Signal box part 2

This is the "new" Arnside signal box built in 1897. It is one of only 26 boxes across the country which are protected as listed buildings in this case because of its special architectural features.

It has 35 large metal leavers which pull long wires which change the old fashioned signals.

At its peak in about 1912 the railway system had almost 13,000 signal boxes and there were still 10,000 in 1948 when the railways were nationalised.

By 2012 about 750 were left and these are being phased out as control of the lines is concentrated in a small number of large centres which have electronic displays and switches to control the lights.