2. Bletchley PSB visit-PM

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2013 > 25. Footexes & Bletchley PSB visit-18.05.13 > 2. Bletchley PSB visit-PM

With Bletchley PSB having closed on 31.12.12 an open day was planned with all funds raised going to charity. Unfortunately, the open day was put back several times for 'operational reasons' but finally, some five months later it took place. After picking Andy up we made our way south to investigate more.

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Images 1-15 of 15 displayed.

Class 390, VT 08.40 Glasgow Central-London Euston, Bletchley station from Bletchley PSB
An unidentified Class 390 Pendolino passes through Bletchley station working the 08.40 Glasgow to Euston service. The photograph is taken from the open window of the closed power box that had opened its doors just one more time for visitors.
Keywords: Class 390 08.40 Glasgow Central-London Euston, Bletchley station Bletchley PSB Virgin West Coast pendolino

350107, LM 11.14 Birmingham New Street-London Euston, Bletchley station from Bletchley PSB
Taken from the window of Bletchley PSB, which closed five months ago, 350107 pauses at the adjacent station working the 11.14 Birmingham New Street to Euston service. Just visible behind the Desiro is one of London Midland's Class 150s that work the Marton Vale line between here and Bedford.
Keywords: 350107 11.14 Birmingham New Street-London Euston Bletchley station from Bletchley PSB London Midland Desiro

Track diagram and control board, Bletchley PSB
Now switched off and decommissioned the control board inside Bletchley PSB has not signalled any trains since 31.12.12. I suspect that after the open day permitting visitors access to the box the electronics will be removed as the building is repurposed.
Keywords: Track diagram control board Bletchley PSB

Track diagram, Bletchley PSB
The track layout in the Bletchley station and yard area is seen but with the power off no lights illumonation showing the various aspects of the signals. This diagram is the same as the one that us local enthusiasts use day to day on OpenTrainTimes but our version is very much cut down and definitely with none of the various annotations seen on the board. Of note here is the annotation to the lower left stating 'Down and Up Cambridge blocked'. The Varsity line between Oxford and Cambridge has been closed as a through route for many years but the legacy of its existence is still plain to see.
Keywords: Track diagram Bletchley PSB

Control board, Bletchley PSB
The control board, now out of use following the Bletchley PSB's closure at the end of December last year, is seen complete with various annotations and notes. With the closure of the box control of the signalling has moved to the anonymous Rugby SCC. A short article was published that covers the closure of the box and the wider resignalling at Bletchley can be found here....https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/51677628/bletchley-signalling-solutions - however, beware of the pop-up ads!
Keywords: Control board Bletchley PSB

Class 390, VT 11.15 Manchester Piccadilly-London Euston & 350235, LM 12.47 Milton Keynes Central-London Euston, Bletchley station from Bletchley PSB
Taken from the front window of the closed Bletchley power box reveals the commanding view of the WCML and the station. As an unidentified Class 390 Pendolino passes southwards working the 11.15 Manchester to Euston service 350235 pauses working the 12.47 Milton Keynes to Euston all stations service.
Keywords: Class 390 11.15 Manchester Piccadilly-London Euston 350235 12.47 Milton Keynes Central-London Euston Bletchley station from Bletchley PSB Virgin Pendolino London Midland Desiro

390004, VT 12.30 London Euston-Glasgow Central, from Bletchley PSB
The 12.30. Euston to Glasgow Central Virgin West Coast service passes Bletchley worked by 390004. The commanding view is from the former Bletchley power box that closed five months previously but was open for interested visitors on this Saturday afternoon.
Keywords: 390004 12.30 London Euston-Glasgow Central from Bletchley PSB

Annotated wall chart calendar, Bletchley PSB
A poignant photograph of the 2012 wall chart on the wall of the now-closed Bletchley PSB. The 'we all gone, bye-bye' comment applied from 31.12.12 when the beox shut and was powered down with control moving to the Rugby SCC. Bletchley was the last box to close along this section of line with others having already shut such as Rugby itself.
Keywords: Annotated wall chart calendar Bletchley PSB

Bletchley PSB (BR, 1965)
Typical of its time is the brutalist Bletchley power signal box. Designed by British Rail's in-house architects (London Midland Region) and constructed in 1965 it has controlled a long section of the WCML between Watford Junction (to the south) and Rugby (to the north)since using an entrance/exit NX panel.
Keywords: Bletchley PSB British Rail

Bletchley PSB (BR, 1965)
From the platform end at Bletchley the familiar sight, since 1965 that is, of the BR-built power signal box complete with its large sign. At night the sign is back-lit and shines out brightly announcing to passengers where they are acting as a rather grand running-in sign. With the box now shut (from 31.12.12) it faces an uncertain future and may well go the way of Rugby which has recently been demolished.
Keywords: Bletchley PSB BR 1965 London Midland region

Bletchley PSB (BR, 1965)
Brutalist but functional concrete structures at their very best! The large Bletchley signal box is seen from the station's platform end. With the windows slung open, all looks normal but for the fact it had closed on 31.12.12 but was yet to be de-commissioned. It was open on this day for visits from the public with monies raised going to charity. Andy and I enjoyed our informative visit to the box but its future now is uncetain.
Keywords: Bletchley PSB BR 1965

66174, unidentified down freight, Bletchley station
A rather head-on shot of 66174 as it passes through Rugby station at speed heading north. Despite trawling the working timetable I cannot identify this working unless anybody can advise please.
Keywords: 66174 down freight Bletchley station

150107, LM 14.01 Bletchley-Bedford, Bletchley station
150107 is about to depart from Bletchley with the 14.01 service to Bedford. The Class 150s, despite their age, are proving successful on the Marston Vale line despite them having to return to Tysley every weekend for servicing and swapping with another unit.
Keywords: 150107 14.01 Bletchley-Bedford, Bletchley station

Class 390, VT 13.00 London Euston-Manchester Piccadilly, Bletchley station
Passing the recently closed Bletchley PSB at line speed, an unidentified Class 390 heads north with the Virgin 13.00 Euston to Manchester service. The box, despite closing on 31.12.12, was open today for visitors to admire its brutalist 1960s interior and low-tech electronics!
Keywords: Class 390 13.00 London Euston-Manchester Piccadilly Bletchley station Virgin Pendolino

Bletchley PSB (BR, 1965) from Queensway
A concrete structure pictured from within a sea of other concrete structures! Just poking its head above the Queensway overbridge, which itself carries the WCML just to the south end of Bletchley station, is the closed and doomed (?) PSB. Just to my left and overhead is the flyover built by British Railways, as part of the modernisation plan to carry the Varsity Line over the WCML. This structure predates the 1965 PSB being built in 1959. Way ahead of its time, even by having concrete pads to support electrification masts, the viaduct saw very little use with the decline in coal traffic after its construction. However, there are plans to resurrect the east-west Varsity Line in some form or another so, maybe, it will see use once again.
Keywords: Bletchley PSB BR 1965 Queensway

Images 1-15 of 15 displayed.