Finchley Centrai signal box

Records show that Finchley Central was officially opened by London Transport on 1st April 1940, though speculation thinks it may have opened before that date due to the war. It was built to the London Transport Type design and was fitted with a Westinghouse 'N' frame (frame number 193)

The signal box was closed and control was moved up the platform to a temp location on 14th October 1967 so the signal box could be converted to an Interlocking Machine Room, the Interlocking Machine Room was commissioned on the 13th December 1969 controlled from Coburg Street control room.

Owen writes 'You had to be reasonably fit to operate this box since it involved a great deal of leg movement such as No60 points for Mill Hill and No20 for Barnett plus the signal leavers didn't relate to where the point levers were. Still it was an interesting box to operate. Alas much of what you see here has now disappeared for ever.'
Picture is © of Owen Smithers and is reproduced with permission of © Owen Smithers.

Owen writes 'I loved working this box. With all the steam goods working and the movements from Finchley Goods say to the Military Sidings on the Mill Hill section kept you on your toes. There were so many ways out of trouble here when the line to Barnet is closed. You can reverse the whole service right here.
Picture is © of Owen Smithers and is reproduced with permission of © Owen Smithers.

Records show that this was a 71 levers lever installation, with 18 points levers, 41 signals with 4 calling on arms