Twilight Years
by Richard Denyer
Title
Twilight Years
Artist
Richard Denyer
Medium
Photograph - Digital Photography
Description
The Photo: This is a Kodachrome Slide Film Image. I projected it onto a flat white screen and rephotographed it using a Digital Camera. The original photograph was taken in 1976 so it is 39 years old. The camera used was a Russian Zorki Rangefinder 35mm Camera. Despite the age of the slide the colour has remained fairly constant and gives a very atmospheric image of a signalbox in the evening of it's life. I have not adjusted the image in any way
The Subject: Bedford Junction Signal Box was situated to the south end of the slow lines at Bedford Midland Road Station UK. Bedford is on the Midland Main Line and in the days prior to modernisation was only served by the slow lines, the fast lines by passing Bedford to the west. Bedford Junction controlled the extensive goods yards, carriage sidings, fuelling points and the Branch to Bedford Johns and the Bedford to Bletchley Branch. During the day and evening it was an extremely busy Signal Box not only with passing and terminating trains but also with many shunting movements. The 'Box frame and block instruments were badly positioned and the 'Box was in quite poor condition - it was hard work in there and not that popular a Signal Box with staff.
In the modernisation and electrification of the line in 1982 Bedford Midland Road Station was completely demolished and repositioned so as to be served by both the fast and slow lines, the yards, buildings and track infrastructure including the Signal Box, disappeared and now nothing remains of this once busy existence. Note once again the large spotlight on the box wall for recording train reporting numbers and the obligatory floor mop hanging on the balcony near the door to dry.
Uploaded
March 2nd, 2015
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