Last Saturday, 26th April, three manual signal boxes in the south of England at Farncombe, Petersfield, and Haslemere marked their imminent retirement by signalling a steam-hauled train through their area.

This was a moment of railway history as it was the last time that the signal boxes, located between Farncombe in Surrey and Petersfield in Hampshire, would signal a steam train.

The train was hauled by Merchant Navy Class No. 35028 Clan Line, on the first leg of a nine-day tour of the UK by the Great Britain XVII rail tour.

On this first day of the tour, the train travelled between London Victoria and Bristol via Haslemere, Southampton, and Salisbury.

Later this year, the signalling systems between Farncombe and Petersfield will be upgraded, and control will be transferred from the three signal boxes to the Rail Operating Centre (ROC) at Basingstoke.

The retirement of the three signal boxes is part of wider upgrades to the line between London and Portsmouth, and the replacement of the existing signalling systems by new digital signalling technology.

The upgraded signalling will make services more reliable and enable the capacity of the line to be increased to allow operation of more and faster train services.

After signalling systems from Farncombe, Petersfield, and Haslemere signal boxes have been transferred to the Basingstoke ROC, they will be decommissioned.

However, Haslemere signal box, which has been signalling trains since 1895, will still have a future as it will be converted into a small museum to be run by the Haslemere Community Station and Signal Box Trust.

The last steam train through Haslemere was signalled by Ashley Hillier, a signaller at Network Rail, who commented that it was an honour to be part of this fantastic piece of history and to get to take part and to cherish that in his memories. It was fantastic and he was very, very, proud.

“We are determined to preserve the Haslemere Signal Box as an educational facility for future generations to enjoy and celebrate the railway’s heritage in this year of Railway 200. We would like to thank NR for their constructive support in our endeavour, and look forward to being able to open the signal box up to the public in the very near future.”

Ken Griffiths, Chairman of the Haslemere Community Station and Signal Box Trust