Newsletter release

The latest edition of our newsletter "The Signal" is now available on our 'downloads' page. A very interesting read with all the latest info and an article on the pneumatic signalling system that was installed in the Salisbury area. This weekend is also our first Sunday of the month open day so pop along to that to see the developments for yourself!

Latest Developments.

Work continues at the signal box between open days and on Wednesday we had the first use of our new scaffolding tower. It has been assembled by the extension part of the signal box to allow our work force (Dave and Keith) to start stripping the paint from the box ready for it to be repainted. Unfortunately due to the British weather, they didn't get very far and soon had a stop because of the rain. Hopefully the scaffolding will make it easier for them to do the work and, more importantly, safer.

Don't forget we're open on Saturday and we also have our members social event going on but this will not effect our open day.


Don't forget to keep an eye out for the next edition of our newsletter coming early next week.

A busy open day

In many ways, the 21st of May was a big event for us at Romsey Signal box. The first is that we handed out our 10,000th ticket (meaning we've had 10,000 visitors since we opened in October 1992) which was good news. Here is the lucky recipient of the 10,000th ticket with an enlarged ticket and the first of our new design tickets which are now being handed out to all visitors.

The more anticipated event was the passing of 60103, "Flying Scotsman" twice in one day. A video of the two passing has been published to YouTube where you can find other videos of Scotsman in the Romsey area. Here is the video and it will also be placed in our gallery in the near future, its surprising how poor the view of the track is from the signal box site.

Flying Scotsman also brought many additional visitors to the signal box and this meant we had 65 visitors which I believe is out highest number of visitors in one day since our reopening event last year.

We all had an enjoyable day despite the weather and it was good to see so many people taking an interest. We also went up to Romsey station and handed out a load of leaflets to all the people on the platform so hopefully we'll get more visitors in the coming months.

Next open day will be June 5th

interesting TV series

There's a very interesting series on channel 4 at the moment: Paul Merton's Secret Stations. This week Paul Merton visited Newton St Cyres which was a neighboring signal box to Cowley Bridge Junction, our model signal box. Worth a watch if you have the time. Follow the link below to catch up on the latest episodes.

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/paul-mertons-secret-stations

Signal box progress

You may be thinking to yourselves, "whats been going on with blog, we haven't had an update in ages". Well, worry no more, here is the latest update with all the latest news!

As you may know, we are currently working on a new display to utilise three colour light signals that we have on site. They weren't in a good state so they're currently in the 'workshop' (lean-to) being renovated. The latest success is the completion of smallest of the three signals, the two aspect signal. 2 aspect means it can only display red and green (go and stop) unlike the three and four aspect signals which have amber and double amber states (respectively). This is believed to be an old underground signal and although in real life it wouldn't be seen in a sequence with 2 main line signals, it will do for us.

When we started on this signal it was in a pretty bad way and it has been completely stripped down and restored to working order. On Sunday we completed the restoration when we reassembled it and fitted the lenses. We still have to fit a new lamp holder (we're converting the lights to low voltage LED lamps) but we did simulate a light in the signal by using a torch. Its great to see something like this come together and it gives a real sense of achievement. There are just a few finishing touches and this will be ready to go on display (once we finish the other two signals).

The main body of the three aspect signal has been cleaned and given two coats of paint along with most of the other bits and pieces that need to be reattached. There are just two pieces of metalwork that need painting, but we need to drill out some of the bolt holes in these pieces that have bolts stuck in them from when we disassembled it. Once this is complete and we design a way to hold the new low voltage LED lamps, the signal can be reassembled.

The control circuit for this has already been completed and tested ready for action once the signals are all completed.


In the pavilion, Dave has continued to construct shelving around the TV area that allows us to store things under the TV and keep the various video players safe.

Keith has continued to repaint the outside of the pavilion to keep the wood sealed from water damage.

Dick has constructed a new ramp into the toilet area using slabs as the old wooden one was rotting away. This means it will last much longer and require less maintenance.

Neil's hard work and dedication to the garden's is paying off and all the bluebells and tulips are making the garden's look really good this year. He was out there again on Sunday weeding the lawns and at the end of the day gave me a bunch of rhubarb from our vegetable patch which is really staring to give us some produce.

On Sunday a committee meeting was held and many decisions were made around the plans for a new building. We have now (for the third time) changed the plans and hopefully finalised the location of the new building which will house visitor displays and also a secure member's area where they will be able to eat lunch and store personal belongings.  various other things were discussed and decisions were made. It involved a lot of standing around outside and we have now perfected our impressions of windmills!

The highlight of the day was the unexpected fly-over from a spitfire. There was obviously and event on at Broadlands as the aircraft was doing stunts and tricks. The pictures don't really do it justice.


Otherwise we had another successful open day and we're all looking forward to next month when Flying Scotsman will be passing through Romsey twice in one day. Why not combine going to see Scotsman with a visit to the Signal box and see what it would have been like to Signal Scotsman through the Romsey area and clear the signals so as not to hold the train up!

Recent works update

Its been a while since we last updated you with activities on site, so here we go with a mega post!

Allan and Adrian Action shot (the AA are on site)

The area behind the pavilion, where the willow tree once stood, is now being developed. The tree has been cut down and the stump has been ground away. It was only today that Adrian and Allan started to lay some slabs. We are not 100% sure of the plans for this site, but the slabs they have laid will keep the weeds down for now. They also spent the day burning bits of scrap wood (and the remains of the willow tree) so we've had a good tidy up, but there's still more to do before we've got our store shed sorted and the site tidy.

TV on new stand with various input devices

Dave has been working on the TV stand in the pavilion. We now have a new wired camera feed from the signal box (so disabled people can watch the demonstration) which is a big improvement from the wireless system we were using. We also have a new TV and because things were getting messy in the space below the TV, Dave decided it was time to re-build the stand. He has replaced the top and made a housing for the various TV inputs. This means that everything is kept tidy and we still have space to store more 'stuff'.

Keith has been busy in the Cowley bridge building gluing baton over the joins in ply wood walls and ceiling. This is replacing the masking tape that was originally used to cover the gaps, but just kept falling off. The new baton really finishes the room off and hopefully wont fall off. Once he had finished inside, he moved outside and has started to re-paint the outside of the pavilion. This was done recently, but a fairly low quality preservative was used, so its being 'topped up' with some more, higher quality, preservative. It does make the exterior look better.

Now that we are getting better weather, Keith, Dave and whoever else is available will soon move on to finish painting the final side of the signal box exterior. This will complete the redecoration of the signal box, but the sun is already starting to bleach the cream paint on the first face they repainted. This means that next summer (or the one after) they will be starting all over again and so it goes on...

2 Aspect signal stripped and ready for painting

Jamie, Gavin and various other members have been working on various signalling artefacts. The main things in the 'workshop' (lean-to) are the colour light signal (CLS) heads. These will make up our display on multi-aspect signalling to show how 4, 3 and 2 aspect CLS work together. These will run up along the fence line by the railway and should help explain what all the different colours mean.

Signal cowl ready for painting

The two aspect signal needed completely stripping down and restoring inside and out. This signal is currently in pieces on the work bench and is pretty much ready for priming and painting.



The three aspect signal only recently got brought into the workshop and is in a better state than the 2 aspect signal. The insides are in a much better state and do not need repainting. The outside was mostly OK, but because the cowls were in such a bad state and needed repainting, the whole exterior must therefore be repainted. Today I disassembled this signal and started to strip the paint off of the cowls. I have completed one, half done another one and the third is yet to be started.

Signal being dismantled

One signal dismantled, one ready for work

The four aspect signal was only brought into the workshop today and I've decided its in very much the same state as the three aspect, only needs outside restoration. I therefore started to remove the cowls and next time the lenses need removing before we can start to wire brush the metalwork. The lenses must be removed before we start this to prevent them being scratched or damaged.

All of the parts that have been removed are being stored in their own boxes just in case certain pieces fit better in certain lenses. The boxes are labeled with the signal they are from and the lens that it relates to. Any members wanting to help in this restoration project, we ask that you try to keep the items in the box they came from. Please ask one of our regular site team volunteers before embarking on work on these signals.
(P.S they are VERY heavy!!!)






As you can see, we've all been very busy and today the sun even decided to make an appearance. If you fancy helping out, get in contact with out site manager to find out when you can come along to help out. Don't forget we'll be open on Sunday, 12:00-16:00 so pop in to see the site and the work we're doing.

Model show!

Don't forget that while we're open this weekend, the Romsry model show will also be taking place. Be sure to stop in and see what's happening!