Latest News Posted

Reminder: Romsey Signal Box ‘20/30’ years Special Anniversary Event – Saturday 13th October - all most cordially welcome....and its FREE!! (donations welcome)
...30 years since the box was closed by British Rail on 18th October 1982;
...20 years since the box re-opened to the public by the Friends/Trust on 18th October 1992.
- The Signal Box will be open to the public from 2pm to 6pm(-ish).
- Between 3pm-4pm The Mayor of Test Valley and the Romsey Town Mayor, together with the Romsey & District Buildings Preservation Trust, will join the Friends of Romsey Signal Box and visitors in a special cake-cutting ceremony!! - to celebrate the resurrection and renaissance of this historic signal box as a working museum to be enjoyed by all. Unmissable, folks!!
- As the light fades, visitors will be able to see our new working signal lamps.
- The box will continue to be open for members after 6pm until 10pm with operation to a timetable; there will be an EGM of the Friends between 7-7.30pm to review a few matters re our strengthening relationship with the Trust; there will also be a barbeque in the evening.

Further news....
· The Friends held their AGM in August. Chairman, Peter Chatfield, paid tribute to the huge contribution made by Clive Millward, former Site Manager. The Friends’ Committee were re-elected with Gavin Brooker elected and welcomed as Site Manager.

· The Friends now have charitable status. Members are encouraged to complete Gift Aid forms if you haven’t already done so – Dick or Neil are happy to assist with this.

· The Signal Box again had a very successful Heritage Open Days Weekend event in September. Many thanks to all our visitors and volunteers for another enjoyable weekend.

· Exterior renovation of the box is now complete....but maintenance continues, as ever....

· Improvements continue on site, especially opposite the level crossing with further tidying, slab laying and the inevitable weed-choking! Electrics and lighting now fitted to the lean-to works area.

· Signals installation: All 4 semaphores are now connected to the box. No. 5 down branch home signal and no. 13 up branch advanced starting signal are close to completion; no. 3 down starting soon to be fitted-up (with no. 19 shunt ahead); no. 4 down branch distant already complete. Red/blue spectacles about to be installed for no’s 3, 5 and 13.

· Please see latest edition of our journal The Signal accessed via Downloads, also Gallery on the website, for more news and photos.

Latest News Posted

Headline news....
Clive Millward resigns as Site Manager. Clive has had a profound impact on the Project over the past 5-6 years – in particular, under his leadership the site has been transformed. There will be an article on Clive’s many achievements in the next The Signal.

Dick leads our application for charitable status. Discussions underway with the Romsey & District Buildings Preservation Trust to take this forward.

Romsey Signal Box will once again participate in Heritage Open Days Weekend. We will be open to the public on Saturday 8th (10-5) and Sunday 9th September 2012. Here’s hoping for an ‘Indian Summer’...

Romsey Signal Box ‘20/30’ years Special Anniversary Event – open to the public - is on Saturday 13th October, 2pm-10pm: 20 years since we first opened to the public, and 30 years since the signal box was closed. Unmissable, folks!! More details to follow in due course...

 Further news....
· Exterior renovation of the signal box is tantalisingly close to final completion: the signal box, like most of us, could do with a few sunny days....The Trust kindly arranged professional replacement of key sections of rotten timber.

· Great progress is being made towards completion of the site landscaping – big efforts from Clive, Dave, Rod, Gav, Jamie, and the site is currently looking ‘a picture’, no small thanks to Dave for keeping it looking good, and to Ken for keeping the grass under control.

· Remote control simulator installed, thanks to Gav and Jamie – it has transformed demonstrations!

· Video screen and website updates now happening thanks to George.

· Cowley Bridge Junction, our demonstration miniature signal box, will be moved to Romsey later this year for final completion.

· Signals installation: number 5 ‘home’ signal now working, so 2 of the 3 signals on the ‘down branch’ are now operational. Number 13 up branch advanced starter is well under way; works have also commenced on number 3 down starter.

· Lamp fitted to number 4 distant – it looks great as the light fades!! Work in hand to fit lamps to the other signals; Barry has made replica lamp fittings.

· The Signal & Telcommunications (S&T) Working Party continues to make great progress, but Mike Walshaw steps down as Lead for for about 18 months due to his Swanage commitments; Steve Hailes acting as lead in the interim.

· Recent group visit by Friends of King Alfred Buses Group, hosted by Neil and George, with support from David and Marion, and Dave.

· We still await further news re development of the adjacent former infants school site....watch this space.

'The Signal' Spring 2012 edition published

The latest copy of the magazine of the Friends of Romsey Signal Box has just been published. Download a copy from our "Downloads" page.