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Surrey Branch visit to Acton Canal Wharf and Acton Wells signal boxes

In spite of the poor forecast we had excellent weather for our afternoon out visiting two contrasting signal boxes on the North London Line with our host Martin Day of Network Rail. The visit was organised as a result of a chance conversation at an exhibition.

  
Acton Canal Wharf signalbox
  Acton Canal Wharf signalbox
Having met our host at Willesden Production Offices, the group donned orange high visibility jackets and vests and set off on foot to the Acton Canal Wharf signal box on the ex Midland Railway line from Acton Wells to Cricklewood. This is one of only two boxes that has a rarer type of block instrument still in use that has no ‘Line Clear Release’ on section signals, the other being at Neasden Junction. It uses hand operated levers rather than a panel and a bell code system is still in use.

This signal box also appears on the London Borough of Ealing’s list of buildings that are of architectural or historical significance. In addition there is a semaphore signal operated from here with a paraffin lamp as evidenced by the drums of paraffin stored at the site. We were unable to get close to this signal because of safety considerations regarding access but it was easily visible from the box.

Acton Canal Wharf frame
  
Acton Canal Wharf frame  
Unfortunately, we did not see any action while there as no trains passed through at the time. Our host told us that the box was built around 1895 and refurbished and extended about 5 or 6 years ago to provide an internal wc and a kitchen area and improve conditions for the lone signalman on duty. When the extension was completed, some entertainment was caused as a result of someone forgetting to bolt the base of the new external staircase to its concrete foundation. Traffic here comprises mainly regular freight services carrying aggregates, sand, waste (there is a huge recycling facility close by), stone etc often going full one way and empty on the return journey. There are also additional freights for the London 2012 Olympics construction. Container traffic is only allowed on the single line spur on to the WCML goods lines because of tighter clearances on the Cricklewood Line.

There are a number of reasons for keeping the Acton Canal Wharf box operational and one possibility is because it still uses the block instruments which makes it useful as a ‘training’ box for new signalmen by giving them experience of older systems. As it is not a very busy line any mistakes regulating trains are minimised unlike Acton Wells Junction where poor regulating decisions can have serious knock-on effects elsewhere.

  
Acton Wells Junction signalbox
  Acton Wells Junction signalbox
It is also a useful line for routing diversions as it interconnects with so many other parts of the network which means that sometimes interesting specials can pass through. This should lighten what is probably a fairly tedious day for the duty signalman. The box is open 24/7 except for the period between 7am and 7pm on a Sunday when no services are scheduled, unless there is an exceptional diversion when it will be open daytime on a Sunday as well. An interesting insight and a good photographic opportunity in spite of the lack of trains going through until after we had left. Then it was time to cross back over the line and walk back through the Makro car park and along the road to our access point to the trackside path leading to the Acton Wells Junction signal box.

Safety and security are a serious issue hence the locked access gates and requirement to wear high visibility jackets or vests. The footpath runs alongside the track to the box - a pleasant walk in the sunshine.

The Acton Wells Junction box is larger so we could all fit in more easily. This is a grade 6 panel box, again operated by a lone signalman and is operational all the time except for Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The box was upgraded and changed to a panel box in the mid 1980s. Apart from the interest of the box itself, it provided another good opportunity to take photographs with a selection of trains passing through – Freightliner and EWS 59s and 66s, Adelante 180103 ECS working from Oxley to Wolverton and Arriva Voyager 221130 going from Brighton to Manchester (Piccadilly) amongst others and several 313s on the regular quarter hourly local services. Among the diesel locomotives noted were 59201, 66572, 66160 and 66069.

Class 313 emu 313116 passes on the 1627 Richmond to Stratford Low Level
Class 313 emu 313116 passes on the 1627 Richmond to Stratford Low Level
Freightliner 66572 crosses the junction with a Basford Hall to Southampton Maritime intermodal
Freightliner 66572 crosses the junction with a Basford Hall to Southampton Maritime intermodal
Class 180 Adelante 180103 passes on ECS working from Oxley to Wolverton
Class 180 Adelante 180103 passes on ECS working from Oxley to Wolverton
Arriva Voyager 221139 approaches Acton Wells Junction with the 14.22 Brighton to Manchester (Piccadilly) while 66572 waits on the Midland line with a Basford Hall to Southampton Maritime Intermodal
Arriva Voyager 221139 approaches Acton Wells Junction with the 14.22 Brighton to Manchester (Piccadilly) while 66572 waits on the Midland line with a Basford Hall to Southampton Maritime Intermodal
EWS 66160 on westbound freight
EWS 66160 on westbound freight

Our host Martin has been a signalman for many years and has seen a lot of changes over that time. He is very knowledgeable particularly on the lines, services and signalling in this area. He had not been sure at the start of the visit what we wanted but everyone seemed to have enjoyed themselves. An interesting and successful visit.

Eventually, it was time to make a move and leave. Two of the party stopped to look over Old Oak Common Depot to see what was there, while the rest of us returned to Willesden Junction station to make our way home – by train, of course!