:Totnes Signal Box
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2017}}
File:Totnes Signal Box - geograph.org.uk - 959953.jpg
File:The Signal box Cafe, Totnes Railway Station - geograph.org.uk - 1382878.jpg
Totnes Signal Box is a Grade II listed former Great Western Railway signal box, located on Totnes railway station. It presently functions as a cafe.
Background
The signals at Totnes railway station were initially controlled by "policemen" who walked to each signal to change it. In 1894 they were controlled from a wooden signal box at the west end of the westbound platform.
Operations
In 1923 the current structure was built to the standard blue brick-built GWR design, located towards the opposite end of the eastbound platform. From 17 December 1973 under British Railways it was downgraded to a "fringe box" to the Panel Signal Box at Plymouth railway station, when the signal boxes at Brent and other intermediate locations were closed. The signal box was closed on 9 November 1987, when new multiple-aspect signals were brought into use, controlled from the new signalling centre at Exeter.{{cite book| last = Oakley| first = Mike| title = Devon Railway Stations| publisher = The Dovecote Press| year = 2007| location = Wimbourne| isbn =978-1-904349-55-6 }}
Present
Now used as a café, it was one of 26 "highly distinctive" signal boxes listed by Ed Davey, minister for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in July 2013, in a joint initiative by English Heritage and Network Rail to preserve and provide a window into how railways were operated in the past.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-23451290|title=Railway signal boxes granted Grade II listed status|publisher=BBC News|date=26 July 2013|accessdate=26 July 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.torquayheraldexpress.co.uk/Totnes-railway-signal-box-granted-Grade-II/story-19569688-detail/story.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130726073437/http://www.torquayheraldexpress.co.uk/Totnes-railway-signal-box-granted-Grade-II/story-19569688-detail/story.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 July 2013|title=Totnes railway signal box is granted Grade II listing|author=HEOVergnault|publisher=Torquay herald & Express|date=25 July 2013|accessdate=26 July 2013}}
References
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{{Coord|50|26|9.75|N|3|41|19.32|W|display=title}}
Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1923
Category:Rail transport in Devon
Category:Great Western Railway