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Robin went to other signal boxes in the area, either for work or to pay a social call on his colleagues. He would liaise with them on the phone from Hatherley Box for work purposes, passing on information about late running trains, problems with the signalling or tip them off that management was on the prowl and likely to visit their box soon.
The signal boxes shown in this section were mainly replaced by Gloucester Panel Box in the late 1960s.
GLOUCESTER ENGINE SHED JUNCTION
Gloucester Engine Shed Junction Box was the largest of the brick and concrete wartime boxes between Cheltenham and Gloucester, opening in February 1942. This very busy box was located in the vee between the lines from Cheltenham to Gloucester South and Horton Road. Special bell codes were used by the signalmen here and at Lansdown Junction to indicate the route that trains were taking at the respective junctions.
A somewhat leaky 7827 'Lydham Manor' - without nameplates - steams past the box with a northbound freight, probably in February 1965. Though several 'Manor' class were shedded at Gloucester, 7827 was actually a Shrewsbury engine. Some nice signal gantries are in view. Photo Robin Stanton
By 1967 preparations for the new MAS signalling system controlled from Gloucester Panel Box were underway and the two following photos date from that time.
In this picture with D855 and a D70XX passing the box heading towards Gloucester South, the erstwhile four tracks from Cheltenham have been reduced to two and the signal gantry has lost half its signals.
The box closed in May 1968.
A Brush Type 4 heads a fuel tank train off the line from Cheltenham.
The lines to the left pass Barnwood and then Horton Road crossing splitting to Eastgate and Central. The furthest left track led to Barnwood loco depot, closed by the time this photo was taken.
When these photos were taken, steam was just a memory and in fact pretty well banned from BR so as not to stain the modern railway image. Though there was the occasional local railway management initiative - such as locos from the Dowty RPS Ashchurch site travelling in steam to Bristol Bath Road diesel depot open day in October 1967 - which broke the ban.
The view towards Barnwood and Horton Road where stripping of the signal gantries has started and they will soon disappear altogether.
A diesel shunter lurks in the shadows, probably working in Barnwood yard. By contrast the gasholder at Horton Road gleams in the sunshine.
ELM BRIDGE
A contrast to the solid wartime boxes between Cheltenham and Gloucester was Elm Bridge, a mile and a half towards Gloucester from Churchdown. It was moved here from elsewhere on the LMS. From here to the next box, Gloucester Engine Shed Junction, was just over a mile. It opened in the War, but in January 1940 when there were still just two tracks, and unlike others on the line, was not a replacement for an earlier box. but an intermediate block post to shorten the section between Gloucester Engine Shed Junction and Churchdown. It closed on 5 June 1965. Photos Robin Stanton
Left top: The'Royal Scot' on a northbound summer Saturday train has just passed the box. Left: A 76XXX BR Standard slass 4 2-6-0 approaches the box on a Birmingham - Gloucester working in 1964. Several of the class were recent transfers to Saltley loco shed.
CHURCHDOWN
The signalman looks on as Compound 41049 of 22B Gloucester Barnwood steams through on the lightweight 2.45pm Worcester Shrub Hill - Bristol local on the down main past Churchdown Signal Box on Saturday 3 August 1957.
The photo gives a good view of Churchdown box which is identical to Hatherley Box in appearance. It was opened in June 1942 when the previous two tracks here became four.
A complication with describing lines as down and up in pre-BR days was that down for the GWR was from Gloucester to Cheltenham, while down for the LMS was Cheltenham to Gloucester with BR adopting the LMS designation.
Signalling between Cheltenham and Gloucester was provided and maintained by the GWR in the pre-BR era. The track was maintained by the GWR from Lansdown Junction to Churchdown, while from here to Gloucester Tramway Junction was the responsibility of the LMS. All this reflected the fact that it had been a joint line owned by both GWR and Midland Railway since the 1840s. Photo Ben Brooksbank
An unidentified 'Jubilee' thunders non-stop through Churchdown on a northbound express. The station had two island platforms, the down side was on the left. The relief lines added in wartime were the two outside tracks. The signal box was on the up side and was about two and a quarter miles west of Hatherley Box.
Another photo on the up main in a later year sees a change of motive power with a 'Peak' diesel on 1E24, the up 'Cornishman', Penzance - Sheffield. Note the station nameboard and totem have been removed as the station is no longer open for passengers, closing on and from 2 November 1964. The signal box closed on 26 February 1967.
Once again the signalman watches as a local service from Gloucester Central to Cheltenham St James that stopped here is now departing on the up main with 2-6-2T 5173. The box is another wartime construction like Hatherley Box.
Horton Road's 0-6-0PT 9453 heads for Gloucester on the down main, probably after working at Cheltenham.
1V67 1.8pm Leeds- Cardiff is on the down main with a 'Peak'. This train passed through Churchdown at teatime and was a relative newcomer to long distance services at Cheltenham and Gloucester, starting around 1963. It also called at Ashchurch to pick up homegoing Dowty factory employees and at Lydney Junction. The service saw steam haulage on numerous occasions in 1963, 1964 and at least once in early 1965 on 3 March headed by Black Five 45075 of 55A Leeds Holbeck. At Gloucester Central there would be a loco change, possibly a D70XX would take over.
The photo gives a good view of the post-1942 layout; the two centre tracks are the originals with the new tracks laid on either side.
BADGEWORTH
Badgeworth Signal Box was just under a mile away from Churchdown box in the Cheltenham direction. It is seen in this photo as 44775 hauls M222 9.50am Weston-Super-Mare - Birmingham New St on 9 August 1958 with 4F 0-6-0 44571 plus brake van attempting to keep up alongside.
This view looks towards Churchdown. Badgeworth box opened in April 1940 with a twelve lever frame, was brick built in the wartime style and had a shortish life, closing in October 1952, though the building remained into the 1960s. The locos are running on the two wartime tracks which became the up side. Photo Ben Brooksbank.
LANSDOWN JUNCTION
Robin was a booking boy here in the mid-1950s so was very familiar with the workings of the box. His job involved making entries of train and loco movements in the Train Register Book.
Lansdown Jc Signal Box was another wartime construction on the Cheltenham - Gloucester line and had a 102 lever frame. As well as the main line just mentioned it controlled trains to and from Lansdown Station on the ex-Midland Birmingham route; trains for the Honeybourne line and St James station via Malvern Road; services to and from Andoversford for Kingham and Andover via Cirencester and Swindon Town. Opened in 1942, it was November 1968 before most of its remaining functions were taken over by Gloucester Panel Box, but it still operated for the reduced number of trains on the Honeybourne route until that closed in 1976.
While long since stripped of working equipment, the shell of the box survives obscured by trees and bushes. Extra thick walls and a concrete roof designed to withstand a bomb blast makes demolition of the building alongside a busy railway line somewhat difficult.
In September 2025 it appears to have found use again as a store room for a nearby school. New windows have been fitted and some of the surrounding trees and bushes have been cleared.
Left above: GW Mogul 2-6-0 6349 of 86C Cardiff Canton steams past on the down relief with a freight which has come down the Honeybourne line and through Malvern Road station, probably destined for South Wales. Right above: Another Mogul, 'Crab' 2-6-0 42769 from 17B Burton-on-Trent shifts a freight which has travelled via Ashchurch and passes the box going on to the down main. 6349 was allocated to Gloucester Horton Road in the mid-1950s and returned in 1963 before withdrawal in August 1964.
Left below: 'Black Five' 4-6-0 44858 of 21A Saltley departs Lansdown on a down express. Right below: Stanier 8F 2-8-0 48510 of 17A Derby makes plenty of smoke and steam as it passes Lansdown Bridge going towards Gloucester.
Left above: 0-6-0PT 8409 is probably engaged on engineering works at the junction. 8409 was a Horton Road based loco from February 1960 to May 1961. Right above: 6902 'Butlers Hall' blasts across Lansdown Junction heading towards Malvern Road and the Honeybourne line. Looks like it is in black livery. It was withdrawn relatively early, in May 1961. The branch to Andoversford is on the left with the connections from Lansdown station still in use.
Right: The signalling staff pose for their picture.
A Cheltenham - Kingham passenger service passes the rear of the box. It was not usual for a loco on these trains to be worked bunker-first up to Andoversford with 1 in 60 grades en route.
There are more views from here in the section 'Signal Box Train Registers Lansdown Junction Signal Box Train Register 4 February 1956'.
ALSTONE CROSSING
A few relatively modern photos Robin took at Alstone Crossing box on one of his trips from New Zealand. Modern but history now, as the motive power and services are much changed nowadays . But the crossing and Alstone box, which was reduced to a Ground Frame in November 1968, are still in use on this busy local road. The liveries seen below suggest the pictures date from the mid-1980s.
Alstone Crossing Signal Box has been in this position and in continuous use since 1891. It was downgraded to a ground frame in 1968 but still controls the crossing at Alstone Lane. This pictures dates from the early 2000s. Picture from Geograph CCL 5150528_48aa9e77
Brush Type 4 diesels were standard on many trains through Cheltenham from 1964 and occasional ones can be glimpsed in 2024 on special workings. This is a down express of blue and grey livery coaches with a B R Blue class 47.
The class 47 could be seen on any workings including freights, such as this train of coal hoppers. Coal trains ran through Gloucester and Cheltenham from the last opencast mine in South Wales until early 2024 and destined for a cement works in the Peak district. Occasional trains of imported coal for Margam Steel Works ran after that, also transfers of coal from Margam to the steelworks at Scunthorpe.
The Inter City 125 High Speed Train took over many loco hauled services in Gloucesterhire from around 1976, both on cross-country and London services. They were very successful for British Rail and more popular with passengers than their successors in the privatised era, which were more cramped for space. They were seen regularly into the 2020s on some cross-country services, with the final HST units in the area being on Bristol - Worcester trains until November 2023. Some HSTs survive on Network Rail test trains, seen regularly, and there are also sets painted in grey and marketed as the Midland Pullman.
A 3-car DMU set C821 heads towards Lansdown station on an unknown working. It is a B R class 101, built by Metro-Cammell, Washwood Heath, Birmingham, a successful and long-lived type. Set C821 was a regular in the area in the mid 1980s on local services including Cheltenham to Swindon.
The point leading into Cheltenham High Street loop can just be seen to the left of the DMU, still much used for freights and empty passenger trains, even the occasional railtour.
A Railfreight class 31 proceeds towards Alstone Crossing on a northbound freight. The front wagon has military vehicles so the train may be heading for Ashchurch and the MOD establishment where the wagons will be shunted into the camp by Army diesels. The Railfreight livery of the loco suggests the picture dates between 1982 and 1987.
Network Rail did a Visit The Signal Box Day at Alstone Crossing in 2019:
'Members of the public are invited to attend an open day at Alstone level crossing near Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire on Thursday 6 June 2019 where they will be able to go behind the scenes and see how the level crossing works.The open day will take place between 10am and 3pm and visitors will be able to meet railway workers from across the industry, including the team who work at the crossing and signal box as part of International Level Crossing Awareness Day.Information and visual displays will be available, and rail staff will be on hand to answer any questions as well as take visitors on guided tours of the signal box at the crossing.Since 2009, International Level Crossing Awareness Day has brought together representatives from the railway industry, road authorities, academics and more from around the world to collaborate and raise awareness about level crossing safety.'
The description of it being 'near Tewkesbury' is misleading - it is within sight of Cheltenham Lansdown station!
CHELTENHAM HIGH STREET
Cheltenham High Street Signal Box was situated between the Goods Shed sidings and the down main running line. It opened in June 1911 and replaced two boxes. In November 1968 it was replaced by a ground frame that served the sidings. Photo M A King
An interesting loco standing by the ex-Midland Railway Goods Shed is 2-8-0 53800 built by Derby Works in 1914 for the Somerset & Dorset Railway. It is probably en route to Derby for a works overhaul in early BR days. Photo Walter Dendy
A GW 2-8-0 3805 heads a freight north on the up main past High Street box. On its left is the up goods loop which is still very much used in 2024, not just for freights but also for empty diesel passenger units between turns to and from Lansdown station.
This picture and the ones below date from 20 February 1963.
Traditional Midland motive power is represented by Fowler 4F 0-6-0 43940, a regular performer in the area, one of many 4Fs shedded at 21A Saltley.
Cheltenham High Street station was, many years earlier, situated on this side of the Tewkesbury Road bridge in the background. It closed in 1910.
A fitted freight coasts rowards the box headed by Stanier 'Jubilee'4-6-0 45579 'Punjab' It was also a Saltley based loco for a time in 1961, before transferring to Burton and Derby.
A much rarer 'Jubilee' 45625 'Sarawak' from 24L Carnforth loco depot prepares for a stop at Lansdown station on 1V38 Sheffield - Bristol. During the first three mionths of 1963 the severe winter weather disrupted train services and quite a lot of rare locos turned up on trains.
The 'Peak' diesel on the up 'Devonian' has just come to a stand at the box with a problem and the driver requests assistance for the train to continue on its way. 9F 92136 was in the goods loop and was up for the task so abandoned its freight, coupled up to the diesel and took the train towards Ashchurch and Birmingham in clouds of steam.
D1595 in two tone green livery hauls 7V36 03.30 Normanby Park - Severn Tunnel Junction steel train towards High Street box. The loco was probably Cardiff Canton based at the time.
A 'Peak' diesel, possibly one of the ten allocated to Bristol Bath Road at the start of diesels on cross -country services, passes the box on 1N37 'The Devonian' Plymouth - Bradford.
Signalmen would watch a train and check that it had a tail lamp to show it was intact as on this up express which has just passed High Street box.
Note the goods loop connection - still there in 2024 - on the left. Unlike the line on the right leading to the goods yard which was taken out though it was still in use for trains to the adjacent coal concentration depot when this photo was taken.
CLEEVE
Cleeve Signal Box, nearly three miles north of Cheltenham High Street box, is seen in October 1966 from the footplate of 7808 'Cookham Manor' as it returns from a Bristol Bath Road depot open day to the Dowty Railway Preservation Society site at Ashchurch. The box, which dated from November 1944 replaced a box of 1897 which in turn replaced another one which pre-dated 1875, was in use until February 1969. The small Cleeve station opened in 1843 and closed to passengers in February 1950 and was situated between the box and the bridge. Photo Ken Vincent
Churchward 2-8-0 2834 of 86C Cardiff Canton trundles through Cleeve with a northbound mineral train. Its destination is not known, but in 1960 a number of freights with ex-GW locos would take the Ashchurch - Evesham line then the Oxford route to Yarnton Junctiion from where Cheltenham Malvern Road crews took their locos to Oxford shed for servicing.
The grass covered track on the left was part of the goods siding, which closed to traffic in April 1960.
Bristol Barrow Road 'Jubilee' 45572 'Eire' has probably worked up a good speed as it passes Cleeve after stopping at Cheltenham on an up express. With the train being formed of Mark 1 carriages, except for the ex-LNER one behind the loco, it is probably a regular service going at least to York, possibly to Newcastle.
Milepost 83 in the foreground indicates the distance from Derby to Cleeve.
Prairie tank 6155 passes Cleeve box with 2H73 4.55pm Worcester Shrub Hill - Gloucester Eastgate which stopped at all stations en route. The date is 28 July 1964. Ex-GW locos became more common on local passengers on this ex-Midland line during the mid 1960s, even working through to Birmingham New Street, which was unheard of in earlier BR years. Photo Mike Symons
ASHCHURCH
In Midland Railway and early LMS days, Ashchurch had four signal boxes, with two surviving into the BR era. One closed in May 1957 and in July 1958 the other was replaced by a newly built box.
The new box was constructed on the down side just south of the station and was brought into use in July 1958. At that time Ashchurch controlled the main Birmingham - Bristol line; the branch to Upton-on-Severn; the loop to Evesham, Alcester, Redditch and Barnt Green; the sidings off the loop to MOD Ashchurch; sidings and the goods shed on the down side beyond the road bridge; sidings on the up side into the Dowty factory which originally served the Midland Railway provender store; up permanent way sidings; down goods loop north of the station.
With the closure of the two branches in the early 1960s and the commissioning of Gloucester Panel Box, Ashchurch box was made redundant and closed in February 1969, a short life compared with its predecessors at this busy junction.
Part of the diagram in the new Ashchurch signal box showing some of the lines mentioned above.
Stanier 8F 48109 of 21A Saltley moves past the box with a northbound freight on the main line.
Ex-GW 0-6-0PT 7788 has arrived at the Upton branch platform with probably just the usual one carriage and is about to run round. The service to Upton was minimal with only one round trip on weekdays and an extra one on Saturdays. In addition there were a small number of trips between Ashchurch and Tewkesbury. The loco transferred from Reading to Gloucester Barnwood in September 1960 and became a regular on Ashchurch duties.
Might as well make the most of the relatively rare quiet moments at Ashchurch Signal Box!
There are more pictures and history in the section 'Ashchurch - A Country Junction'
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