LMS Route: Nuneaton to Leamington

Kenilworth Junction: lnwrkj173

An internal view of Kenilworth Junction's Signal Box showing the lever frame with a number of blanked-off spaces as well as spare levers in the frame. The levers were interlocked so that signals were configured to operate with the points that changed the direction of travel. The Signal boxbox's website states, 'Interlocking was necessary to prevent signals for conflicting routes to be cleared, which could obviously cause a collision or mishap. The earliest designs used all sorts of ingenious methods to interlock the levers as each system was vigorously patented. Several cases occurred where one firm took another to court over alleged copying of their principles. Stevens & Sons invented the tappet system of interlocking that became almost universal in use in later British interlocking frames. Remarkably, they didn't bother to renew their patent, and many manufacturers adopted this simple system as their standard with almost indecent haste.'

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