Signals at Barry

Barry (Station)

29/5/06

A train departs towards Cardiff from Barry station. The signalbox stands proudly beyond the end of the down platform.
To the right is the preserved Vale of Glamorgan Railway - not to be confused with the NR Vale of Glamorgan line through here to Bridgend!

The siding connections at the east end of the station.

A close-up of the signalbox.

A couple of discs controlling the sidings alongside the station.

At the other end of the station is the junction for Barry Island, to which an approaching train is signalled. Note the advanced starter in the very top left of the picture, and the up Vale of Glamorgan home peeping over the overbridge.

A closer view of the junction. There used to be a nice semaphore junction signal, but it had become life-expired and had to be replaced, its demise possibly accelerated somewhat by being accidentally hit a few years previously by a road/rail machine, which rotated the main gantry clockwise somewhat.
The line passing under the left-hand arch of the bridge is the down goods loop.

The line to Barry Island, which singles beyond the advanced starter. In the far distance (top left) is a motor-operated starting signal for Barry Island, controlled by Barry, with fixed distant underneath. To the left of that a steam train on the Vale of Glamorgan Railway can be glimpsed.

The double-to-single junction on the line to Barry Island.

The Vale of Glamorgan line beyond the road bridge in the earlier photos, looking towards Aberthaw. In the foreground is Barry's up innerhome.

Line beyond road bridge towards Aberthaw

The view back towards Barry from the next overbridge in the photo above.

The far end of the down goods loop on the Vale of Glamorgan line, looking back towards Barry.

Unfortunately this was the only shot I could get of the up Vale of Glamorgan home.

A down Vale of Glamorgan train passes the motor-operated advanced starters.

Down Vale of Glamorgan train passes advanced starters

May 1983

The semaphore junction signal prior to replacement.

A down coal train passes, heading for Aberthaw.

The up Vale of Glamorgan home.

This two-way shunting signal is in the sidings, roughly opposite the junction.

The view through the station towards Cardiff.

The signalbox.

The Barry Island branch.

Barry Island

May 1983

There was still a signalbox at Barry Island in 1983, though it was switched out when I visited and probably only opened when required to handle summer excursions.

A wider view of the station. The island platform on the right is now used by the Vale of Glamorgan heritage railway.

The down homes.

The signalbox.

The lines beyond the station. Further lines, to the right of these, used to run through the tunnel to Barry pier.

The up starter, with Barry's fixed distant below. The signalling was arranged so that, when Barry Island was switched out, this signal would only clear when permitted by Barry. This signal was retained when Barry Island box was closed, and probably still operates in a similar way.

My thanks to Richie Jones and Brian Mills for providing assistance with the captions for this page.

More information about Barry signalbox can be found on the Signalling Notices and Signal Box sites.