Batchworth Lock Canal Centre (2025)
Hertfordshire
A young visitor has a go at being signalman
View of garden with some of the working signals
The 1892-built box is the largest preserved Midland box in the country, and remains in its original location next to the busy working main line that it used to control. The restored 44 lever frame and authentic instruments demonstrate the way the box used to work before closure in 1980. Downstairs there is a museum of railway and signalling items, video of the box when in use, and a slide-show of the restoration works.
Operator: The St Albans Signal Box Preservation Trust
Address: Ridgmont Road St Albans Hertfordshire AL1 3AJ
Sun 9 Feb. Wed 19 Feb; 28 May; 29 Oct. 2nd & 4th Sun in month Mar-9 Nov; 14 Dec. 1400-1700. Also 13-14 Sep from 1000. Visit website or facebook for more details.
Outside, the ground around the box has been landscaped into an attractive garden where we have ground frames with which visitors can work semaphore signals. Demonstrations of 1970s and modern 'LED' colour light signals show present signalling methods. There is a garden railway and a 'pole route' - a sample of the posts and telegraph wires that were once common alongside railway lines.