Cork, Bandon & South Coast Cork, Blackrock & Passage County Donegal Joint Dublin & Blessington Dublin & Lucan Dublin & South Eastern Dundalk, Newry & Greenore Fishguard & Rosslare Giants Causeway Glenariff Mineral Great Northern Great Southern & Western Groudle Glen Isle of Man Laxey Mines Listowel & Ballybunion Londonderry & Lough Swilly Manx Electric Midland Great Western Mullaghmore Barytes Northern Counties Committee Parsonntown & Portumna Schull & Skibbereen Sligo, Leitrim & Northern Counties Snaefell Mountain Traleee & Dingle Trimoleague & Courtmacsherry Tullyaughter Quarry Warrenpoint & Rostrevor Waterford & Tramore West Clare

Combined Volume on CD

This CD-ROM includes all the contents of volumes 1, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8 as described above. Versions suitable for viewing in your web browser and a PDF copy are both included. It was most recently published in 2023.

Volume 9: Ireland & Isle of Man on CD

This CD-ROM includes all the contents of volume 9 as described above. Versions suitable for viewing in your web browser and a PDF copy are both included. It was published in 2015.

Addenda & Corrigenda

Research is a continual and continuing process and it is inevitable, as more information is discovered, it is possible to add to and amend the information in the published registers. Two sets of amendments are available:

for the London Transport volume (8)

for all the other current volumes.

There is no charge for these update sheets.