BRIERFIELD’S historic railway signal box which has been in operation for more than a century will close this coming December.
The building is by the railway level crossing on Railway Street, on the opposite side of the road from the station.
In the past, it had a key role controlling trains, operating signals and side lines, but more recently it has been in charge of the level crossing by the station. It is officially a “Level Crossing Box” rather than a “Signal Box”.
The signal box was created there in 1876, and it will be missed by many rail fans, of course.
Network Rail is in charge of the country’s rail lines and its plan is to bring in a new system which means loads of signal boxes across the country will disappear.
A spokesman for the company said: “As part of Network Rail’s national operating strategy to modernise the national signalling system over the next 15 years, Brierfield Level Crossing Box will be closed in December, replaced by a new automated level crossing.
“With regard to those staff affected, Network Rail policy is to retrain and redeploy affected staff wherever possible and is in close consultation with those affected and the requisite unions.”