Level 2 Building Survey of 1912 Type 4a Newark Signal Box (2014) prior to removal. Houses its original Tappet Frame. It was the third on the site replacing an earlier 1897 box. (1)

Newark Castle signal box is a Type 4a design dating from 1912 and houses its original Tappet Frame. Smaller boxes tended to retain ‘Design A’ windows when visibility was not so important, with Newark signal box only having 16 levers. Despite this, it is clear that Newark Castle signal box was at one time very busy. This section of the railway used to have a particularly complex layout with sidings on both sides, a small yard and a short branch to a factory – as well as the formerly very busy Great Northern Road level crossing. It is the third on the site, replacing an earlier 1897 box.
The box is situated on the Up side of the track and now has 8 working levers, as well as continuing to control the Great North Road level crossing.

Description of Structure:
Exterior:
Two storey, rectangular timber signal box of two bays with a shallow hipped, Welsh slate roof and spike finials. The lower storey has lapped boarding and two original ‘Design A’ windows at the front; the rest of the box is blind at this level aside from a doorway to the locking room at the north-eastern end. At first floor level, the box is continuously glazed on all sides except the rear with vertical timber boarding; these are all original ‘Design A’ windows. An external single flight timber staircase gives access to the operating room at the north eastern end. It is in close proximity to Newark Castle Station, situated just beyond the end of the station platform along with the former station master’s house, both Grade-II listed.
Interior:
The operating room has a carpeted floor and various other modern fittings and appliances. The 1912 Tappet locking frame and wooden block shelf above it are original; many of the block instruments are later upgrades, but the box to box telephone is probably older. These phones were always located on the block shelf as they used the same wire as the bell which was the main form of communication. The levers and block shelf are located at the back of the box, which is not the usual arrangement but also not uncommon. The original train registry desk is found at the front of the box.
Alan Baxter Associates, Newark Castle Signal Box Historic Building Record Prepared for Network Rail, November 2014)

<1> Alan Baxter, 2014, Newark Castle Signal Box Historic Building Report (Unpublished document). SNT4790.