Bridlington on the Hull – Scarborough line provides, for now, an oasis of mechanical signalling. It has the last working semaphore signals in East Yorkshire.
The layout at Bridlington is a bit convoluted, reflecting how Bridlington has declined as a holiday destination. Go back sixty years and is had seven platforms, large carriage sidings, an engine shed (which continued to service locomotives between turns after it lost its allocation) and would be incredibly busy on summer Saturdays, the traditional travelling day for those taking their week’s holiday. Bridlington South Signal Box had its frame reduced form 125 levers to just sixty five in the mid seventies – I say “just” but its one of the largest frames you’ll find now, a reflection of how signalling has changed over time. In the eighties it was left with only Platforms 4 to 8, with 4,5 and 6 being in normal use, the other pair being excursion platforms. Finally in the late nineties the signal box at the other end of the station, Quay Crossing SB, closed and Bridlington South gained a small IFS panel as it took over Quay’s area of control. The excursion platforms haven’t seen a passenger train since 1996 so their permanent removal hasn’t come as a surprise.
Bridlington is going to see a full remodelling and resignalling later this year with a simplified layout and colour light signalling. The signal box is to remain which keeps the four resident jobs intact – good news for staff – and will gain a brand new NX panel which takes over from the lever frame and IFS panel.
Although it might lose some of its appeal for enthusiats and photographers, the result of the scheme is positive – it represents the biggest investment in Bridlington’s railway for many years.
Originally the work was due to take place in February of this year however this has been rescheduled for October which means, lockdowns and restrictions permitting, you have a bonus summer to witness East Yorkshire’s last semaphore signals.
Big Trains, Little Trains 