A Look Back at Banbury Lane West Coast Mainline Signal Box 1988

Victorian Banbury Lane Wooden Signal Box Remembered

Wooden Banbury Lane Signal Box with Class 86 Loco Approaching
Photo: Charles Moorhen 

Former Banbury Lane Signal Box, and photographer location (red star next to railway line)            Courtesy: Google Maps

Back to the year 1988 for this photo of Banbury Lane signal box, as an unidentified Class 86 locomotive, in Intercity livery, storms towards it on the West Coast Main Line heading north on an overcast, gloomy day.

Situated on one of the oldest drovers roads in England, which is believed to have ran from Aust crossing on the River Severn to Northampton in the Midlands, Banbury Lane signal box was built by Saxby & Farmer and opened in 1878 for the London & North Western Railway.

On what was then the London & North Western Railway, it was the first signal box controlling a level crossing reached after leaving London's Euston station.

Banbury Lane Signal Box Levers
Photo: Charles Moorhen

The levers in the photo replaced the original Saxby & Farmer lever frame in 1891 with one of the LNW's own design.

Banbury Lane Signal Box Electronic Signalling Board
Photo: Charles Moorhen

The box was closed on the 13th September 1988 and demolished soon afterwards.

The level crossing itself is also no longer there (though some traces of it can still be seen); replaced by a bridge over the West Coast Main Line.

 


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Photo Class 31 BR Blue Diesel Locos Double-Heading at Bletchley 1980s

Class 31 Diesel Locos Double-Heading Through Bletchley Station

Photo: Charles Moorhen

Trainspotting a pair of unidentified Class 31 diesel locomotives, in BR blue livery, double-heading a train through Bletchley station in the late 1980's heading in the direction of Northampton.

Please note that the platform canopy supports at the right-hand side of the picture still bear the colours of the former London Midland & Scottish Railway.

 

 

Class 31 Diesel Locomotive Historical Note:

Whilst hauling a train in which Queen Elizabeth II was travelling on 4th January 1961, D5667 (31240), broke down south of Cambridge.  

 

Two onboard Brush fitters, on hand to deal with any mechanical problems that may occur, were unable to fix the problem and a steam loco had to be sent for in order to rescue the stricken diesel adding over an hour to the completed journey.

                                              

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Photo Smoky Class 43098 Brel/Paxman Intercity 125 Basingstoke 1990s

Class 43098 HST Smoking Out of Basingstoke Station 

Photo: Charles Moorhen

Trainspotting Class 43098 Intercity 125, built in August 1978 and allocated to Landore T&RSMD (Swansea), in 'Swallow' livery introduced in 1987, leaving Basingstoke station in the 1990's in a cloud of diesel exhaust smoke, heading for Reading.

Brel/Paxman 43098 Intercity 125 has carried two names.  From 1985 to 1987 it was Tyne & Wear Metropolitan County, and from 1998 to 2004 it was Railway Children. 

An old slam-door diesel multiple unit, in Network Southeast livery, can be seen in the background standing in the station's bay platform before heading towards Reading.


Basingstoke railway station historical note:
In the mid-1800s, a special train was permanently kept in a state of readiness by the London & South Western Railway for the sole use of the Duke of Wellington - hero of the Battle of Waterloo - at Basingstoke, Hampshire, UK, should he require it.


Wellington was not a fan of the 'new fangled railways' and it is not known if he ever used his train.

   

Don't forget to subscribe to  'Along These Tracks' railway blog to get all new posts and updates sent directly to you.

                                

Blog update:

Previous photo posts are now easier to find.  

All blog posts are now listed alphabetically on the right side of your screen; under the heading, 'Previous Photo Posts'.


"I hope this makes your search easier".