
Originally published in the Winter 2003/4 issue of the MHRPS members' magazine, Mid Hants News. Updated by the author 17th May 2008
The
design was used between around 1871 and 1880, a period when a lot of
new boxes were required, as the LSWR was introducing interlocked frames
and absolute block working throughout its network. This was almost
certainly the period that the four Type 1 boxes originally provided at
Medstead, Ropley, Alresford and Itchen Abbas were introduced on the Mid
Hants line. Occasionally a redundant box from one location was re-used
elsewhere (this was not, as you might think, a new phenomenon with the
coming of Heritage Railways), but it is unlikely that any of the boxes
between Alton and Winchester Junction were second hand.
Assuming
that the above is accurate, the Mid Hants Railway owns half of the
surviving Type 1 boxes and is thus the biggest user of these
structures, being apparently the only organisation to own more than
one. It also owns the only examples still working trains via a
mechanical lever frame (Alresford, Ropley and Medstead). The ex-Netley
box at Ropley is the largest Type 1 box to survive. Alresford is almost
certainly the only surviving Type 1 box using a Dutton lever frame, the
LSWR normally opting for Stevens equipment, as fitted at Medstead and
Ropley. Alresford also has the distinction of being the only Type 1 box
still signalling trains in its original location by means of a
mechanical lever frame.Recent developments:
5th May 2009:
Movie (6MB, 5th May 2009: Tony Wood) : Ropley lampman John Webb services lamps in his shed
| From: Ian Cooper Sent: 29 July 2008 22:50 Subject: New doll on Ropley Up Home On a beautiful Sunday morning, 27th July 2008, the S&T gang led by Pat Butler installed the new doll on the Ropley Up Home gantry signal. This is the latest step in the continuing project to complete the signalling at Ropley, Phase 1 of which was the commissioning of the new Ropley box ![]() Photos (27th July 2008): Ian Cooper |
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29th April 2008: Looks like preparations for the new Ropley up distant Photos
(29th April 2008): Tony Wood
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15th April 2008: |
| From: Pat Butler Sent: Saturday, December 15, 2007 5:23 PM Subject: Ropley Signal Box Fully Commissioned Gentlemen Just to let you all know that at lunch time today, 15/12/07, the New Ropley Signal Box was fully commissioned. A very big thank you to all those who helped out, especially as this recently included the modifications to the token machine circuits, and the extra signalling works required for all the permanent way work at the London End. Thanks. Pat Butler |
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| 6th November 2007 Subject: Points at Ropley It is good to see that the points are well under way. On Sunday the Signal Engineering Dept was out in force disconnecting the rodding, drive cranks and locking; and clearing the site of the concrete trestles and disconnecting all electrical connections to the tracks so that the P Way could go ahead as planned without hold-up. The extra bonus for the team leader was the removal of the old Ropley ground frame as pictured by Alan which has now cleared the way for the Building group to remove the heritage bit of the old box to its new site? This in turn will allow the wheel drop shed to be completed. With all this inter departmental co-operation we may be accused of working to a plan !!!!!! I might add that the boys from Medstead will be out again over the next 4 or 5 Sundays putting it all back again, digging holes to re-site the new rodding supports (trestles), aligning and reconnecting the point and signal controls, and reinstating the track circuits. Tony Hathaway Signal Engineering Dept Medstead |
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From: Alan Daniel Sent: 04 November 2007 22:26 Subject: Ropley 'A' Knee Frame Removal Hi Tony I popped into Ropley earlier today and as luck would have it, I arrived in time to see the Stevens 15 lever knee frame being craned out of what little remains of the old Ropley 'A' signalbox. You don't often see a lever frame dangling in mid air. Regards Alan Daniel MHR Signalmen's Rostering Officer |
| 18th October 2007: New routing for signal wires and points rodding: Outside 'temporary' box
Outside, and opposite new box |
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![]() Photos (18th October 2007): Tony Wood |
| Here's a bit of nostalgia - the diagram from the 'temporary' Ropley 'box: | (Click pic) |
| 14th October 2007: In connection with Ropley signalling on Sunday, 14th October 2007: the temporary board for the Ropley Up distant; the temporary stop board; and service train being flagged past the Up home signal |
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(14th October 2007) and report: David Charlesworth
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| 11th October 2007: Control of signals, points and FPLs at Ropley was being transferred from the faithful old ground frame to the new signalbox: the teams were connecting and checking for correct operation using pocket radios to communicate. There were the inevitable minor difficulties with lengths of points rodding and the correct routing of signal wires through the pulleys, but it's all going overall to plan so far. Work will continue over the next few days. None of this interrupted the movements of a Footplate Experience train through the station all day! |
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![]() Photos (11th October 2007): Tony Wood |
| From: Tony Hathaway Sent: 09 October 2007 19:52 Subject: Ropley Box Commissioning Just a reminder that the commissioning of the Ropley Platform signal box is planned for Thursday through to Sunday of this week, a culmination of about a year's work by a small band of volunteers. It not only has been a refurbishment of box-based equipment, but new interlocking and the installation of new trackside equipment eventually to allow bi-directional running through Ropley (some way off yet.) In essence this weekend is about retiring 'the shed' at ground level and moving control to the main box. I will be too involved to report or photograph, but someone else who is not involved may like to come up with the goods. Tony Hathaway Signal Engineering Dept P.S. Pray for dry weather |
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9th October 2007: Dennis Grace and Jack Stanford were keen to show the results of their labours. Everything outside is ready to be connected up to take over from the "temporary" ground frame which has served us so well for the past 25 years. (That frame is destined for a visitor hands-on display.) The ground circuits showed a red lamp on the indicator board: Bodmin at the down platform. |
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![]() 27 operational levers and three spares: Red for home signals Yellow for the two distants Black for points* Blue for facing point locks White for spares * Installing #21 points (12th Nov 2007) More about the re-alignment of track and points (Nov 2007) |
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"Keep clear of the frame by your head," said Jack when
we
went down to see the locking room - "If Den pulls a lever it
could have your eye out!" When Den did just that I could see what he meant! Photos (9th October 2007): Tony Wood |
| This is the 'temporary' (25 years!) signalbox over the ground-frame at Ropley Photo
(July 2007): Neville Rothery
It is soon to be replaced by ... |
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... the 'new' box, currently at the proving stage Two photos: Mike Pearson |
| 10th July 2007: You're looking into the Ropley box's locking room from the door; the levers and frame are above the top right of the photo and the running line is parallel to the wall on the right. Above the fluorescent lights is the floor of the signalman's cabin. Terminal cabinets A and B have their covers removed Photo
(10th July 2007): Tony Wood
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19th June 2007: Jack Stanford and Dennis Grace install locks and controllers. These connect to track circuits and to detectors on points and signals for a safety system additional to that provided by the mechanical locking frame (just visible top left in the photo) Photo
(19th June 2007): Tony Wood
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| From: Dennis Grace Sent: 13 June 2007 12:23 At Ropley Box today (11th June 2007) we have put a diagram up on the block shelf. Chris Hunt (S&T, who made the diagram) is with Pat Butler. Next job will be to fit the locks and controllers, which are all ready to go in, so hopefully not too long now Den |
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| January
2007: 'New'
telephones installed in 'new' Ropley signalbox |
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| 31st May
2006: Dennis Grace and his team are coming along nicely with the Ropley signalbox. The levers are now properly aligned and much of the locking mechanism is installed |
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Arthur was working on the locking details in sunshine
on Ropley platform 2 Photos (31st May 2006):
Tony Wood
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| 4th April
2006: Two of the points levers are now connected as far as these bellcranks at the trackside |
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| John Wright was renovating the steps to the box Movie (570KB, 4th April 2006): Tony Wood | |
| 30th
March 2006: Jack Stanford in the locking room of Ropley signalbox. Mechanical locking is in process of design Photo (30th March
2006): Tony Wood
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| 16th
February 2006:
Movie (2MB): Dennis Grace is making good progress with Ropley signalbox - replacement for
the temporary (25
years!) ground-frame
Photo and movie (both 16th February
2006): Tony Wood
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