Redrock wrote:

When the Midland Suburban Bed-Pan lines were electrified, they built attractive, red brick relay rooms with slate roofs. I've noticed similar structures in yellow brick between Burton & birmingham over the last week. I suppose the portacabin style ones are cheaper, but they do nothing for the visual enviroment.

We do try to use existing buildings, but it is difficult when the existing equipment fills the existing building, and we need the existing equipment to run the railway. Generally we have to put new equipment in new buildings, and I can just imagine the comments if we spent more money than was absolutely necessary on functional equipment rooms and skimp more on public areas than we already have to.

96701 wrote:

Redrock wrote: When the Midland Suburban Bed-Pan lines were electrified, they built attractive, red brick relay rooms with slate roofs. I've noticed similar structures in yellow brick between Burton & birmingham over the last week. I suppose the portacabin style ones are cheaper, but they do nothing for the visual enviroment. We do try to use existing buildings, but it is difficult when the existing equipment fills the existing building, and we need the existing equipment to run the railway. Generally we have to put new equipment in new buildings, and I can just imagine the comments if we spent more money than was absolutely necessary on functional equipment rooms and skimp more on public areas than we already have to.

Youv'e got a point there.

I am all for things been done cheaply if we get value for our money. Remember that some of the old boxes have been a part of our landscape for 100 years or more, They certainly have been value for money as well as being pleasing to the eye. Are the new portacabins going to last as long Just because they are cheap, Are they value for money as well. I suppose only time will tell but my vote says NO.

The old stuff was certainly built to last! - I suspect anything built now will not have quite the longevity.

Heres one I took back in the 80's. Location is Maud Foster crossing box on the East Lincolnshire Line, just north of Boston.

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I had forgotten how small the Maud Foster box was. Good to see it again.

Here is some info about it

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andersley wrote:

I had forgotten how small the Maud Fopster box was. Good to see it again. Here is some info about it Only registered users can see links on this forum! Register or Login on forum!

Intresting website. I'd never seen inside the box, although I've been inside West St Junction often enough.

andersley wrote:

I had forgotten how small the Maud Foster box was. Good to see it again. Here is some info about it Only registered users can see links on this forum! Register or Login on forum!

Very interesting website.

Here are some of my local boxes that still exist.

Thanks for those, they do have a different look up there.

The box at Carmuirs appears to have net curtains

Redrock wrote:

The box at Carmuirs appears to have net curtains

If I remember correctly there are metal netting grills on the outside of the windows as a protection against the little darlings that frequent this area. At the resolution of these photographs they appear as net curtains.