Axminster Crossing Box Rescued

I am pleased to announce that after a year of planning and a very hot three days of work, we have successfully rescued the former LSWR Crossing Keeper's Box at Axminster gGtes. The structure would have been demolished otherwise to make way for improvements in connection with re-doubling of part of the Waterloo - Exeter line.

I will be re-erecting the structure on a private site in the area. I would be interested to hear from anyone who has photos or information about the box. I would be particularly interested to know about the interior fittings, type of frame, gate gear and who built it and even when! Also if you know of someone who worked the box in its heyday (before the CCTV crossing was installed) I would be most keen to meet them and show them around!

For more information please go to my website: http://www.tir-ltd.co.uk/news/ and make contact through the links there - if you are in the area and fancy giving us a hand, the drop a line!

Regards

Chris Phillimore

 

Hi

Thanks for the infromation - who publishes that - I have the MP slim one but that does not have any photos.
Book says that route was doubled by 1870 - do I assume the box dates from then or later?

Regards

CP

 

Hi

Thanks for the info guys - much appreciated. i think I will get in touch with our friends down at Beer...

With regards to the name - Castle refers to Castle Hill (which is the public Highway that crosses the road) The LSWR seem to have called all their crossings 'Gates' or is this not an LSWR specific Term?

Regards

 

Glad to see that another piece of railway history has been saved. Do you plan to set the box up with a working frame etc?

 

Is this link of use?

http://www.signalbox.org/diagrams.php?s ... &comments=

 

Yes neil that is useful - thanks very much . I see that it was drawn recently - i don't suppose the original archive holds and actual artifacts - or photos (especially)

Regards

 

well yes of sorts (and I can hear the puists screaming already!) I have a small 16mm garden railway, which my kids (40, 10, 8 & 7 love playing with - the plan is to have it run out of a station in the box after modification. I have a 2 lever GW frame that I bought of ebay from a place in St Austel. It was completely seized and I have had some of the broken cast iron parts welded back on (you really have to look hard to see the join. So the plan is to have entry and exit from teh 'Station' in the box controled by the GF and some 1/4 scale signals (via some serious throw-compensation)

We would also be after a free-standing cast iron stove - if you know where we could find something appropriate.....

Regards

 

Progress update

A progress update has been filed at www.tir-ltd.co.uk/news


Regards

 

It nice to know that a another small part of railway history is going to be used still. And controlling trains too... if on the smallish scale...

 

Hi all

You may like to see an update on the restoration of the Box here: http://www.tir-ltd.co.uk/news/2010/10/an-exciting-discovery-can-you-help-solve-a-puzzle/

You may also wish to loook at some photos here: http://www.tir-ltd.co.uk/galleries/Axminster%20Gates%20Signal%20Box/

I would be very interested to hear from anyone who may be able to give some more information to fill in the blanks. If anyone would like to visit the box, I would be pleased to welcome a small delegation. If you would like to contact us, we will put you on a list and notify you of a date shortly.

info@tir-ltd.co.uk

Regards

Chris P