Westinghouse miniature power lever frame

Northampton No.3 was opened by British Railways on 1st November 1981. The box, a London Midland Region Type 15 design and the frame, an 83 lever Westinghouse Brake & Signal Co. Ltd. Style 'L' Power lever frame was moved from Bedford North. The frame was a refurbished section of the 167 lever frame from Cannon Street signal box, which was in turn part of a 227 lever 'L' frame (frame number 97) purchased by London, Midland & Scottish Railway in case of war damage.

When opened, the box replaced the previous Northampton No.3 signal box which was fitted with a 58 lever London & North Western Railway 'Tumbler' frame. On 3rd December 1982 Northampton No.2 signal box, which was fitted with a 118 lever London & North Western Railway 'Tumbler' frame, was closed and it's area of responsibility was taken over by Northampton No.3

The intention was for the box to take over the whole area including Northampton Bridge Street Crossing but this never took place and eventually the whole area except Bridge street was taken over by Rugby PSB, this will change again soon when Rugby PSB closes and the area becomes controlled by Rugby SCC.

Northampton No.3 frame was configured to take over the whole of the Northampton area but it only managed to take over the old Northampton No3 area and Northampton No2 area.

The box was closed on 28th July 1991 when Rugby PSB took over signalling of the area.

Northampton No.3 signal box general interior view taken 1980's, with its Westinghouse Brake and Signal Co. Ltd miniature power lever frame, taken from London end of frame.

The frame is a Westinghouse Style 'L' Power Frame and was mechanically interlocked between levers with electrical lever locking, The frame was formed of 7 x 12 way sections making a total of 83 levers. {7x12}-1 = 83 levers, as the last “lever” space is unavailable.

The Westinghouse Brake & Saxby Signal Co. Ltd. Style 'L' style lever frame and and track diagram, with conventional block instruments provided ontop of the lever frame box. In this view we see the first stage set-up of the track layout which excludes Northampton station - this covered the old Northampton No3 signalbox area.

The lever frame looking from lever 17 onwards, with the final layout set-up. The six block instruments are clearly visible on top of the lever frame. In the final stage Northampton station was included when the old Northampton No.2.signalbox area was taken over.

The lever frame looking from lever 84 back towards the beginning of the frame, with the final layout set-up In the final stage Northampton station was included when the old Northampton No.2.signalbox area was taken over.

Northampton No.3 signal box general interior view taken 1980's, with its Westinghouse Brake and Signal Co. Ltd miniature power lever frame, track diagram detail

Closeup detail of the track diagram with the final track layout. this clearly shows the final stage and Northampton station is clearly visible.

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Adjacent boxes
To the south
Northampton No2 {19 chains) - first phase only and closed 3rd December 1982.
To the north
Northampton No4 to the north in the first phase only 1983
Northampton No.1 signal box (41 chains away) became the adjacent box until closure

To the North,
Rugby Power Signal Box (17m 74ch away) was the adjacent signal box from the boxes opening date until closure.

Boxes Replaced

Mechanical Signalbox displaced		Power signalbox	Northampton No1 had 59 levers originally (I believe) but the frame was shortened to 34 in the 1960's with the coming of colour light signals. Northampton No2 box had 118 levers Northampton No3 had lost it's frame by the time I visited the new box for the first time although the building was still standing but its size suggests about 40 - 45 levers. Northampton No4 box had 84 levers
Northampton No1	59 levers originally reduced to to 34 in the 1960
Northampton No2	118 levers	84 working levers
Northampton No3	40 - 45 levers.
Northampton No4	84 levers
Total	303 max Levers 273 minimum	84 Levers