Signal Box At South End Of East Platform At Torquay Station

TORQUAY

SX9063 RATHMORE ROAD 885-1/17/3 Signal box at south end of east 01/01/86 platform at Torquay Station

GV II

Railway signal box. 1878, for the Great Western Railway. Snecked rock-faced grey limestone with probably Bathstone dressings including quoins, stringcourse, window frames and chimney stack. Hipped Welsh slate roof with lead rolls to hips and short ridge which has metal ventilator rather like a finial. Over the back wall a large ashlar chimney stack. PLAN: Small building, rectangular on plan. EXTERIOR: Entrance on north end of the ground storey room; steps to entrance above, also on north end of the control box on the first floor which faces the line. The signal box was originally freestanding, but in the mid 1920s the east platform of the station was extended southwards enveloping the base of the signal box. At the front of the first floor and around the sides the superstructure is timber and fenestrated with horizontal sliding sashes with glazing bars, and boarded above, the large stone sill is actually the stringcourse, which continues around the building. At the north end integral with the window is a half-glazed double door approached from C20 timber external stairs which span the wall to the doorway below. Pair of barred windows with stone frames on the south side. HISTORY: The railway line from Newton Abbot to Torquay was built by the South Devon Railway Company in 1848, but only reached Torre Station (qv). The line was extended to Paignton in 1859 when Torquay Station was opened. In 1876 the South Devon Railway was taken over by the Great Western Railway who built this station and signal box in 1878.

Listing NGR: SX9058363397