South Tynedale Railway - Alston,
Cumbria.
Let us start the tour at Alston Station, where the ticket office, shop and
Tourist Information Centre, public toilets and a café (independent of the
railway) are situated. The picture shows the station on a typical Alston Summer
evening, with the passenger train ready to be put away for the night. You can
just see Helen Kathryn, the steam loco that had been used that day for passenger
service, in the distance at the headshunt. In addition to the original platform
and buildings, the station has a run-round loop and is fully signalled.
The traffic movements on the railway are controlled using mechanical
semaphore signalling. The signal box at Alston formerly stood at Ainderby, on
the branch line to Redmire, being acquired from British Rail and re-erected on a
new brick base. The level crossing barriers and mechanism came from the
now-closed How Mill station on the Newcastle and Carlisle line.
The signal box houses a 21 lever frame, made by McKenzie and Holland. In
addition there is a manually operated gate machine to operate the level crossing
barriers- this combination of manual gate wheel and lifting barriers (rather
that gates) being somewhat rare. The ‘box also houses a token instrument for
single line working (One Engine in Steam system), the internal telephone
exchange and a fireplace for a coal fire! The next picture shows the interior or
the ‘box.
The Signalman is responsible for the running of all trains within the area
covered by the ‘box. At Alston, this area includes the station area and level
crossing, and access to the sidings. Many traditional duties are carried out;
the key token must by handed out and retrieved, points kept cleaned and oiled,
and levers polished. As a train passes the ‘box, the signalman must also check
that doors are closed and the train is complete, with tail-lamp in place. The
next picture shows the Signalman’s view as a departing train passes the Down
Main Starting Signal controlling access to the single line to Kirkhaugh. The
disc signal beneath is for entry to the Carriage Works sidings.
Continue the tour :