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Manchester Piccadilly PSB

Manchester Piccadilly Power Signal Box opened in October 1988 controlling the lines from Ardwick Junction to Deansgate plus Manchester Piccadilly station itself. Rather than being a separate signal box structure in the traditional manner, it was located within a tower block of railway offices at the station.

With the passage of time the area controlled expanded to encompass all the lines bounded by Ardwick, Levenshulme and Styal in the south; Urmston and Weaste in the west; Blackrod, Crow Nest and Turton in the north.

The section from Warwick Road to Brooklands was also controlled until that line was closed and transferred to Metrolink.

The geographic location of the signal box can be seen on a current OS Map. The map will place this location at the centre of the map panel, roll the mouse over the lines and icon(s) to reveal what they represent. Increase the scale using the scale selector on the left to separate closely positioned icons.

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Part 1 Area Controlled and The Operating Floor

This video is intended for viewing at a maximum screen resolution of 1280 pixels wide by 720 pixels high. Please be aware that viewing at a larger size may result in a loss of clarity and a 'grainy' appearance.

Part 2 The Role of the Shift Manager and Team Leader

This video is intended for viewing at a maximum screen resolution of 720 pixels wide by 480 pixels high. Please be aware that viewing at a larger size may result in a loss of clarity and a 'grainy' appearance.

Copyright © of the FARSAP videos belongs to the Friends of the National Railway Museum.
The material may be freely used except for sale or advertising purposes.

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Video Credits

Copyright © of the FARSAP videos belongs to the Friends of the National Railway Museum.
The material may be freely used except for sale or advertising purposes.

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Key Chronology

December 1959	London Road Power Signal Box opened, controlling Slade Lane to Longsight.
April 1960	Area of control expanded to include Ardwick Junction, London Road and Oxford Road areas.
April 1969	Area of control expanded to include Oxford Road to Cornbrook Junction and Ordsall Lane Junction.
May 1969	Area of control expanded to reach Warwick Road & Trafford Park Junction.
8 October 1988	Manchester Piccadilly Power Signal Box opened controlling Ardwick and Manchester Piccadilly.
15 October 1988	London Road Power Signal Box closed with functions transferred to the new box.
By October 1990	The controlled area had expanded north and west to Brooklands, Urmston, Weaste, Moorside, Lostock and Entwistle.

 

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Can you help?

The project would love to hear from you, especially if you worked or still work in a signal box, and you are willing to provide reminiscences and / or pictures. Please contact the webmaster in the first instance.

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