The LNER Encyclopedia

A Jack Armstrong picture in the care of the Armstrong Trust. Two rather fine signals at a mystery location...any ideas?

STRONG SUGGESTION OF THE CHILTON BRANCH (FERRYHILL CO. DURHAM) ANYONE WITH LOCAL KNOWLEDGE MAY BE ABLE TO "HOME" IN AND CONFIRM/DENY. THANKS FOR THE VARIOUS HELP SO FAR.

the important clues are the calling-on arm and the wooden board fixed under the distant. that said, it doesn't resemble anywhere on the chilton branch.

The left hand signal has the characteristics of an NER (ND) signal so I would say it is north of Darlington.There's a suggestion of a colliery in the background and the wooden instruction board fitted to the distant suggests a colliery line, maybe on the Lambton,Hetton & Joicey system?

Thinking again the signal on the left has a track circuit diamond plate so that more or less rules out an industrial line?

Incidentally, on 26.1.80 I photographed this distant signal on the Coxhoe (WH) branch from Ferryhill and it looks similar to the distant in the photo.This view is looking towards Coxhoe and I think this would have been the Thinford Up Distant.

....Very similar, I'd say.

StevieG wrote:....Very similar, I'd say.

Agreed.

Could almost be the very same signal ? .....

Pretty sure it is . There was a level crossing at Thinford and I am guessing the wooden board on the signal was "WHISTLE" or some other instruction?

The coloured photo of the distant signal taken in 1980 is truely remarkable. As we understand it, it's the distant for Cornforth Lane Level Crossing so the view in both photos is looking north east towards Coxhoe village. The line is therefore the Coxhoe WH branch and the LQ home signals are operated by the level crossing box on the A177 road running between Coxhoe and Thinford. Old OS map confirms the landscape...so thanks to all contributors.

You're welcome! Here is the NER milepost at Coxhoe (WH) on the same day, showing 2 miles from "COX Jc" (Coxhoe Junction).It was just past the Coxhoe level crossing, and I guess it is probably in someone's collection now?

The milepost 2 photograph is another splendid reminder. I too hope it survived into someones collection!

We all know the reputation that BR had and the saying that "if the painters come round then it must be due for closure!". One of the things which struck me about this line was that although the track was in shocking condition, the level crossing gates, mileposts and point levers at Coxhoe had all been recently painted (probably less than a year ago). Funny though that they didn't repaint the signal? It could definitely have used it!

The photo was taken on the Chilton branch looking east down the incline towards Chilton Junction...you can make out the row of railway houses on the other side of the ECML bridge in the distance and the farm overbridge towards the bottom of the incline. The distant signal was for Gypsy Lane crossing.