Image Low Row signal box (NR, 2009)
Low Row signal box (NR, 2009)
Low Row signal box (NR, 2009) Low Row signal box was opened by Network Rail some five years ago replacing the original 1874 box at the diagonally opposite northwest corner. The box is a Network Rail designed gabled structure with a brick base and UPVC clad top with plenty of windows. The downstairs houses the very spacious locking room, which is all electrical but utilising mechanical relays. The upstairs houses an NX (Entrance Exit) Panel which has three-panel faces, of which only the centre one is used. According to the Branch Line Society who have visited the box the reason for its size - totally out of proportion to the area it presently supervises - is that the intention was for it to control the entire Newcastle to Carlisle line from two signal boxes, Prudhoe and Low Row. This has never happened, on the assumption that York Rail Operating Centre will eventually take over the signalling; it means that Low Row Box will have most likely a 'life' of less than twenty years. Until its closure on 05.01.59 there was a station on this site too with the level crossing behind where I am standing the site of a dreadful tragedy on 30.08.26. There was a peculiar arrangement whereby the station porter on duty opened the crossing gates when a vehicle wished to cross the line. On this day, for some unknown reason, he opened the gates to allow the passage of a charabanc over the line without checking his instruments and a Newcastle to Carlisle train ploughed into the vehicle killing nine persons including the errant porter. Keywords: Low Row signal box Network Rail
Low Row signal box (NR, 2009) Low Row signal box was opened by Network Rail some five years ago replacing the original 1874 box at the diagonally opposite northwest corner. The box is a Network Rail designed gabled structure with a brick base and UPVC clad top with plenty of windows. The downstairs houses the very spacious locking room, which is all electrical but utilising mechanical relays. The upstairs houses an NX (Entrance Exit) Panel which has three-panel faces, of which only the centre one is used. According to the Branch Line Society who have visited the box the reason for its size - totally out of proportion to the area it presently supervises - is that the intention was for it to control the entire Newcastle to Carlisle line from two signal boxes, Prudhoe and Low Row. This has never happened, on the assumption that York Rail Operating Centre will eventually take over the signalling; it means that Low Row Box will have most likely a 'life' of less than twenty years. Until its closure on 05.01.59 there was a station on this site too with the level crossing behind where I am standing the site of a dreadful tragedy on 30.08.26. There was a peculiar arrangement whereby the station porter on duty opened the crossing gates when a vehicle wished to cross the line. On this day, for some unknown reason, he opened the gates to allow the passage of a charabanc over the line without checking his instruments and a Newcastle to Carlisle train ploughed into the vehicle killing nine persons including the errant porter. Keywords: Low Row signal box Network Rail


Low Row signal box was opened by Network Rail some

five years ago replacing the original 1874 box at the diagonally opposite northwest corner. The box is a Network Rail designed gabled structure with a brick base and UPVC clad top with plenty of windows. The downstairs houses the very spacious locking room, which is all electrical but utilising mechanical relays. The upstairs houses an NX (Entrance Exit) Panel which has three-panel faces, of which only the centre one is used. According to the Branch Line Society who have visited the box the reason for its size - totally out of proportion to the area it presently supervises - is that the intention was for it to control the entire Newcastle to Carlisle line from two signal boxes, Prudhoe and Low Row. This has never happened, on the assumption that York Rail Operating Centre will eventually take over the signalling; it means that Low Row Box will have most likely a 'life' of less than twenty years. Until its closure on 05.01.59 there was a station on this site too with the level crossing behind where I am standing the site of a dreadful tragedy on 30.08.26. There was a peculiar arrangement whereby the station porter on duty opened the crossing gates when a vehicle wished to cross the line. On this day, for some unknown reason, he opened the gates to allow the passage of a charabanc over the line without checking his instruments and a Newcastle to Carlisle train ploughed into the vehicle killing nine persons including the errant porter.