Opening during COVID-19 restrictions We are opening the signalbox for our scheduled open days from the start of September 2020 but with additional control measures in place to help us protect both our visitors and the volunteers who staff the exhibit. Please pre-book your visit as numbers allowed on site are limited. 1. We will limit the number of visitors on site by having pre-booked admission in half-hour slots. To pre-book, please ring 07743 942576 or email info@romseysignalbox.org.uk. Note, it may be possible to admit people “on the day” by first ringing the contact number but priority will always be given to those who have pre-booked. 2. We will ask all people on arrival to book in, providing details of their group and contact details, and to sign out again on leaving. These records will be retained in line with ICO guidance for up to 21 days to support the “Track & Trace” system and then destroyed. They will not be used for marketing. The full policy will be available on site should you wish to read it. 3. Contactless payment for admission fees is preferred. 4. We will ask all persons over 10 (unless a medical exemption applies) to wear a face-mask throughout the site (except at the tables within the cafe area). 5. All groups must make use of hand sanitisers on entry and around the site, and must observe social distancing principles. Adults need to be responsible for helping children to conform. 5. A one-way system will be in operation around the site. One family group at a time will be allowed up into the signalbox operating floor because of limited space for social distancing. 6. The cafe will be available but with a limited range of products.

The Signal Box is open to the public during the afternoons of the first Sunday of every month, excluding January, and the third Saturday of every month, excluding December. The site is also open to the public on special dates which will be put on this site. Scroll to the bottom of this page for opening dates. It is open between 11am and 4pm, and the admission charge is £2.50 per adult (accompanied children under 16 are free) – cash or card payments are available. Upgrade your payment to a £3 donation by gift-aid and receive a refreshments voucher as well! Members of the Friends of Romsey Signal Box, and special pass-holders, gain free admission. Note that the site can also be opened on special days for private groups, please get in touch for more information.

Facilities

At the site, there is the signalbox and two pavilions containing various exhibits relating to railway signalling equipment, with a third pavilion being fitted out to become an education facility, which is due to open by 2021. We have a small cafe serving hot and cold drinks and cakes/biscuits, and a disabled-accessible toilet. The main signalbox has regular demonstrations of the work of a signalman. Elsewhere on the site there is a miniature lever frame with full size instruments which is based on the signal box at Cowley Bridge Junction, just outside Exeter. On Open Days this can often be seen being operated by a trained signalman (subject to available volunteers).

Coming by car/bike/on foot

If you have a SatNav, the post code for the housing in Brick Lane is SO51 8LG; the site is adjacent to house no. 28. We have very limited car parking adjacent to the site. Visitors with disabilities or very limited mobility may wish to reserve parking in advance by phone (01794 500523/07743 942576) or email. Alternative car parks and the route from them to the site are shown on the map in our publicity leaflet – see below.

Public transport

Romsey train station is a 5 minute walk away, and the bus stop near the site on Winchester Road is served by Bluestar line 4 to Southampton and Stagecoach route 66 to Winchester. Both services are half hourly on Saturdays and hourly on Sundays (as at January 2020). There are 2-hourly Bluestar line 5 buses to Eastleigh on Saturdays only. Alternatively Romsey’s main bus station is a 10-15 minute walk away. Walking routes from the stations and stops are shown on the map in our publicity leaflet – see below.

More information

This publicity leaflet gives more information about the site, including what you can see. It also shows directions to the box from various car parks, bus and train stations around Romsey. Click the image to open it as an Acrobat (pdf) document.

Open Days

January 2020	Saturday 18th
February	Sunday 2nd; Saturday 15th
March	Sunday 1st; Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th (Romsey Model Railway Exhibition). All dates from Saturday 21st March to end August CANCELLED
September	Sunday 6th; Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th (Heritage Open Days weekend – free admission both days)
	Our dates to the end of 2020 are available for booking, subject to any late changes if new restrictions are imposed to contain the spread of the Coronavirus (Covid-19).
October	Sunday 4th; Saturday 17th
November	Sunday 1st; Saturday 21st
December 2020	Sunday 6th