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.

Further progress on site and other news....

Work on the signals installation has been temporarily postponed as the priority has been to repair and repaint the signal box itself, but will resume with a planned intensive programme from late January 2012. Meanwhile, the last remaining part of the site to be landscaped, between Visitor Centre and the canal, is being worked on to choke the weeds and provide a further attractive seating and outside display area. Here’s the latest....

· Front of the signal box rotten timber sections repaired and, following repaint, this side is completed.

· Side of the box (facing car park): extensive rotten timber to horizontal timber section will need professional view on remedial works needed; upper part of this side works continue.

· The remaining two sides are close to completion.

· Further improvements to the landscaping and the flowers and shrubs have drawn favourable comments over the summer – huge efforts from Clive, Rod and others.

· ‘New’ working distant signal (number 4): works completed and signal operational.

· Signals number 5 and ‘new’ number 13: lattice posts and fittings – works in progress.

· New compensator points mechanism operational as number 10.

· Mid-Hants Railway collected the meat wagon for restoration – we wish it a happy new life at the MHR!

· ‘Lean-to’ constructed by our young volunteers, Jamie and George, under the supervision of our Site Manager, Clive, in just 3 days – it provides a valuable dry working and storage space.

· Dick has revamped the photo displays.

· Gavin Brooker, our Deputy Site Manager, is elected onto the Friends’ Committee

· Gavin working on remote control of the simulator – to enable single handed demonstrations.

· Signal & Telecommunications (S&T) Working Party reconvenes under leadership of Mike Walshaw. The group met in July and October to progress the technical works, which is being taken forward in tandem with the outdoor signals installation – the group meets again in February 2012.

· General planning permission has been granted for the adjacent site re housing development; the Buildings Trust continues to liaise closely with the Friends and with Hampshire County Council with the interests of the historic signal box in mind.

· Romsey Arts Festival in July marked by weekend opening of the signal box; we also participated in the Heritage Open Days Event in September; record visitor numbers for 2011 (see latest edition of our newsletter The Signal).

· New revamped website! We hope you enjoy your visit but, even better, come down to the signal box and visit the real thing....!!

Environmental Award

Volunteers involved with Romsey Signal Box since the project’s origins in the 1980s attended the Mayor of Romsey’s ‘At Home’ at Romsey Town Hall on 29th March, where they were presented with the Mayor’s Environmental Award for 2011. Cllr Mike Curtis, Mayor of Romsey and member of the Friends of Romsey Signal Box, presented the award to the Friends’ President, Dick Hewett, and Chairman, Peter Chatfield, and Ted Mason of the Romsey & District Buildings Preservation Trust, in recognition of the huge contribution made by both organisations to securing and restoring Romsey Signal Box as a historic building and working museum for the enjoyment of all.

Other News....there’s lots!!

· Restoration of working signals ahead of schedule! Great progress has been made to restore the existing lattice post signal next to the signal box. This will become the new working distant signal (down branch distant number 4). Another lattice post signal awaits restoration as the new down branch home (number 5). The existing rail-built post signal is next to be restored, and will be the new down starting (number 3), with draw ahead position-light number 19. This re-creates the entire sequence of semaphore running signals in the down direction through Romsey. A second 3-aspect
colour light will be added to the existing one, re-creating the down main sequence. 3 shunting discs will also be connected, authentically re-creating shunt moves.

· Lever 8 has been connected to the points, and we are installing a facing point lock number 9 to work with them. Thus, the up junction points are being restored to mechanical working complete with locking.

· New ‘Oxted’ exhibit! The Oxted signal box diagram has been connected to bells and instruments, adding interest to the displays in the Visitor Centre.

· End of the road for the meat container....but a new lease of life elsewhere! The Mid-Hants Railway are shortly due to collect the dilapidated Meat Container, which once gave venerable service as a photo display area, and they plan to restore it to run on the railway once again. We wish them the best of luck with that one – quite a challenge given its condition.

· Once the meat van is removed, that area will be concreted in readiness for a new structure to accommodate the long-awaited Cowley Bridge Junction, our miniature portable signal box (quarter size lever frame; full size block shelf, signal box diagram, bells and block instruments), and additional exhibition space.

· Further works to restore the signal box are in hand. There have been problems with water ingress, warping of timbers, and deterioration of the pointing, amongst other things. These will be remedied this year and probably next to ensure the box is protected against the weather.

· Young members to lead the construction of a lean-to for the Visitor Centre. Our enthusiastic young volunteers like a project!....the lean-to will enable a protected space behind the Visitor Centre which will be used for storage.

· Painting/signs/lettering. A new sign has been positioned at the front gates, outdoor seats and the picnic table have been painted and lettered, and the Visitor Centre is shortly to be re-painted.

· General site works. A great deal of work is continually undertaken to develop and tidy the site. New fencing has been installed to protect visitors from the (ever developing) moving parts, such as rods and signal wires, and the level crossing gates have been re-painted, to mention just a few of the things that have been taken forward.

· We now have 2 telegraph poles, and thanks to the S&T Working Party, efforts have been made to connect telephones as we develop both signalling and telecommunications on site!

· Successful March event jointly with Romsey Railway Modellers Society. This was our second year for this event, which attracted over 150 visitors at the signal box during the weekend.

· Young members work on new website. This will be of special interest to our younger volunteers.
Joan Bennett resigns as Treasurer. The Friends’ Committee thanks Joan for her input as Treasurer; Dick Hewett makes a comeback and again takes on this role.

· Tribute to Colin Meheux. Sadly, Colin passed away last year – please see the Spring 2011 The Signal for Dick’s tribute to Colin.
Finally, as ever, Ted Mason continues to support us from the Trust, taking up various planning, security and facilities issues, and helping us with specialist advice to solve the problems with the structure of the signal box.

General News

General News (Posted 22/08/2010)

· Visit by our fraternal colleagues from St Albans South, February (see The Signal, Spring 2010)

· Joint Event with Romsey Railway Modellers' Society, March, a great success (see The Signal, Spring 2010)

· The Friends' AGM held in June: Dick Hewett (re-)elected as Honorary President; Dick's Leaving Event attended by the Mayor and Mayoress of Test Valley and the Mayor and Mayoress of Romsey, by friends old and new, and by members of Romsey & District Buildings Preservation Trust and Romsey & District Society (see next issue of The Signal for full details)

· S&T Working Party now operate as a sub-committee, also agree plans to develop the outside signalling installation, existing S&T works inside the signal box continue.

· We acquire new signals, thanks to Epping-Ongar Railway, also new signal repeaters.

· Clive Millward, Site Manager, joins S&T Working Party.

· Mike Walshaw, S&T Lead, takes temporary break to work on Swanage Railway's new Corfe Castle Signal Box, and is thanked for his input by the Friends.

· Site works continue, including new telegraph pole(!), thanks to Clive, Joan, Rod, Gavin and others.

· Younger folks, Luke, Zack, Jamie, George and others work on the wagons and other projects.

· Superb new signs by Rod Hoyle installed.

· Heritage Open Days Weekend Event will be Saturday 11th September, 10-5, and Sunday 12th September, 10-4.

· Application for fund-raising scheme for this Event; also volunteers wanted to attend during Heritage Open Days Event - operate the box/help out on site etc - please let us know if/when you can attend, thank you.



Developing the Project....

We are an exciting, constantly developing project. If ever we were a sleepy backwater, we aren't now! (Though stopping to have a cup of tea is always on the agenda.)

But we are always looking for new volunteers - Romsey Signal Box needs YOU!

We operate a 'zero pressure' policy: any amount of volunteering is a bonus, full stop. 'Volunteering' is just that: you give whatever you want to of your time, and whatever you give is gratefully accepted. You're assured of a warm welcome, and the kettle's on pretty permanently....

Update posted by Peter Chatfield
Chairman, Friends of Romsey Signal Box

News Update

(Date of publish estimated due to no date on original post)

1) After a long and distinguished contribution at the centre of Romsey Signal Box Project, Dick Hewett is registering his personal 7-5-5 (closing signal box!) and has now retired from active involvement. A vote of thanks was passed at the last meeting of the Friends of Romsey Signal Box Committee and, as mentioned above, a special event is planned.

2) Following Dick's resignation as Treasurer, we are delighted to welcome Joan Bennett as our new Treasurer.

3) Romsey Signal Box is aiming to run an annual schedule of events as follows:

January: Operating Day (Adults)
February-December: Open Days monthly
March: Open Weekend to co-inside with model railway exhibition
September: Heritage Open Days Weekend Event
November: Operating Day (Younger Members)
Other special events may be advertised from time to time. However, the above schedule is ambitious enough given our volunteer capacity as a small project!

4) Site Works: we plan about 3-4 working party days each year - all are very welcome, £0 per hour will be paid, unlimited tea/coffee available, and the company's not that bad either.... Much work has been done to landscape the site, define borders, improve the walkways, shrubs and plants. The Visitor Centre has been developed to display signalling and railway artefacts. Restoration and display of external artefacts is also ongoing. Further details on working parties will be advertised in the next 'The Signal', or can be obtained via the Chairman's email address.

5) S&T Group: will probably meet about 3 times this year. The range of working S&T equipment has considerably widened, thanks to the Group. Current work includes fitting lever locks, restoring telephone equipment - including a connection to our Visitor Centre - and commissioning additional working signals. Further details will be advertised in the next 'The Signal', or can be obtained via the Chairman's email address.

6) 'The Signal' is our newsletter. We are aiming for quarterly production. Please, however, bear with us if this is less regular than we would like. Like everything else we do, we are entirely dependent on volunteer effort and goodwill.

7) Cowley Bridge Junction is our miniature signal box, currently being built. There is no further news on this, however its 'on the list' for your Chairman to chase up....

8) Romsey & District Buildings Trust continue to give us their invaluable support. I am pleased to report that the signal box has undergone extensive repair and re-decoration recently, thanks to the Trust.

9) Lastly, but definitely not least, it is a tribute to the dedication of our volunteers that Romsey Signal Box continues to thrive as a historic building, working museum, and community asset - thank you all. For those browsing our website, please do show your support for projects like ours. History matters, without it our culture would surely be the poorer, and buildings like the signal box would be lost....

Peter Chatfield
Chairman, Friends of Romsey Signal Box