PHOTO GALLERY: Wrexham, Mold & Connahs Quay Railway
Caergwrle Castle
OPENED: 1885. CLOSED: 1982
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When the Wrexham, Mold & Connah’s Quay Railway was properly signalled in 1885 they used signalling contractors to provide their boxes and equipment. The main line from Wrexham to Buckley was signalled by the Railway Signal Company and the Brymbo branch by McKenzie & Holland.
At Caergwrle Castle, the Railway Signal Company provided a small timber box on the platform to their standard design. At the time of construction the station and signal box were called Bridge End but some potentially confusing renaming took place when the adjacent station (then named Caergwrle) became Hope Village and this one became Caergwrle Castle. More recently, in 1972, the “Castle” suffix was dropped and this is the position reflected in the above photograph.
Internally, the box contained a 20-lever frame to the Railway Signal Company’s standard design. Mounted on the instrument shelf is one of the two BR standard block instruments that existed here latterly, and a London & North Western Railway type of closing switch.
When the box was abolished on 28th November 1982, it was the last WMCQ box in existence.
Did you spot the train-spotting goose in the top picture?