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Stranraer Harbour Junction

PHOTO GALLERY: PORTPATRICK & WIGTOWNSHIRE JOINT RAILWAY

Stranraer Harbour Junction

OPENED: 1921     CLOSED: 1972

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The Glasgow & South Western and Caledonian Railways shared the responsibility for signalling on the Portpatrick & Wigtownshire Joint by each taking control on alternative years. In practice, nearly all new boxes were erected during the GSW’s time, but one significant exception was the new signal box at Stranraer Harbour Junction commissioned in 1921. One wonders if the Caledonian were trying to impress, for they built a sturdy cabin of large proportions, given that the layout only warranted a 36-lever frame.

Stranraer Harbour SB
Dr J W F Scrimgeour, 22/7/38

The box was built to the design first introduced on the Southern Division of the Caledonian in the 1870s, and used exclusively from 1889 through to absorption by the LMS in 1923. This example is built in brick, but the surface has been rendered.

The signalman has stepped outside the box to collect the single-line tablet from an approaching Down train.

Stranraer Harbour SB
Dr J W F Scrimgeour, 22/7/38

Inside the spacious signal box, we see part of the Stevens & Sons lever frame with the diagram above it.

The signalman is standing by the single-line instruments – Tyer & Co’ No7 Tablets for the sections to Stranraer Harbour and Castle Kennedy, whilst the No6 instrument is used for Long Section working to Dunragit when Castle Kennedy is switched out. The double line to Stranraer Town was worked by one-wire, two-position block, not visible in the picture.

Notice how the “pulls” are painted on the sides of the levers.

Stranraer Harbour Junction closed on 11th March 1972.