PHOTO GALLERY: NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY

Leeming Bar

OPENED: 1902 CLOSED: 1985

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Leeming Bar box, although built on a grand scale, led a sleepy existence. It was located on the North Eastern’s long branch between Northallerton and Hawes. It opened as late as 1907, when a short section of the line was doubled between here and Bedale to increase traffic capacity.

The double line was singled as an economy measure around 1930, and the box was reduced to gate-keeper status. However, a change of heart occurred around 1937 when the old layout was reinstated, and the box regained its position as a proper signal box.

The box was built to the North Eastern’s final design which was introduced in 1905, although the brickwork is unusually colourful. The bricks are cheap “non-facing” bricks, the use of which is surprising at such an early date – it is possible they are the result of a later rebuild.

Inside the box was a thirty-six lever frame to McKenzie & Holland’s No.16 pattern, which was the type adopted as standard by the North Eastern Railway. Another example of this type of frame can be seen at Wolsingham. By the time this photograph was taken there were just seven of the levers in use.

The diagram demonstrates the simplicity of the layout that remained.

On the block shelf are two bells (one for the single-line tablet instrument) and a double-dial NER block instrument for the double line.

Locomotive 37237 approaches the box with a freight train, with the signalman preparing to collect the tablet from the driver.

The boom gates, a popular feature on the North Eastern Region of British Railways, were not power-driven (as at Winning) but hand worked, and interlocked with the signals by large steel keys.

Leeming Bar box meandered gently through the rest of its life, right up to 1985 when traffic had reduced to one freight train a day. The line was then converted to a single line throughout, worked by train staff with the train crews operating the level crossing gates for the passage of their train.