Although a joint concern belonging to
the Great Central, Great Northern and Midland Railways, the Cheshire Lines
Committee maintained a completely independent policy in respect of signal
boxes, frames and signals. Most boxes built by the CLC prior to 1904 had hipped
roofs (see Mobberley), but Knutsford East was an
oddity in being a gabled cabin. It is thought to actually be a modified version
of the Stevens & Sons design, a small example of which is illustrated at
Grain Crossing.
When first opened, the box was named "Knutsford", the suffix being added when the West box opened on 8th September 1889.
Knutsford East contained a 20-lever frame of Stevens & Sons' design which dated from the opening of the box in 1886.
An interesting gem to be found on the
end of the platform at Knutsford was this CLC miniature arm shunting signal. It
originally had two arms, reading Up Main to Down Main or to Up Sidings and had
been controlled by a ground frame. Later alterations saw the lower arm removed,
and the top arm controlled by lever 9 at Knutsford East, reading to the Up
Sidings.