Par signal box
Par signal box is a Grade II listed former Great Western Railway signal box, located on Par railway station in Cornwall, England.
Opened in 1879 and built to the first GWR standard design, it was set up to control the GWR's mainline onwards to Penzance, together with the junction for the branch to Newquay.[1] Located at the southern end of Platform 2, when first built it was less than half its current length, only containing 26 levers. In 1913, the frame was replaced, and a new frame of 57 levers was added.[1] A panel has since been added to control the section through to St Austell and Burngullow as far west as the now closed Probus and Ladock railway station. Signals controlled from Par carry the identification code 'PR'.
In July 2013, it was one of 26 "highly distinctive" signal boxes listed by Ed Vaizey, minister for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in July 2013, in a joint initiative by English Heritage and Network Rail to preserve and provide a window into how railways were operated in the past.[1][2][3]
In January 2024, it was announced that a number of signal boxes in Cornwall, including Par, would be closed in Spring 2024, with signalling moved to Exeter.[4] The signal box was decommissioned on the 4th March 2024.[5]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c CGHollie (25 July 2013). "Historic signal boxes in Par and Lostwithiel are Grade II-listed". Cornish Guardian. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
- ^ "Railway signal boxes granted Grade II listed status". BBC News. 26 July 2013. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
- ^ "Historic railway signal boxes get listed status". The Guardian. 25 July 2013. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
- ^ "Historic railway signal box at Par to close after 144 years". BBC News. 2 January 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ Controller, The Tall (3 March 2024). "The Tall Controller on X: "Today, we bid farewell". X. Retrieved 5 March 2024.