Historic London Underground Signal Box

For many years there was a signal box located in a small room off the westbound Central Line platform at London Liverpool Street Station.

As a teenager I used to change trains here every day on my way to school, and as I walked along the platform to the escalators (if the door was open) I would pause for a few moments and watch the signalman operating the levers, knobs and dials. Much to my delight I would sometimes be invited in and given a quick 'tour' of how the system worked. The signalmen also made sure I did not stay too long and become late for school!

Years later, and shortly before the line was resignalled and the box closed, I was fortunate to be able to shoot a little video. Hence this film, which nowadays will be of historical interest.

Also heard (but not seen) are some 1962 stock trains - probably the most interesting sounds from an enthusiasts point of view will be after 7 minutes, where we hear the compressor, the doors closing, etc.

**You may wish to pause the film to read all the captions.**

By way of experimentation I made all the on-screen text in Central line orange. Possibly people will say that I should have stuck with white, and maybe I will with future videos.

The image quality is 'so so', hopefully people will find it to be acceptable. Because my video players no longer work I had to connect the camcorder to the computer to digitise the film.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• London
• Underground
• train
• tube
• rail
• railway
• railroad
• subway
• metro
• ubahn
• tbahn
• signal
• box
• cabin
• interlocking
• tower
• historic

[brucesterman]

I remember this place, I used to go there after school in the mid 70s when I was 13and the signalman used to sit back read the paper and leave me to it. 1 & 2 on the left you could restroke with one hand. 2 was split into about 5 sigs, 2a 2b etc for more line capacity. 4 & 21 were the starters & you'd pull off 30 secs before due departure. such power for a kid! I loved it. What the hell is that computer??

[citytransportinfo]

we might have met - but this is an aspect of what i recall i was not going to say too much about, as it might be used to make trouble for LU.

Simon

[exploz2]

is that touch screen?! lol

[lifelinemedics]

@exploz2 Yep, that is a touchscreen, its "The Train Register" or book as we called it in my day. When I first started the Box Boys had to write all the sheets out by hand on a Sunday. Things changed over time hence no more box boys. We used to work the book during peak hours so the signalman could get on with running the railway.

[lifelinemedics]

Having watched the whole of the film, I know both the signalman and worked with them many years after when I became a Manager on the Underground. Wow some really good memories, thanks for posting.

[lifelinemedics]

I was a box boy at Leytonstone in 1984 and often got sent to "The Street" to run about for the signalman.

[brucesterman]

So, the lever frame is now at Embassy & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway ! Great to know that it has been preserved and put to a good use.

[brucesterman]

Actually, that rings a bell, I remember meeting a chap, lightish brown hair, who said to me that he had had another kid in the box who had put back in front of a train and that he had made him go out and apologise. A very dicrete warning I thought, was that you? I knew Guss.

[brucesterman]

The large bakelite commutators were train platform destination indicators and a clip board had each destination.

Chap called Guss Gaggs used to work there, great voice, he often stood at the door and announced the trains personally.

[JoeRoss1993]

They showed this signal book on Video 125's Central Line DEV DVD. Just before doing a DEV of the train going into the reversing siding.