[John Webb]

"Wroxton Box", written by John Finnemore and performed by him and Michael Palin, was broadcast last night on Radio 4. It can be heard at Listen to it here for the next four weeks.

To get the authentic sound of box bells and lever movements, these were recorded at the preserved 1892 St Albans South Signal box a couple of weeks ago. If you want to visit "Wroxton Box", our next open afternoon is July 23rd - see sigbox.co.uk for dates, times and location information.

John Webb
(Publicity Officer for the Signal Box Preservation Trust)

 

[Bear 1923]

I happened to catch that programme on my way home... WEIRD!!!
The bells and levers sounded okay - except that they were sounding the bells in the Box (apparently) when repeating the codes back - all that should be heard would be the tap of the sending key... which would be louder if it wasn't a key but a plunger.
I did wonder whether there was an actual Wroxton Box and, if so, whether it had enough traffic to warrant a Box Boy?
Keep up the good work John

 

[John Webb]

Yes - the repetition with the bells sounding was a bit of 'artistic licence' - I assume the sound of the tapper wasn't thought to be audible enough! The only railway running near Wroxton, in Oxfordshire, was a quarry railway which joined the GWR line north of Banbury - not marked on railway maps but I saw a mention of it while attending the late Banbury North box during their open days last year. I doubt if it had a signal box let alone one which warranted a Box Boy!

John

 

[Bear 1923]

When you say "late Banbury North Box" John - do you mean that it was always delaying trains? We'd have called it "Stop 'Em Junction".

 

[John Webb]

Late, as in the sense of deceased, no longer with us......... You must have seen the parrot sketch!!!

John

 

[Bear 1923]

Youean the Norwegian Blue wot is ex and moribund?