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Summary

Description

North British Railway Company - Type 7, 1911. Large, 2-storey, rectangular-plan signal box with piended roof. Tall, narrow brick base with three segmental-arched windows; signal cabin superstructure supported on nine metal trusses oversailing base to W. Cast-iron former walkway to, N, W and S elevations of signal cabin. S Elevation: timber, dog-leg stair with brick support, rising to projecting timber entrance porch outshot; locking room door below. E (rear) Elevation: Red brick to full height with four small segmental-arched windows lighting upper region of locking room; corbelled-out wall-head chimney stack to top right with cabin glazing returning to outer right from N elevation. Single-storey lean-to outshot to N elevation.

Timber windows with 6-pane glazing pattern to base. Slate roof. Non-traditional replacement windows to signal cabin.

INTERIOR: 72 lever frame by Stevens and Son; various signalling equipment. Later panel signal equipment to N.

BRIDGE: (Map Ref: NO 63902, 41284): 1911, large cast-iron railway footbridge with lattice girder balustrade over level crossing.

Statement of Special Interest

Signal boxes are a distinctive and now rare building type that make a significant contribution to Scotland's diverse industrial heritage. Of more than 2000 signal boxes built across Scotland by 1948, around 150 currently survive (2013), both on and off the public network. All pre-1948 mechanical boxes still in operation are due to become obsolete by 2021.

The signal box at Arbroath North is an impressive survival within its building type. It is a variation on North British Railway's Type 7, designed specifically its location where additional height was required to obtain good views of the rail traffic. It is the only signal box in the country with an oversailing signal cabin supported on metal brackets projecting toward the track. The prominent location beside a level crossing and its and group value with the adjacent cast-iron pedestrian bridge add to the interest.

The original window arrangement, with large 6-pane glazing pattern to the signal cabin, was continous and ran the full height and length of the cabin's N, W and S elevations. The glazing was replaced with the present arrangement before 2013.

Listed as part of Scottish Signal Box Review (2012-13)

The 1911 Arbroath Station building (located 300 metres to the S) was not considered to be of special interest at the point of the 2013 signal box review.

References

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