Except where stated, the material on this website is © Harry Gardner & Adrian Bradshaw. Reproduction is strictly forbidden without prior consent from the copyright holder.

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Welcome to LINE CLEAR - an affectionate look at signal boxes around the North West.

Sadly, many of the “boxes” featured are no longer with us, having been swept away by the introduction of “Power Boxes” at Preston, Manchester Piccadilly and elsewhere. Thankfully  though, some of these pieces of railway history remain in use today.

The boxes featured here represent a selection of those which remained open in the late 1980s and early 1990s, by which time many had already gone. In fact, the number of signal boxes has been in decline for several decades, as lines have closed and sidings have fallen into disuse. The remaining boxes are very much an endangered species as the march of progress on the railways finally reaches some of the more obscure and far-flung places.

As recently as 2008, the long-disused box at Chorley Station, was removed - although happily, this small Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway cabin was preserved and now has a new home on the Ribble Steam Railway at Preston.

Hopefully, over the next few weeks and months, more signal boxes will be added to this site. If there is a box you would like to see featured, or if you have photos or information to contribute, please get in touch....