FARSAP (Film Archive Of Railway Signalling and People)

[whole diary]

[SandTEngineer]

I would like to draw your attention to a project that has just got underway to record the majority of existing signal boxes and other signalling related installations that still exist in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom).  The link to this can be found on the Signalling Record Society site here: http://www.s-r-s.org.uk/archivevideo.php

In 2013 Network Rail announced their strategy of concentrating all railway signalling activity into just a handful of Regional Operating Centres (ROCs^▸ (Rail Operating Centre - a centralised location for railway signalling and train control operations for a specific route or region)). Implementation would, of course, not happen over night but would progress steadily and see the eventual demise of all remaining mechanical signal boxes, including those that had been equipped with panels, power signal boxes and most of the signalling centres that were still coming on stream at this time. The order of change would be influenced by the life expectancy of existing equipment and need to increase line capacity, and it is relevant to mention that some mechanical signal boxes outlived their power signal box neighbours that were several decades their junior.

The Friends of the National Railway Museum contacted various bodies with a view to recording railway signalling as it stood in the middle of the second decade of the 21st century and before it was consigned to history. Thus FARSAP was born. In this there was a parallel to the driving force behind the formation of this Society in 1969 - the desire to record matters before they were lost for ever in the rush to introduce ever larger power signal boxes.

[BerkshireBugsy]

Thanks SandTE - out of interest if I wanted to go and take external pictures of Colthrop (Thatcham) box do I need to seek permission from anyone - from a legal or courtesy perspective?

[JayMac]

Photos taken of a signal box do not need permission provided you are stood on public land.

[bobm]

Photos taken of a signal box do not need permission provided you are stood on public land.

Following on from that....

While not illegal it is considered a courtesy not to photograph any signaller who might venture out of the 'box for any reason as part of their duties without asking them if possible.  Most don't have a problem if approached - providing of course you don't trespass to ask them!

[BerkshireBugsy]

Photos taken of a signal box do not need permission provided you are stood on public land.

Following on from that....

While not illegal it is considered a courtesy not to photograph any signaller who might venture out of the 'box for any reason as part of their duties without asking them if possible.  Most don't have a problem if approached - providing of course you don't trespass to ask them!

Thank you all. Even though I think by taking the angle I was considering you would not be able to see the signalman would feel comfortable if I could at least ask permission first. However in the case of colthrop I don't think this is possible without trespassing