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Signal Box Closures
North Wales Ex LNWR lines
After the closure of another 6 signal boxes along the North Wales Coast Line in March 2018, this page attempts to document the many closures (and a few openings) of signal boxes since 1950. Initially only the ex LNWR lines are covered. 'Closure' dates can be quite variable, especialy as boxes can be out of use for some time before being declared closed.
The other thing to bear in mind is that all these locations were block posts, but a suprising number of them on the branch lines didn't have a physical signal box to protect the signalman. Instead there was an open frame, with the instruments located elsewhere - in a station building, for example. These sites are marked with an asterisk. Some of these (e.g. Dolwyddelen and Amlwch) did eventually acquire some sort of ramshackle building around the frame.
| Year | New | Locations | Close | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 |
| 2 | Dee Bank Sidings, Bethesda | |
| 1952 |
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| 1953 | 2 | Penmaenmawr (3rd), Rockcliffe Hall (2nd) | 4 | Penmaenmawr (2nd), Holland Arms, Connahs Quay No 2, Rockcliffe Hall (1st) |
| 1954 |
| 1 | Penrhyn Siding§ | |
| 1955 |
| 1 | Nantclwyd* | |
| 1956 |
| 3 | St Asaph*, Trefnant*, Rhuddlan* | |
| 1957 | 1 | Denbigh | 4 | Denbigh No 1, Denbigh No 2, Mold & Denbigh Jn |
| 1958 |
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| 1959 |
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| 1960 |
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| 1961 |
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| 1962 |
| 5 | Gwyddelwern*, Bodfari*, Caerwys, Dolfechlas Crossing§, Hendre Siding, Nannerch | |
| 1963 |
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| 1964 |
| 12 | Llanberis*, Pontrhythallt*, Brynkir*, Chwilog*, Dinas Jn, Groeslon*, Llangybi, Penygroes, Llanerchymedd*, Llangefni*, Llangwyllog*, Amlwch | |
| 1965 |
| 5 | Ruthin, Old Colwyn, Port Siding, Bethesda Jn, Muspratts Sidings | |
| 1966 |
| 11 | Llong, Caernarvon No 1, Bettws y Coed, Dolwyddelen, Denbigh, Alyn Tin Plate Works, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Talycafn*, Dundas Sidings, Queensferry, Gaerwen No 2 | |
| 1967 |
| 12 | Broughton & Bretton†, Hope Jn, Mold, Tryddyn Jn, Crane St, Deganwy No 1, Mochdre & Pabo, Conway Morfa, Llanddulas, Llanfairfechan, Rhyl Sands, Pentre Sidings | |
| 1968 | 1 | Colwyn Bay | 7 | Llandudno Jn No 1, Rhydymwyn, Mold Jn No 2, Colwyn Bay No 1, Colwyn Bay No 2, Bangor No 1, Tairmeibion |
| 1969 |
| 2 | Conway, Llandudno Jn Crossing | |
| 1970 |
| 5 | Caernarvon (No 2), Hope & Penyffordd, Mold Jn No 3, Foryd Jn, Llandudno No 1 | |
| 1971 |
| 1 | Bodorgan | |
| 1972 |
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| 1973 |
| 5 | Saltney Jn, Chester No 1, Llanfair P.G.†, Menai Bridge, Bagillt | |
| 1974 |
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| 1975 |
| 1 | Nant Hall | |
| 1976 |
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| 1977 |
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| 1978 |
| 1 | Mold Jn No 4 | |
| 1979 |
| 1 | Connahs Quay (No 1) | |
| 1980 |
| 1 | Chester No 3 | |
| 1981 |
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| 1982 |
| 1 | Llysfaen | |
| 1983 |
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| 1984 | 1 | Chester PSB | 5 | Chester No 5, Chester No 6, Chester No 3A, Chester No 2, Chester No 4 |
| 1985 | 1 | Llandudno Jn | 1 | Llandudno Jn (No 2) |
| 1986 |
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| 1987 |
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| 1988 |
| 1 | Ty Croes† | |
| 1989 |
| 2 | Aber, Flint | |
| 1990 |
| 1 | Rhyl No 2 | |
| 1991 |
| 1 | Colwyn Bay | |
| 1992 |
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| 1993 |
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| 1994 |
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| 1995 |
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| 1996 | 1 | Rockcliffe Hall (3rd) | 1 | Rockliffe Hall (2nd) |
| 1997 |
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| 1998 |
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| 1999 |
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| 2000 |
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| 2001 |
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| 2002 |
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| 2003 |
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| 2004 |
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| 2005 |
| 2 | Mold Jn (No 1), Sandycroft | |
| 2006 |
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| 2007 |
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| 2008 |
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| 2009 |
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| 2010 |
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| 2011 |
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| 2012 |
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| 2013 |
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| 2014 |
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| 2015 |
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| 2016 |
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| 2017 |
| 1 | Mostyn (No 1) | |
| 2018 |
| 6 | Abergele, Holywell Jn, Prestatyn, Rhyl (No 1), Rockliffe Hall (3rd), Talacre |
Notes:
* - Block post but no signal box provided. Usually an open frame with instruments in the station buildings
§ - Retained as a Ground Frame but no longer a block post
† - Retained to control a level crossing but no longer a block post
Acknowledgments:
- British Railways Layout Plans of the 1950s - John Swift - Signalling Record Society
- Chester to Holyhead: The Branch Lines - Bill Rear - OPC
- Signalling Over Wales - Alan Roberts - www.6g.nwrail.org.uk/signallingoverwales