Swindon Panel Society

03/06/2026

Wow! Look at this amazing piece of Swindon signalling memorabilia!

This is the block bell, believed to be from Swindon West, for communicating with Rodbourne Lane signal box, the next box to the west.

A single block bell can generally unambiguously cope with block communication for two single-direction lines of traffic, or one bi-directional line. Where there is more than this between two signal boxes additional bells were provided, and hence the identification of the lines the bell applies to was shown on the plate in addition to the name of the signal box it communicated with. There were three lines between Rodbourne Lane and Swindon West, this being the bell for the two Main Lines, with another being provided for the Up Goods Running Loop.

We believe this bell is from West rather than Rushey Platt (which would also have had two bells to Rodbourne Lane, thus requiring the line name on the plate), because inside the case of this bell is prominently written the word ‘West’.

The plate being mounted on top of the case in this way is unusual - normally the plate is on the shelf underneath the bell. The block shelf in Swindon West would have been extremely busy with plungers, signal repeaters, and other instruments, so we suspect that is why the plate was mounted where it was.

If anyone has a photo of this bell in-situ in Swindon West (or any other photos from inside East or West Boxes!) we would love to see them!

19/05/2026

Another little gem related to the Swindon area, belonging to one of our members: This is a shelf plate from a signal box that worked to Swindon, it would have been mounted underneath the block instrument or block bell.

It is most likely to have come from Bradford Junction, as that closed the most recently (1990) and did have these white plates under the block bells as this photo by Dave Hayball shows. It is likely that the sheep-dome bell nearest the camera is the one to Swindon.

It could also have come from a number of other boxes that fringed to Swindon Panel over the years, such as Uffington, Hay Lane, Bathampton Junction, Badminton, Swindon Loco Yard, and Sapperton Siding. All of these would have had a block bell to Swindon Panel either for train descriptions, emergency use, or in the case of Sapperton Siding for the brief period of Absolute Block working over the down line between the panel and Sapperton!

Do you have any artefacts from the Swindon area in your collection? We would love to see them!

19/05/2026

We have been kindly sent this photo of the ground frame key from Wootton Bassett Engineer's Siding, belonging to a Swindon Panel member.

This is the siding on the down side at Wootton Bassett Junction, more commonly referred to nowadays as Wootton Bassett Stone Terminal, as that is its main traffic.

The key was required to be inserted into the ground frame to unlock the levers. When not in use it was locked into an instrument, released from the panel signal box. When the key was detected and locked in the instrument the interlocking could be sure it wasn't in the GF and that the levers were therefore locked.

When required, the signalman would release the key (if the interlocking conditions allowed, ie it was safe for the points to be moved), and the shunter would remove the key from the instrument and insert it into the ground frame to free the levers. The key could not be removed from the GF until all the levers were normal again, thus preventing it being returned to the interlocking unless the points were normal and safe.

We don't seem to have a photo of the mechanical ground frame in situ, but we do have a photo of its ruined base, and the mechanical locking tray still in place.

Although the siding still exists and is still released by a ground frame, the points are motorised and the ground frame is now a button panel.

If you have any articles from the Swindon Panel area in your collection we would love to see them!

19/04/2026

A wartime upgrade at Minety in connection with both Refuge Sidings being converted to Goods Loops.

The Down Distant was moved out in preparation for the Home to be moved out and having a new bracket arm added for entry into the new loop.

12/04/2026

A busy day in Swindon Panel in December 2005.

6B33 is the Theale to Robeston Oil Terminal conveying empty Murco fuel bogie tanks (which by some measures are more dangerous than full ones).

Swindon panel had hot axle box detectors on the Down Main at Bourton and the Up Main at Studley.

This was printed on the TOPS teleprinter in the panel, which also churned out performance and incident updates. It was the only way of obtaining information before the use of email and the installation of CCF/TMIS/etc in signal boxes (the equivalent information is now publicly available for free on sites like OpenTrainTimes.com!)

21/03/2026

Thank you to Swindon Paneller Simon Lowe who has noticed that 100 years ago today Britain's first 4-aspect colour light signals were brought into use between Holborn Viaduct and Elephant & Castle, and the double yellow aspect was born.

Many of the signals on the Swindon Panel area, especially east of Swindon, were updated from 3 to 4 aspect in the mid 1970s in connection with the introduction of the HST and increase in line speed.

03/03/2026

Wow - 10 years ago we released these badges, which means today is Swindon Panel’s 58th birthday!

Who still has theirs?

Happy Birthday Swindon Panel!

To celebrate Swindon Panel's 48th birthday (opened 3 March 1968), we are delighted to release our set of six, limited edition, Swindon Panel Society pin badges to celebrate the life of Swindon Panel and its movement into preservation.

Each badge is a different shape and colour and depicts a Swindon Panel-related image.

SN48, the signal on the end of platform 1 at Swindon, was picked as the panel was 48 years old this year.

The badges are £2 each or a complete set of 6 for £10.

The complete sets are available now via HOPS: https://www.heritage-ops.org.uk/product/242/

(Unfortunately it is not economical to sell the individual badges online, these can be purchased from us at DRC or any of our events).

All proceeds used in the move and preservation of Swindon Panel at Didcot Railway Centre by Swindon Panel Society, registered charity 1159646.

Only a limited run will be produced so don't miss out!

20/02/2026

Regrettably, due to staff illness, it will not be possible to open Swindon Panel tomorrow (Saturday 21 February). We apologise to anyone who was planning to visit us tomorrow.

Our next open day is next weekend - Saturday 28 February.

20/02/2026

Swindon Panel closed from its main line service ten years ago today - 20 February 2016.

What a lot has happened since!

Here's Swindon Panel appearing on BBC Points West before it closed.

Swindon Panel Society on BBC Points West.

21/01/2026

A photo from the closure of Swindon Town station, on the MSWJR line.

Any old iron? When railway lines were closed and the tracks were lifted, the process of recovering large amounts of valuable scrap from rails, fixtures and fittings began.

In this case seen at the closed Swindon Town station in Wiltshire, wagons containing what appear to be old water columns with their leather ‘bags’ can be seen. The closed line is what used to be the Midland & South Western Junction Railway which ran from Cheltenham Spa to Andover. First opening in 1884, it was designed to link the Midland Railway network to the north with the London & South Western Railway to give access to the busy port of Southampton. Parts of the route ran through Salisbury Plain which was an important area for military camps, training and manoeuvres. This kept the railway very busy, especially in wartime periods. The route closed to passengers in 1961 and to goods traffic, in stages, between 1964 and 1970.

Image: Angus Davis. Words: Mike Peart