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GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Olton Station: gwro4024

Solihull Signal Box had closed on 1st September 1969, the eight foot long illuminated diagram was bought from British Railways for 2s/6d per foot by Martin Crane

After Solihull Signal Box had closed on 1st September 1969, the eight foot long illuminated diagram was bought from British Railways for 2s/6d per foot by Martin Crane (who has kindly sent us a photograph). The diagram shows the lines with track circuits in solid white. These have lights in the diagram that illuminate when the track circuits detect the presence of a train. All the various switches and signals are marked with their frame lever number and notes on operation. The signal box location (red rectangle) and signal types are also depicted. Various modifications have been made to the diagram over time to reflect the changes that have occurred on site. Note the two aspect colour light signals on the extreme right. The original diagram was provided in 1933 by the ‘General Railway Signal Company Ltd’ of Rochester, New York, USA. In 1926, a new company was formed called ‘Metropolitan-Vickers-GRS Ltd’ to market and sell the American company's power signalling designs in Great Britain. The equipment was manufactured at the Metropolitan-Vickers’ Trafford Park Works in Manchester. During the 1930s the company provided power signalling for the Great Western Railway at Paddington, Bristol, Acocks Green and Solihull. They had also provided the point motors at Solihull for the north end Main line crossover and associated Slip connection from the goods yard to the Down Main line. It is thought that the high level signal motors (seen in 'gwro4008') were also their design.

Robert Ferris

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