2016!!

Well 2016 is here and what a year we had,

Reopening, A new building, Cowley Bridge, major site redevelopments. its all been happening!
We at the signal box just wanted to thank everyone (members and visitors) for their support and all the work you put in, we look forward to another productive and successful year.

The day the signal box re-opened

P.S Keep a look out for our newsletter that'll be published some time this week

Signal box open day

This Sunday we'll be putting our latest trainee volenteers to the test. They will be controlling Cowley bridge signal box and giving talks/demos in Romsey box. So come along and try them out with some difficult and challenging questions.

Latest open day and a recap

Jamie explains and Peter is operating (calm before the storm)

Smile Colin

This Sunday was our regular open day and  we had a healthy 27 visitors. The usual activities were happening, David canning was working Romsey signal box and giving the public the usual demonstrations. The buffer stops cafe is still building momentum but we have now covered all our costs so its now making profit. Matthew, peter and myself were manning Cowley bridge with help, here and there, from James. However, as Matthew got used to the simulator, Peter (and many members of the public) soon got lost with the train movements as Matthew and I were really putting Cowley bridge through it's paces. We also had a mini training session for a couple  of people wanting to volunteer on the front desk.


This month we are also running a training day for members who want to 'move up the ranks and learn the ropes for the signal box and Cowley bridge.

Bill.T being put to the test on C.B by Allan

In other news, it feels hard to believe that this is our third month of being open! In memory of the big day, here are some pictures from the re-opening (we didn't actually post any when we reopened so these could be the first you've seen).

Allan and Bill pose with Cowley bridge and the VIPs

The grand reopening

The traditional pose on the trolley, but who's missing? Yes, our site manager is camera shy....

URGENT UPDATE

We have recently been informed that the bridge under the railway has been locked up (probably by network rail). Anyone who was thinking of attending and planning to park in the Nightingale surgery can either walk along the canal to get in, or should park somewhere else (see visit page of website).

More updates as soon as we get them.

Double post alert!

Cowley Bridge signal box

Don't forget the signal box is open this Sunday with usual activities going on. We would also like to announce the exciting news that as of next year, we will be opening twice a month!!!!

Members trip to St Albans SB

For this we will, of course,  be needing more volunteers to operate Cowley bridge, give signalling demos in Romsey box, serve drinks at our cafe and people to be a welcoming face around the site. If you feel you can help, please get in touch, we will be running training days for giving Romsey demos and operating Cowley Bridge in the near future. There's plenty of jobs to do on open days and as a member you get unlimited free tea and some cake when you're helping out. We're also looking for gardeners and maintenance workers to help out on open days and workdays in the week, so you don't need signalling knowledge to help out.

Members 'party' at christmas

End of a work day

Anyone can help in one way or another, and we're happy to teach you about signalling if you have no exsperience but want to lean. We're a friendly dedicated bunch of people to work with. We don't care if your a GWR supporter, LMS, LNER, Southern or you have no clue what any of this means, you can help (Southern supporters get more cake... we wish!).

Dave being very dedicated

Unlike preserved railways, if you just want to oporate the frame, you don't have to go through months of training, we just teach the basics and arrange an operating day.

Team work!!!

You also get the exclusive opportunity to come on our members only trips to preserved railways/signal boxes. We're looking into heading to the Isle of Wight steam railway and Brading in the spring, so please get involved.

Visit our membership page for more details/sign up

October open day

Although our aim on the first Sunday of the month, now that we've reopened, is to prioritise the public, we often have enough volenteers present to do some work as well. On this open day Neil and the younger members started coating the Cowley bridge biulding with a weather proof seal (additional to the wood preservative we've already got on there)

Gavin did some metal restoration. He's striped and painted an old signal lever and started work on a lever clamp. This is one that we found in an area where the signal box used to stand so is probably an original from the box and is probably from lever A,B or 24 (which the frame no longer has).

Gavin also cut out some coloured disks to go in the GWR signal. These aren't see through, but are the best we can do for the time being.

Jamie sank a post to hold the 4 aspect signal for our new signing display (opening soon) and he also spent time on Cowley bridge training young member Matthew. In addition, while peter was on CB frame, he gave member Garth an introduction to the new frame/setup.

A hygiene inspector came on Sunday and passed out 'the buffer stop' cafe with flying colours, giving it 5 stars (and yes, he did have his glasses on, we're really that good)

Although quiet on the visitor frount, it was a good day and plenty went on!!

Something new??

After our work day yesterday, signs are appearing of a new display that should be active by spring next year!  More info soon, or come along on Sunday to find out more