Ballarat East Signal Box

Ballarat East Signal Box was erected in 1886 with a 25-lever frame.  The signal box was extended in 1891 to house a new 39 lever frame because of changes to track and signal arrangements in Ballarat yard.  

The signal box controlled movements on the mainline between Ballarat A Box and Warrenheip and the junction for the line to Eureka (the former Bunniyong branchline).

Ballarat East Signal Box in the late 1980's.

The signal box remained in operation until 1992 when the track and signal arrangements through Ballarat East were simplified. All signalling was then transferred to a new panel in Ballarat station.  The signal box has been retained.

Red levers worked the signals, blues levers the plungers and the black levers points. 

The signal box also controlled the 2 sets of interlocked gates on Humffray Street (shown by the two wheels in the photo below).

The signal box is made out of Evergreen styrene clapboard with 40 thou sheet used for the end posts and 10 and 20 thou plain sheet used to make the windows. The roof is corrugated aluminum foil supported on a cardboard frame. Brass wire is used to make the handrails and downpipes, and styrene L angle for the gutters.

I decided to include an interior to the signal box and light it so it visible at night.  The signal box also had 2 street lights fitted to the exterior of the building. One above the staircase and the second at the Melbourne end of the building.  For these lights I plan to use a grain of rice light bulbs and built a housing to match the lights fitted to the building.

For the interior I found a series of photographs on facebook that showed the layout of the levels and wheels for the interlocked gates. Above the levers was a shelf that extended across the majority of the windows. I couldn't find any photos that showed what items were across the rear wall of the building, so decided to add items that I thought might be found in the signal box, this includes a desk, pot belly stove, shelves and lockers. Next to the window at the Melbourne end a bench seat was added (as a corner of this appears in one of the photos). Geoff Altham suggested that I include 7 clipboards 1 for each day for special train circulars. I still need to include the SS (station to station) and Centrol (train control) phones and red and green flags mounted on the window frame.  

I haven't decided yet if I will include the gates on Humphray St as Ballarat East locomotive depot is opposite the signal box so I can't include level crossing. I might include gates and end the road adjacent to the signal box. I will probably do some mock-ups of the gates and adjoining building and play around with there position before making a decision.