This remarkably solid and imposing box
was located near Alloa on the relatively unimportant line between Stirling and
Dunfermline. Cambus Junction was one of the last to be built to this North
British Railway design (in 1903) which had been in use since as far back as
1873 although other designs had also been used during that period. The practice
of providing sash windows with large pillars between is not common elsewhere,
although the South Eastern Railway adopted similar features in their all-wood
boxes like Edenbridge.
The box controlled a small station with associated sidings, two level crossings and a single-line branch to Alva. By the time of this photograph (1981), the main line had been singled and a token exchange landing can be seen at the foot of the signal box stairs.
The
original 40-lever Stevens frame was replaced during World War 2 by one of fifty
levers to cater for control an expanded layout. The frame seen in this
photograph is, though, of 55 levers and is probably a further replacement as
features such as the coffin-lid lever badges, and the plastic sleeves on the
lever handles, are generally only found on post-war installations. It is likely
this was provided in connection with the expansion of Alloa yard, the outlet of
which was controlled by motor points.