Railway Herald
Another one bites the dust. Kirkby Summit signal box, Kirkby in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire. Possibly one of the least attractive signal boxes in the country, this two tier portacabin structure opened on 11th September 1995 in conjunction with the introduction of the 'Robin Hood Line' when passenger services were re-introduced between Nottingham and Mansfield. It replaced a standard BR mechanical box of the same name built in 1972. The 1995 box contained an NX panel which worked to Shirebrook Junction in the North and to the south controlled Kirkby Lane End Junction were the Nottingham and Pye Bridge Junction lines diverged working to Trent PSB on the Nottingham line and latterly to Derby IECC on the Pye Bridge Route. The box has now been abolished and Derby IECC's tentacles spread a bit further. The boxes last shift was the night shift of Friday 9th September 2011 such that when the signaller signed out at 06.00 on Saturday the 10th the boxes working life had ended one day short of its 16th birthday. In the photo No. 156414 is seen a week prior to closure at 1457 on Friday 2nd September with 2D16 the 1437 from Mansfield Woodhouse to Nottingham.
John Illingworth
