Kennington signal box

Kennington - London Transport

Records show that Finchley Central was officially opened by London Transport on 29th August 1926. It was built to the London Transport Type design and was fitted with a Westinghouse 'B' frame (frame number 149)

The signal box was closed and control was moved up the platform to a temp location on 22nd September 1957 so the signal box could be converted to an Interlocking Machine Room which had a 'V' style frame installed, (see last picture below) the Interlocking Machine Room was commissioned on the 26th January 1958 controlled from Leicester Square and then Coburg Street control room.

Kennington signal box interior 1959

This sweat hole was Kennington Signal Box situated at the South end of the North Bound CX platform. It was a two man operation and very fast in the rush hour. Unchanged from the 1920's
Picture is © of Owen Smithers and is reproduced with permission of © Owen Smithers.

Kennington signal box interior with George Hughes in 1959

Kennington & George Hughs 1959

Owen writes 'I must have been on shift with my dear friend George Hughes. Like myself a tear away so the shift a little friendlier than usual since we both enjoyed a joke. '
Picture is © of Owen Smithers and is reproduced with permission of © Owen Smithers.

Bill White Kennington box 1955

Owen writes 'Ex Submariner Bill White at the southern Area controls at Kennington. His partner was Bill Deamer but out of sight here. Both were Relief Signalmen.'
Picture is © of Owen Smithers and is reproduced with permission of © Owen Smithers.

Kennington Track plan 1956

Owen writes 'It was difficult taking photographs in tunnel signal boxes due to the restrictions of movement. Standing with my back to the wall in the North Bound control area, this was the best I could do.The siding is signaled for two trains until Health & Safety interfered making it a single siding in the late 70's? The loop in an emergency will hold four 7 car trains nose to tail. In my time this has happened twice. The fullest extent of the loop reaches the Oval Station where there is a crew outlet from the Siding.'
Picture is © of Owen Smithers and is reproduced with permission of © Owen Smithers.

Records show that this was a 31 levers lever installation, with 4 points levers, 19 signals with 1 calling on arm

Kennington - Interlocking Machine Room 'V' style frame installation.

Kennington interlocking Machine Room in 1965

Owen writes 'Tucked away in the depths is Kennington's Machine room. This is where all the interlocking is now maintained. I had the experience once of having to run a service during a serious failure from here. Not having to operate interlocking on points previously, it suddenly became a real brain teaser. But after a few goes it remained in your head. ' Picture is © of Owen Smithers and is reproduced with permission of © Owen Smithers.