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Weaverthorpe

PHOTO GALLERY: NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY

Weaverthorpe

OPENED: c1873      CLOSED: —-

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Weaverthorpe is one of the earliest known boxes built by the Southern Division of the North Eastern Railway. In principle, it is to the same design as Rigton, but the gabled roof is at right angles to the track. This was a practice adopted by a number of railway companies in early signalling days, but so few examples survived into recent years it is difficult to establish whether this was a design policy or just a couple of quirky boxes.

However, early records show Weaverthorpe, and nearby Heslerton, to have been built on top of existing weigh-houses which would explain their unconventional style.

Weaverthorpe SB
N L Cadge, 16/6/80

One distinct disadvantage of building boxes in this way was that the larger the lever frame, the taller the roof, so this style was generally only applied to smaller boxes. However, this arrangement did provide ample room for the signalman’s furniture and facilities as they were generally deeper than they were long. Another example like this, on the Central Division, can be seen at Norton South.

The looks of the box are most certainly not enhanced by the rendering that has been applied to the upper portion. Whether this was original to the box or a later “enhancement” is not clear, but it has become very tatty and dirty with age. The box is, after all, over 140 years old!

Weaverthorpe was once a wayside station on the York to Scarborough route, but the station and goods yard are now long-closed. However, the box remains in use as an intermediate block post between Malton and Seamer and to control the level crossing.

As of 2020, the line is scheduled for re-signalling in 2026.