QUICK LINKS

Dorking

PHOTO GALLERY: SOUTHERN RAILWAY

Dorking

OPENED: 1938     CLOSED: —-

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During the 1930s, massive suburban expansion took place in connection with electrification schemes. Stations needed larger capacity to cope with increased train services and some grand-looking signal boxes were constructed between 1935 and 1939 to reflect this promising era.

Dorking SB
John Hinson, c1973

Most of these adopted the style of a large base (incorporating electrical equipment and maintenance staff accommodation) with a smaller top section with curved corners. This style quickly adopted the nick-name “Queen Mary”. The name of the box was usually stated on the front of this type of box in huge letters and until the station was renamed in 1968 it was called Dorking North (with the word North in smaller letters below).

Dorking SB
John Hinson, c1973

The interior was spacious and modern. The frame was manufactured by the Westinghouse Brake and Signal Company (their “A2” type) and totalled 44 levers, a type which the Southern Railway had standardised upon although they often re-used older types in smaller boxes and for renewals. Westinghouse would have normally supplied frames with the lever badge near to the top of the lever (the drilled holes can be seen) but the Southern continued the Stevens & Sons practice of locating them near to the floor. Original Stevens’ plates are illustrated at Dean.

At the time of these photographs, trains were signalled by the Track Circuit Block system between Leatherhead and this box, but onward to Holmwood working was Absolute Block, using two-position block instruments.

Dorking SB
John Hinson, c1973

For many years, perched on the instrument shelf in Dorking box in contrast to the modern equipment associated with the colour light signalling and track circuiting that controlled trains from the London direction, was this Tyer & Co one-wire, two-position block instrument, used for signalling trains between here and Holmwood.

The common design of block instrument uses three wires and has three indications, but in early years of signalling, the equipment manufacturers (of whom Tyer and Co were leaders) strove to find more economical solutions. Tyer produced several designs for a range of railway companies, and this picture depicts the type supplied to the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway.

The two indications for each line emulated a signal arm, and the arm would be raised or lowered by the signalman at the accepting end of the section by using the appropriate one of the two brass plungers, which simultaneously rang the block bell in the other box.

The indications roughly matched the appropriate position of the home and starting signals on opposite lines, and that for the former was painted black and white as that is the way the signal would be viewed from the signal box.

At the time of writing (2020) Dorking box is still operational.