PHOTO GALLERY: NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY

Billingham

OPENED: 1904 CLOSED: 2021

Click or tap the images for enlarged views

From around 1899, the Central Division of the North Eastern Railway abandoned the ornate design illustrated at Cargo Fleet Road, and adopted a more conventional design of box with hipped roof. Many of these boxes were quite large, but Billingham was unusually lofty and commanded an excellent view of the track layout. However, the signalman’s view of the road passing across the level crossing is rather distant, and an extension has been added to the box to improve this.

Some boxes of this design had a large triangular ventilator at each end of the hipped roof. An example of one of these is shown on the lean-to variation of this box design at Wolsingham.

Although it may appear otherwise, the glazing is three panes deep – some lower panes have been painted over. The locking room windows have recently been bricked up – this has probably been done to maintain consistent conditions for sensitive electrical equipment protection.

The McKenzie & Holland No17 pattern frame of 50 levers, installed by the LNER in 1945, continues to operate the layout at this box (located between Stockton and Hartlepool) although many of the levers are no longer in use.

The motorised boom gates were scheduled for replacement by lifting barriers in August 2011.

A mirror provided to help the signalman to view approaching road traffic provides an interesting reverse view of the box and signal.

The signal box remained in use until the line was re-signalled on 5th February 2021, and has since been demolished.