Last of the Semaphores in Cornwall

I look at the semaphore signals at Lostwithiel in Cornwall, as well as in Truro, just before they dissapear forever.
#railway #cornwall

[@andrewmerriman7133]

Hi Paul, I am very impressed with your knowledge about signalling, as a former Movements Inspector I know it can be a subject that causes confusion but not for you. At 6:38 it shows the Down Main Starting Signal Pulled OFF this is standard 4 foot arm the Signal for the Down Main Starting to Goods Loop is a 3 Foot arm, notice the lenses for the two signals are quite different. On the Levers inside the box some have numbers towards the bottom of the identification plates, these tell the Signalman the levers that need to be pulled, (and sometimes Put Back), first in order to be able to reverse that lever. You were very privileged to be allowed to go into the Signal Box it is against the rules. I always used to allow the public take take photographs after all these Mechanical Signal Boxes are disappearing at an alarming rate and without people like yourself future generations will not have the chance to see them. Please do some more videos on the subject, this one is really very good. Best Wishes Andrew.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Andrew - and really lovely to hear from you! It was my daughter, who lives in Liskeard, who prompted me to make this video. "Dad, dad, they are getting rid of the sempahores, you must come down (I live in Gloucestershire) and capture them before they go!" Since I made this, they have, of course, all gone, though, as I pointed out, the ones at St. Erth and Liskeard remain - for now. The signal boxes, apart from Truro, are all Grade 2 listed. Yes, I very tentativley asked the signalman if I could take some photos from the steps outside, and was expecting a firm 'no'. On the contrary, and surprising to me, he invited me in and allowed me to take as many photos as I wanted to. I believe he is moving on to the box at Goonbarrow - which is about to get an awful lot busier, with the Cornwall Metro project. It is at the passing loop and freight lines and another passing loop is being constructed at Goss Moor. Thank you so much for your additional background information - which is invaluable, and completes the picture. I will pin your comment to the top. Kindest Regards, Paul

[@SouthWestSundays]

This was a really interesting watch and it was particularly nice to see inside the signal box. I have not seen inside one before. So nice that you were granted access to it to take photos. Thank you for showing us.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Louise! I have only been inside a signal box on heritage railway lines, never in a Network Rail one - I felt honoured! Think it was the highlight of my trip, especially knowing it was about to dissapear forever (well, the inside at least). Glad you enjoyed it. Take care, Paul

[@abandonedrailwaya2470]

Excellent, Paul. Thank you for sharing. Take care. Ron.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Ron! Glad you enjoyed this - always sad to see parts of our railway history dissapear. Take care, Paul

[@DarylW426]

It always makes me just a little bit sad when something that has stood proud for so long is dismantled. Oh well, that's progress I guess. Thank you Paul.👍

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Daryl - I felt quite emotional editing this one! Cheers, Paul

[@michaelpilling9659]

Greetings from Poland Paul - Friday evening A fascinating video. I'm really suprised that semaphore signals still exist and are used on main line workings. I hope that the new signals will make services better and passengers will be able travel on more trains in Cornwall. Great to see that the signal box at Lostwithiel cannot be demoilished because because it is Grade 2 protected. I really hope that the contents of the box will be saved and maybe used by a heritage railway.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Michael! Glad you enjoyed the video. Yes, it is amazing that they have survived this long to be honest, but I felt a little sad when I was filming this and when I was editing it too. It should improve reiliability - a bit like a very old car, parts for these signals are becoming almost impossible to obtain. The Cornwall Metro service I think will bring a lot of benefits to the county. I was relieved when the signaller told me that the signal box is not going anywhere - however, I don't know the outcomes of the other two at Par and Truro. I was very fortunate that he let me in to photograph too. To think how long some of that equipment has been there! Cheers Michael, Take care, Paul

[@dianarolph1770]

I did enjoy this episode! I had been watching an oldish Rick Stein documentary last night on BBC2 & he was in Lostwithiel! And of course I immediately thought of you & wondered if you would pay a visit! It was very interesting - showed us that old bridge & the remains of the grand ‘palace’ there. Apparently it was the old capital of Cornwall. I’m glad Cornwall secured that money from the E.U. before we left! How kind to be let into the signal box to record everything there. Thanks Paul!

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Diana! Glad you enjoyed it. Yes, Lostwithiel is possibly my favourite town in Cornwall, though its near neighbour Fowey, is rather lovely too. I walked through the arch of the grand palace to get to my hotel! Yes it was the former capital, as was Launceston and Bodmin afterwards. Truro has only been the capital (and city) in comparitive recent times - 1870s I think. Coincidence that Rick S was 'there' last night! I have been here on the channel before when I did a river walk along the Fowey. I would like to do a longer one all the way to Fowey one day. Take care, Paul

[@malcolmrichardson3881]

Sounds like the signalling upgrade will enable a much improved service. I like your wonderful photo's of the signal box interior. Good to hear that it will be preserved, maybe with the levers (disconnected)!

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Malcolm - glad you enjoyed my signal box photos - that made my day (well, my week!) being allowed in there to photograph it. I think that the levers will be left in situ, at least for the time being. Cheers, Paul

[@faithg9766]

You certainly made the most of your Cornwall trip. Great photos inside the signal box. I do hope the changes do improve reliability.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Faith! Yes, I felt so fortunate that I was granted access inside! Now I have the photos secure in my archives. Yes, let's hope so, and more services too. Sorry I haven't replied to your other comment yet - I will do a comment catch up in the morning! Take care, Paul.

[@leeclift4666]

Enjoyed this one yes sad they are going.A fews ago on holiday in Cornwall.We went to Par station and got invited up by the signal man happy days.Also had a look at the old engine roundhouse near by there's a turntable there too.Yes think l will be popping up to Worcester and droitwich as there not far from Gloucester cheers for posting Paul

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thanks Lee! I don't think there are any firm plans to replace those at Droitwich Spa and Worcester SH anytime soon, but I am sure they will be replaced at some future point. Seem to remember seeing one on the Cotswold Line at Worcestershire Parkway too (if you look right on the upper platform towards Norton Jct.) I have covered the turntable at St. Blazey (nr Par) in one of my other videos - the Par Canal, oddly! I think it has been restored since that one was made though, because it was used last year. Cheers, Paul

[@michaelmiller641]

Great video, Paul it is indeed sad to see semaphores disappearing! I remember them in London, at Brixton and Denmark hill! You mentioned St Mawgan, I was in the Raf section CCF when at school, and we visited St Mawgan in about 1966. Went up in Shackleton aircraft coastal command!

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Michael! Yes, I never worked at RAF St. Mawgan, but I did live there - we were bussed in everyday to RAF Portreath - about 20 miles away. I remember the Americans on the base, and the Nimrod aircraft, as well as the civilian flights too (it was, and still is Newquay-Cornwall airport). I remember the Shackleton aircraft by the guard house, but it is no longer there, although the RAF still use the (now smaller) base. It is indeed sad to see the semaphores go, although the ones at St. Erth and Liskeard are staying for a little while longer. I don't know what the timescales for replacing the ones at Worcester Shrub Hill and Droitwich Spa though. There are still a few on the Welsh Marches line - I saw one near Leominster when I was heading back from the Wyre Forest the other day. Take care, Paul

[@donniblanco5239]

Great Info - Some of the Modern Tech Present on the Platforms (Camborne Springs to mind) looks Quite Sinister to my Uneducated Eyes - Lovely Film and a Nicely Timed Ending at LL, with a Very fitting Class 43 Castle Set Arriving (also soon to be discontinued). Great Trip around the Signal Box and what a nice Signalman, I hope they find him something to do. Many thanks 👍🏻✨

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you! Yes, the signalman that kindly allowed me in to photograph is going to Goonbarrow Jct on the Newquay Branch - that's about to get a lot busier due to the Cornwall Metro Project. Controversial opinion, but I am not a fan of the Class 43s, due to their poor safety records in many accidents over the years (no reinforced cab shell for one thing), and I welcome their phasing out. I find the current arrangment with their permanent pinned back vestibule doors on these 'Castles' makes for an incredibly noisy and unpleasant travelling experience. I am aware of their technological history legacy though, and I think the SVR already have one awaiting restoration at Bewdley. Yes, the new signals do take a bit of getting used to, and I will be sad to see the semaphores go, but if it does improve reliabilty (getting spares for these has been troublesome to NR) and enable a greatly improved frequency of trains in Cornwall, then that has got to be a positive in order to reduce car dependency. Thank you! Cheers, Paul

[@marilynbalderstone696]

Such an interesting film Paul. I just hope at least some of those wonderful signal boxes go to heritage railways somewhere. I guess they are pretty complex to dismantle. The last time I went from Crewe to Ludlow last autumn there were still semaphore signals on that line too but you probably know that.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you! Glad you found it interesting Marilyn. Yes, you are right - there are still some on the Welsh Marches line between Hereford and Shrewsbury - I can picture one right next to the A49 near Leominster. I think that there are a few more, as well as the ones I mentioned in Worcester Shrub Hill and Droitwich Spa. There may be one or two in Somerset around Yeovil Pen Mill too. Thanks so much! Take care, Paul

[@richardbird4702]

Yes it is a bit sad after all these years. But, like life itself you can't stop the clock. Last "proper" signal box I was in (other than a volunteer signalman on Peak Rail) was at Grindleford just West of the long Totley Tunnel near home. Keep at it Paul.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Richard! I felt quite privileged to be able to get inside to grab some photos - quite a few other railway photographers were too in the final days before it closed. I think the Cornwall Metro service will be good for many of the towns, like St. Austell, Falmouth and Newquay which it will serve. I think the long term goal is a 30 minute service. As well as a new passing loop on Goss Moor for the Newquay branch, and new platform will be built at Newquay too. Good to see some investment in Cornwall's railways. Take care, Paul

[@DonnaTaibossigai]

Great info about the semaphores. I honestly didn't know much about them. It's sad to see them taken down but (like others have said) hopefully like they'll get used along a heritage line.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Donna! Glad you found it interesting. Yes, I do hope that uses can be found for them on the many heritage lines. Take care, Paul

[@Peter-MH]

What a beautiful setting!! I know Cornwall fairly well, but I’ve never even heard of Lostwithial before?!

[@westcountrywanderings]

Hi Peter! Yes, Lostwithiel is my favourite town in Cornwall; it used to be Cornwall's capital. It is well worth seeking out. There is a large castle nearby too (Restormel) and on a nice day, some lovely river walks by the park. You can walk to Fowey and return by bus if you are feeling energetic! Cheers, Paul

[@Jimdirt7898]

Aaah the good old HST still in use

[@westcountrywanderings]

Yes, this was The Welshman 43188 - but for how much longer? Cheers, Paul

[@cms9902]

I followed the new rail bridge at the Ocean site (STS) on another channel and yours. Would be good to see some updated images this spring or summer. The banks etc should be green, and look more in keeping with the surroundings.

[@westcountrywanderings]

Hello! Yes, in my Canals Series, I have a new Cotswold Canals Update Video in planning at the moment, following Stroud District Councils planning approval to build the missing mile of The Stroudwater. As part of that, I will include progress of The Ocean (can you believe it is over two years now!). Cheers, Paul

[@cms9902]

@@westcountrywanderings I know, it's just remarkable how time dissolves away so fast!

[@royedwards8713]

Hi Paul great video and info 👌👌👌👌

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you Roy! Glad you enjoyed it. Hope you are having a great weekend. Take care, Paul

[@davidberlanny3308]

Hi Paul, Very interesting video, often it seems as if these things happen for sake of some grand standardisation plan. But here you explained the immediate benefits. Yes it's sad to see them go but also good to see a better railway running more trains and hopefully reducing the traffic on the roads. Big thanks to the signaller to let you photograph the insides of the box. Image what the insides of the signal boxes at the larger junctions would have looked like ... Clapham junction?😮 Lets hope that the equipment can find a good home and maybe even reused. Perhaps even the box could be used elsewhere? The snow was a no show yesterday!! Higher up at least one foot!! Have a great weekend!!

[@westcountrywanderings]

Thank you David! I have since learnt, that some of these are going to the Helston Railway, which is great news. The signal box at Coleford GWR museum in Gloucestershire was originally at the main jct just north of Taunton (Cogload) and they closed the railway so volunteers could move it (!). May happen here? Oh yes, those huge signal boxes - I always think of the biggest one in the UK (Severn Junction) in Shrewsbury, which I showed in one of my Severn Way videos. That must be incredible inside! Well done on escaping the snow (so far, at least!). Hope you are having a good weekend. Take care, Paul

[@davidberlanny3308]

@@westcountrywanderings Yes, I think I've seen that one on the inside, in a video, It's enormous. A lot of clever work goes into designing the mechanism in order to interlock it as much as possible in those days all mechanical and today a mix of electrics and electronics. Good to hear some of it has already got a new home. Sky is totally white but not quite cold enough for snow at the moment that is at our level. Just lit the fire!!

[@davidberlanny3308]

Well it is snowing now. It's a wonderful sight. If it settles I will post some photos .... just as well I brought some carrots this morning ..... ☃️☃️☃️

[@westcountrywanderings]

@@davidberlanny3308 Oh gosh! I hope it doesn't drift or build up too high!

[@davidberlanny3308]

@@westcountrywanderings we're fine, snow at our level doesn't last long, higher up well it's being causing chaos down here. The storm, Monica, has caused problems all over Spain - a tornado in Cordoba, hailstorms causing multiple pile up on the motorway, and heavy sees causing damage on the coast. Just as well I like carrots, I don't think ☃️ will be coming😂😂

[@paulrobinson9944]

Wrong semaphore are still on Cornish mainline as liskerad

[@westcountrywanderings]

Yes, I said that in the video, and included some photos of the ones still in Liskeard. They will be staying there for the foreseeable future, as there is no money to replace Liskeard Signal Box at the moment. Cheers, Paul

[@westcountrywanderings]

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