How does it work? Behind the scenes of Kidderminster Signal Box on the Severn Valley Railway

Have you ever wanted to visit a signal box? You can during our Open House Weekend - www.svr.co.uk/whats-on/open-h...
We're giving you a unique view with Peter Davenport of Kidderminster Signal Box on the Severn Valley Railway and exploring how this feat of incredible engineering works to ensure your journey is both smooth and safe.
We'll see all the pulleys and lever, bells and whistles - literally - as Peter takes us on a tour around his work place and tells us how his job has changed and evolved.
Plus, as a unexpected treat whilst filming, we see 70000 Britannia during its Severn Valley Railway test runs.
Want to help protect the Severn Valley Railway's heritage? Donate now at www.svrtrust.org.uk

[@lukenash1000]

Respect to all the volunteers who put in hours most days to make this magnificent railway run.👍👍

[@joginns778]

It's a shame that network rail are knocking these signal box's down there more reliably than there power box's avoid example if an incident happened London to reading most times they shut all route down with the old mechanical box's it was rare for that to happen? Oh well I suppose that's called progress,

[@kieranhooper4227]

And most people still don’t realise that a lot of Britain’s railways are still signalled like this, not just the heritage railways! All of Worcester to Hereford and out to norton and droitwich are signalled this way and much of the Cotswolds!

[@jimthorne304]

I like the 'Heritage Old English Clanky' lavvy cistern!

[@milesbrown8016]

Awesome. Well done

[@steamgent4592]

Yeah that was jolly good!! Railway signaling is interesting & fun. Next best thing to being a driver or fireman. Would actually be fun to be cross trained and do both different weekends. Now take us on a tour of the other signals boxes!

[@SevernValleyRailwayOfficial]

Thanks for your feedback - which signal box would you like to see? Why not come to Open House Weekend and see them for yourself?

[@drg111yt]

@@SevernValleyRailwayOfficial Bewdley N and S please. When is Open House Weekend?

[@DavidDewis]

I would love to see more of the signal box working. Always find it facinating.

[@SevernValleyRailwayOfficial]

Thanks for your feedback!

[@richardvoogd705]

Thanks for sharing.

[@edmundcarew7235]

A great video. From Melbourne, Australia I have been on this and two other heritage railways in England (Dartmouth and excellent NYMR) as well as all 'little trains of Wales' but the major main and branch line area I haven't visited in UK is East Anglia, which I must do soon as from videos it has heaps of semaphore signals and quaint English interlocked gates, plus I assume since you don't use staff-and-ticket, token-and-ticket working. UK has best heritage rail scene in the world! Well done to all volunteers.

[@mallard2446]

Thanks for the video I most of time go on this railway at Christmas but I always look in this in single box when I am leaving on the steam train off courses I will be going on the svr at the spring gala

[@lukenash1000]

Same can't wait to see sir Nigel Gresley run again since 2015 and lady of the legend.

[@SevernValleyRailwayOfficial]

You can go into the Kidderminster and Bewdley South Signal Boxes during our Open House Weekend. Why not come join us? www.svr.co.uk/whats-on/open-house-weekend/

[@antiussentiment]

These behind the scenes looks are fabulous. I love seeing the workings of the railway. May I suggest a lapel mic for your guests as I had to turn the sound right up to hear what Peter was saying.. then the KZbin adds came on and nearly blew the tv apart.. ~ laughs ~

[@SevernValleyRailwayOfficial]

Thank you so much - we'll do more behind-the-scenes videos! :)

[@edmundcarew7235]

@@SevernValleyRailwayOfficial Yes, slightly greater volume from the featured man would have been better.

[@PhoenixZ80]

I really liked this video. Very interesting how it all works.

[@ChangesOneTim]

Everything in that box is beautifully preserved - right down to the genuine stove and the 'proper' shaped wooden bogseat!

[@148trains4]

That was lovely to see and found it quite emotional to watch as my father G.T Cotton was the architect for Kidderminster station and signal box the station building was based on Ross-on-Wye GWR station.

[@SevernValleyRailwayOfficial]

Oh wow - what a great connection! Do you remember many stories from your father?

[@drg111yt]

Thank you SVR and the remarkable work of Peter and others, more complex than I imagined.

[@TheDaf95xf]

Really interesting 👍🏻

[@robertbester]

Very good video. Shows me what I am not able to see for real.

[@SevernValleyRailwayOfficial]

Hi Robert. You can have a look at Kidderminster Signal Box and Bewdley South Signal Box during our Open House Weekend www.svr.co.uk/whats-on/open-house-weekend/

[@robertbester]

@@SevernValleyRailwayOfficial I know, but cannot afford to attend anywhere due to virtually all my benefit being taken up with paying bills. Sorry to you all. My last visit on the line was 29 October 2011.

[@davehodges6258]

Great information on the signal box" Seen many times as i have family that live near to it, Also noticed the footbridge shown has now been taken away"!!

[@Western-Ranger.]

Amazing video thanks to everyone involved

[@85dstudios]

And you get to see it all for yourself on the 2nd & 3rd of April !

[@SevernValleyRailwayOfficial]

You do - come join us for our Open House Weekend

[@markelloyd]

ex signalman myself merseyrail boxes warrington / runcorn never been in a s/box what had brick on upper level always timber on 1st level must be gwr thing looks in good order . missed greatly at a later age

[@lesliepettet3317]

Great thanks

[@mikejames8951]

Really enjoyed the sound but struggled with the poor sound.

[@julie-annebenham4894]

We are coming on 21st April to spring gala 2022 can't wait for it

[@SevernValleyRailwayOfficial]

Can't wait to see you

[@julie-annebenham4894]

@@SevernValleyRailwayOfficial looking forward to see different engines again and it true you paint one engines in purple for queen.

[@wolfgang9127]

Best one view of toilet

[@steveford1275]

Just curious, why do they always use a towel to pull the signals?

[@alastairtaylor6532]

We use them to stop the sweat from our hands rusting the levers. It's amazing that when somone hasn't used a cloth you see rust forming in the shape of hands and fingers. Over time the lever cloth becomes a bit of habit and you find yourself worried if you can't find it. The cloths are to a standard size and design and you can still buy them.

[@steveford1275]

@@alastairtaylor6532 Thanks, I've seen it done many times, but never understood why the cloth was used. It turns out, it's not an easy thing to google 🙂

[@alastairtaylor6532]

@@steveford1275 It is very much frowned upon when you see a signalman not using a cloth. For others it is part of the heritage and they wear it like a badge of office. I have about four lever cloths and they need washing quite frequently. PS, I am a SVR Signalman.

[@kieranhooper4227]

@@steveford1275 most network rail signallers no longer use lever cloths. They were used a lot years ago, but there’s only a few ‘old school’ signalmen that still use them on main line signal boxes nowadays.

[@matthewdavison7456]

@@kieranhooper4227 True. Most signal boxes still in use on modern railways have installed a clear primer to stop the rusting. However on Heritige railways this is not consitered heritage and is therfore not used, requiring the towels. My experiance as a trainee signalman in Aus.

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

Good news 60007 the streamlined a4 is joining up with 2678 the terrier tank and 2999 lady of legend on her second ever seven valley railway visit for this years spring gala lineup

[@williamtacey1783]

Sir Nigel Gresley first visited on SVR since March beginning of late 2000’s for 13 years

[@Pannier-pu4bq]

I think the Severn valley railway are well aware what engines are visiting for the gala that they organised 🤣

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

That’s correct mate and now it’s coming here again after 13 years since she last came here

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

And it’s also confirmed that the S15 is coming here to the seven valley railway replacing the terrier thanks to urgent repairs on the engine

[@Pannier-pu4bq]

@@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329 oh has it now? Surely the Severn Valley Railway would’ve announced that on their facebook page, oh wait they did

[@AndreiTupolev]

Is that a original GWR toilet?

[@andrewmonument8847]

Probably a silly question, but... What's the purpose of handling the controls with a cloth - apart from keeping everything clean of course.

[@nickmiller76]

Someone always says this!

[@nick-c]

It's to stop the sweat from your hands causing the levers to go rusty.

[@Jacloch]

Preventing rust on the handles

[@davethatcher4954]

Signal boxes were all kept exceptionally spotless. A weekly chore which was quite time consuming, especially the larger boxes. My first box in 1965 was Crystal Palace C. 2nd was Leigham junction, Hayes Kent and finished up at Twickenham west Junction box. Prior to eventually becoming a signalman, I was a box boy ( train recorder) at Gloucester Rd Junction, and we box boys did all the cleaning there.

[@bumerangsydney]

No token exchange?

[@ChangesOneTim]

Correct. Kidderminster - Bewdley South uses interlocked acceptance levers instead.