Ballarat Signal Box B

The stately timber signal box with decorated 'fretted' barge boards (known as Ballarat ‘B’) was built in 1885 with 30 levers inside. The levers were manufactured by McKenzie and Holland. The frame includes gate wheel controls for "Sector" type level crossing gates to standard design, made by the Victorian Railways Signal Department, Newport, and having patent self-catching and locking stops with below pavement rodding. Note the metal rods hanging under the signal box. These are connected to levers inside the signal box. Before upgrading of signalling and the gates to electrical operation in recent years, these levers were connected to the gantry semaphore signals and the gates as part of an integrated, manual, mechanical train control system known as INTERLOCKING. If you are standing there when the gates are being opened or closed you will see the mechanism working, from the Signal Box to the gates. Note the Story Board next to the signal box. Unfortunately, this interesting storey board has been allowed to fall into disrepair.