Sutton Bridge Junction

17/9/06

Sutton Bridge junction as seen from the Hereford line, looking towards Shrewsbury. The single-track branch to Welshpool and Machynlleth joins from the left just after the end of the loop line (the track on the very left is a siding). Trains leaving Shrewsbury for the Welshpool line use the facing crossover under the bridge.

A wider-angle shot from the same location, with the down starter on the right.

The view in the opposite direction, towards Dorrington and Hereford. The down advanced starter, on the left, has been cleared for a freight train. On the right is a tail lamp camera so the signaller can tell whether trains held on the loop line are complete on arrival.

The outerhome signal on the Welshpool line.

The Welshpool line approaches the junction via a curve, so this banner repeater is provided to give drivers an earlier indication of the innerhome signal immediately before the junction.

28/7/06

The junction viewed from the overbridge near the signalbox, with the Welshpool line diverging to the right.

The view in the opposite direction, towards Shrewsbury. In the centre is the up starter, with a fixed distant for Severn Bridge Junction, while the junction signal can be seen on the right.

The signalbox. In front of the box is the facing crossover used by trains crossing to the Welshpool line. Note the unusual acronym, SUB, that has had to be assigned because SBJ had already been allocated to Severn Bridge Junction.

The down junction signal. On the right-hand end of the bracket there used to be a third doll which carried the arm leading to the Severn Valley line, for which this was also the junction. Even after its closure, a short section of track was retained here for some years to enable goods traffic to access the former Shrewsbury Abbey station (via a reverse), and the signal on this post was changed from a running arm to a 3' goods signal.

A closer view of the up starter. The plates above the signal number remind drivers of Welshpool trains to release their RETB tokens here.

The Welshpool line junction.

The rear view of the signalbox.

July 1984

The signalbox in 1984. The goods lines along the former Severn Valley alignment can be glimpsed at the left, passing behind the box.

Sept 1973

This ex-GWR backing signal survived into the 1970s. At this time the Welshpool line was double-track as far as Hookagate, where there was another signal box and a PW depot. This signal is for reversing moves back up the down Welshpool line.

26-28/5/07

Sutton Bridge still has a semaphore up distant.