Ballarat B Box

Ballarat B Box controlled the points, signals and interlocked gates across Lydiard Street at the western end of Ballarat station. It was the oldest signal box at Ballarat, having been brought into service in 1885 with a 30 lever rocket frame. It was extended to 35 levers in 1890. 

The building follows my usual construction techniques and materials. The building it mostly made out of Evengreen styrene clapboard, with balsa wood and thick cardboard used for support posts and bracing. The verandah support brackets were formed from large staples bent to shape, the handrail posts are pins, with the holes drilled into the deck and pin pushed through from underneath with the pointy end cut off. The handrail is florist wire bend to shape.

I didn't have a plan of the signal box so had to used plans of Ballarat A box and Ballarat East box to get dimensions for  windows and other features. The layout here is just a narrow shelve in front of a window so there is no room for backboard or space to model the rear sections of the building including the staircase.

I have included an interior in the model as I hope to fit lights in the building and the yard lights neighbouring the signal box. Like Ballarat East signal box I couldn't find any photos of the rear wall but did find two photos of the levers and front wall. Along the back wall are a table, wood heater and half a barrel with firewood. I have also included clipboards, one for each day of the week. 

Along the front wall we have the levers that operated the signals and points and the wheel that controlled the gates on Lydiard Street. The levers are brass rod cut to length and painted appropriate colours for the levers that controlled the points and signals.

The wheel is the centre of a spoked wagon wheel with the wheel flange and a number of spokes removed. The handles are the ends from pins. The shelf above the levers include phone, bells and staff instruments. I have included a railway employee operating the wheel for the gates on Lydiard Street which will hopefully be visible through the open window when the building is lit. 

As Ballarat B box is open underneath, I have made a representation of the cables and rods that are controlled from the levers within the signal box. These are florist wire and strips of 30 thou styrene glue to a supporting frame made out of I beam and a balsa wood guide with holes drilled at an appropriate spacing.

I didn't realise until I started building the signal box that there was no door onto the verandah. I assume that staff had to climb through one of the windows to access the verandah. I have added the bucket and mop that appear in nearly every photo of the signal box from the 1980s propt up against the handrail on the end of the verandah.

Bucket with mop leaning up against the handrail on the verandah of the signal box. The bucket and mop appear in nearly all photos of the signal box in the 1980s.

Ballarat B Box remained in operation until 1992 when the track and signalling arrangements through Ballarat were simplified with all signalling being transferred to a new panel within Ballarat station. I still have lots to do including adding lighting and other details.

In late evening light X31 runs pass Ballarat B Box on Down Dimboola pass.