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‘The Signal’

February 2024
Issue 72 now available. This issue has more information on the exhibits in the new Discovery Centre that explain the principles of railway signalling. However it leads with a story about the “Buffer Stop Café”, marking the retirement of Dave Trewern as the cake maker and lead operator of the café and introduces Carol Hay as his replacement operator. There’s an update on the structural repairs planned (like all railway projects, including news of delays, but hopefully not of it going way over budget!) and an appeal for a new person to take over the Membership Secretary role.
There’s also the second (and third!) instalment included at the end of this edition, written by our member Dave Trewern about his love affair with the railways of Switzerland.
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The Signal 72

Also available:
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November 2023
Issue 71.This issue highlights the “soft” opening of our new “Discovery Centre” building. Also covered are updates on the major work to be undertaken in 2024 on the fabric of the signalbox, which will also result in the need to rewire parts of the equipment. It pays tribute to the memory of Rod Hoyle who passed away in Autumn 2023. There’s also a special supplement included at the end of this edition, the first part of an account written by our member Dave Trewern about his love affair with the railways of Switzerland.
September 2023
Issue 70. This contains a report on the successes of the additional open days over the school summer holidays, and launches the search for a new manager for the café. There’s news of progress with the fitting out of the Discovery Centre, and a complete report on the AGM of the Friends.
May 2023
Issue 69. Following the last newsletter there’s updates on the structural issues found with the brickwork and wooden upper structure of the signal-box which will be tackled this year. There’s also (amongst other articles) reports of progress with the discovery centre (which we previously called the educational building) and an entertaining description of the challenges of running our little café whilst keeping the high hygiene standards required.
February 2023
Issue 68. There’s news of significant developments with the exhibits for the educational building so we look forward to it’s opening later in 2023. We hear about the work to investigate the structural concerns with the building and plan for its repair.
This year we’re opening more often, and there’s details of the extra days and the plans for them. We celebrate the involvement of several of our younger members including an interview with one of them. There’s a reminder for the regular volunteers of the importance of Health & safety around the site, and the newsletter leads with the visits of the two local mayors.

November 2022
Issue 67. Amongst other things, this issue celebrates 30 years since Romsey Signal Box reopened as a visitor and educational facility – so it was also 40 years since it’s closure as a main line signal box.
August 2022
Issue 66. This issue leads with news of improvements to the signal lever frame to make it more authentic. There are reports on recent open days, on the integration of new volunteers and the publicity visit to Hythe Pier’s 100th anniversary celebration. Members also got an opportunity to visit Network Rail’s Eastleigh Signal Centre which now controls the signalling at Romsey – with the promise of more such opportunities to come. In the run-up to the AGM, it reports on the conclusions of the group looking at the relationship with the Buildings Heritage Trust mentioned in issue 65, and on the development of formal policies and operating procedures.
May 2022
Issue 65. This issue has a specific focus on the ongoing review of the relationship between the Signal Box team and the Romsey Buildings Heritage Trust who own the building and the site (previously mentioned at last year’s AGM as reported in Issue 63). However there’s still space to see pictures of the local dramatic society using the box as a backdrop for publicity for their production of “The Railway Children”, and to get updates on the Wednesday working parties and the café, amongst other things.
March 2022
Issue 64. This issue starts with news of two new chairs. We acknowledge the contribution made by Jamie Brooker over the past 4½ years as he steps back (we hope temporarily) from his role. Dick gives his usual report on open days and events, including the recent model railway exhibition weekend. Adrian writes about the manufacture of replica signalling parts to make our signals “look right”. Read on for even more information about the work of the team.
November 2021
Issue 63. Featuring an appropriately wintery view of the signalbox site, this edition reports on the successful reopening of the visitor attraction in the second half of the year. With membership numbers at a recent high (and with several new young members) there are extra volunteering opportunities described, and with the re-introduction of the “Knowing Me, Knowing You” feature we find out about two of these younger members. The newsletter also contains the minutes of our AGM where (amongst other things) revisions to our relationship with the Romsey Buildings Heritage Trust (with consequences for our Constitution) were discussed.

We have the complete archive of older editions of the Newsletter available for those interested in the history of the Friends of Romsey Signal Box. Please click here to see them all .

Operating Instructions

Current Operating Instructions
The latest version of the operating instructions for the signal box.