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Greymouth Signal Box


This little old vintage building sits at the bottom of town next to the Grey River. Built in 1904 it was heavily involved in the rail system in Greymouth which supported the coal trade. The signal box had 52 levels controlling the signals and shunting discs.

In it's heyday it controlled up to 50 trains per day as passengers and freight was taken between Christchurch, Otira, Reefton, Blackball, Rewanui and Ross. In the great flood of 1888 the signal box stood tall and dry but as more coal was moved via the roads the rail line to the wharf was closed.

Photo courtesy of the History House Museum showing the first express train in Greymouth.

In 2010 the floodwall next to the Grey River was raised and the signal box was moved by the trust and restored. btw there are only 5 signal boxes in all of New Zealand.

Here's now it looked in the 1960s - photo from Moe Bowe.

These days the signal box is used by a local art group - personally I'm thankful it's still there in good condition.

Linking up with Through my lens, Tuesday Treasures, My corner of the world and Wordless Wednesday.

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Comments

Bill said…
Nice piece of history. Thanks for sharing.
15 August 2023 at 06:54
Tigger's Mum said…
I never realized there were (or had been) so many working lines on the Coast until we were there last May. Good use for the signal box.
15 August 2023 at 07:30
roentare said…
These throwback photos are good reminders of history
15 August 2023 at 09:37
Pauline said…
I did a double take when I saw your photo, Amy. I thought it was a quaint railway building I saw in a little place called Chemainus on Vancouver Island in Canada. It looks the same to me. Finally, many years later I now know what its function was.
15 August 2023 at 10:40
s.c said…
What a nice find and happy it is spared from demolition.Interesting story also.
15 August 2023 at 22:15
Veronica Lee said…
Love the quaint building.
I wouldn't have guessed that it was a signal box.

Hugs and blessings, Amy
16 August 2023 at 00:33
local alien said…
I'm glad to hear they restored it and it's in use . It really is a piece of history. Another of these buildings which were just part of everyday life but are now museum pieces
16 August 2023 at 02:12
gz said…
Seeing the old photos makes sense of what we saw last summer.
I am glad that the building is still being used
16 August 2023 at 02:45
DawnTreader said…
Nice that they have left the building and it's still used for something. My dad was a railway enthusiast, also wrote books about some Swedish railways, we visited innumerable railway connected places on holidays back in my youth...
16 August 2023 at 03:49
NCSue said…
That building has a certain charm, doesn't it? I'm glad it wasn't scrapped - I love seeing old buildings restored and kept in use. So much nicer than industrial big boxes.
Thanks for sharing at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2023/08/on-road.html
16 August 2023 at 07:48
Pisi Prkl said…
Nice piece of history. I like your photo.
16 August 2023 at 15:02
Tom said…
...I have seen similar building here, but never knew much about them, thanks!
16 August 2023 at 23:55
William Kendall said…
Well worth preserving.
17 August 2023 at 02:39
Sallie (FullTime-Life) said…
Really neat to see the historical photo next to the one from now -- I'm glad they saved it and that it has a new and good use. Very interesting read too. Thank you!
18 August 2023 at 13:43
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