South Maitland Railway - Safeworking

Safeworking

Upon the opening of the Aberdare Railway to Cessnock signal boxes were located at: East Greta Junction, East Greta, Aberdare Junction, Stanford Merthyr, Weston, Abermain and Cessnock. The signals & lever frames etc. were built by McKenzie and Holland. Safeworking on the single track line was by electric staff. Upon duplication of the main line safeworking was provided by Tyers 3 wire block instruments, which were later replaced by Tyers 1 wire, 3 position instruments. The Stanford branch was worked by electric staff from Aberdare Junction. During duplication an additional signal box was opened at Neath. Additional signal boxes were later opened at Mt Dee, Bee Siding, Aberdare South Junction, Aberdare Central Junction and Bellbird Junction on the main line, and Kalingo Junction on the Kalingo branch. The Bellbird branch from Bellbird Junction to Bellbird Colliery, and the Pelton branch from Bellbird Colliery to Pelton were worked by electric staff instruments. From 1942 the Kalingo branch was worked by electric staff instruments from Bellbird Junction to Kalingo Junction. All the remaining branches worked by the South Maitland Railways were worked by ordinary train staff. The colliery branch lines were worked by the "one engine in steam" system.

By 1976 with the downturn in traffic signal boxes remained only at East Greta Junction, Weston, Neath and Caledonia. The double track had been cut back to Caledonia in 1973 with the closure of the lines to Cessnock station & Maitland Main Colliery; the electric staff instruments for the Bellbird branch were transferred to Caledonia signal box. On 27 November 1982 Weston Signal box closed. This was soon followed by the end of double track working on 7 December 1982 when the down line was taken out of use. Electric staff working was then used between East Greta Junction and Neath, and between Neath and Caledonia. Caledonia signal box closed from 10 June 1983 and the section from Neath to Pelton was then worked by Ordinary Train Staff, this was changed to Ordinary Train Staff and Ticket from 18 December 1984. Neath Signal box closed 3 September 1996 leaving the entire branch from East Greta Junction to Pelton worked as a single section by Ordinary Train Staff and Ticket. The signal box at East Greta Junction remains open.