Clacton-on-Sea resignalling completed in 23 days
AN INTENSIVE 23-day period of engineering works in and around Clacton-on-Sea saw Network Rail complete its area resignalling programme on March 14, reports Richard Horner.
The £37 million scheme included laying 500m of new track, installing 12 modern LED signals, two separate power systems, 12 new points and point motors, 13 overhead line equipment structures and more than 6000m of new cables.
Signalling control has passed to Network Rail’s Colchester
Area Signalling Centre, marking the end of an era for two elements of traditional railway signalling.
Clacton-on-Sea station was home to the last searchlight signals on Network Rail, dating from 1958. These single-aspect colour light signals with their long metal hoods and round housings gained their nickname from their resemblance to wartime searchlights used to track enemy aircraft at night. They were once commonplace across British Railways’ Eastern Region.
Regrettably, the unlisted
Great Eastern Railway Type 7 signal box at the end of the station platform is scheduled for demolition at the end of April 2021.
The box was built in 1891 with a 69-lever frame. This was subsequently reduced to 57 levers, 44 of which were in use to the end.
The wooden box was protected from the sea elements by uPVC cladding and was in excellent condition.