Slough Signalboxes

Image: © Peter Whatley Taken: 17 Jul 2010

The twin signalboxes at Slough control the main line from London Paddington to west of Maindenhead. The two-storey building nearest the camera (Slough Panel Signal Box) opened in 1963 to control the area around Slough itself, replacing 13 conventional manual signalboxes. It uses a British Rail (Western Region) entrance-exit (NX) panel which is now (2010) showing its age somewhat. The large brick base section was designed to house electro-mechanical relays, but with steady reduction in those devices' size has had ample room to also house the computer-based interlocking for Slough New signalbox. That installation's operating facilities are housed in the small bungalow-like structure beyond the 1963 structure. Slough New was opened in stages between 1992 and 1995, replacing Old Oak Common signalbox and adding the new lines to Heathrow. Slough New is a fully computerised facility with Automatic Route Setting (ARS) which can, in theory, eliminate the need for signalling staff. In practice, signallers remain essential for periods of traffic perturbation. For examples of the signalling system in Slough New, see: http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1967932 and http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1967948. Both signalboxes are due to close in 2011, to be replaced by a centralised facility for Thames Valley services at Didcot.

Images are licensed for reuse under creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0