Click here to read the latest copy of the Friends of Romsey Signal Box's Journal, "The Signal".
Older copies of the signal are also available for record purposes:
Click here to read the December 2007 copy.
Click here to read the August 2007 copy.
Click here to read the April 2007 copy.
Click here to read the December 2006 copy.
Click here to read the July 2006 copy.
1. Extensive repairs to the timber structure of the signalbox have been undertaken and exterior painting well underway. This will make the building watertight again, and the repaint will return the box to Southern Railway colour scheme. The picture (below) shows work in progress.
2. The Heritage Open Days on 8th/9th September 2007 were a great success: 182 visitors came onto the site in two days, which is our second highest total ever for a weekend event.
3. Great progress has been made in clearing the site, with the painting of the Pavilion now complete, and restoration of various railway artefacts now undertaken, thanks to the commitment of a small group of members includingClive, Gavin, Rod and others.
4. Full restoration of S&T equipment has been undertaken by Mike Walshaw and the S&T group, transforming the experience of operating the signal box..
5. Construction of our minature signal box, Cowley Bridge Junction, by Alan Johnston and his associates, is now well advanced.
6. Several new active members, both young and not so young, have joined the Friends of Romsey Signal Box. This makes the operation of the signalbox on open days much more effective, and in particular the willingness of some of the new members to undertake work at the site outher than on open days has enabled us to make much more progress that previously experienced!
7. Romsey volunteer Rod Hoyle has published a book of his photographs entitled 'The Atmospheric Southern'. Copies of the book can be purchased from the Signal Box on Open Days - and during most of them there's even the chance to discuss the pictures with Rod in person.
8. Fellow volunteer Stuart Jones has raided his and other people's archives to compile a photographic surveuy of all the main signals that .were standing at Romsey from the 1960s to the demise of the box in the 1980s. This photographic exhibit is now in the pavilion at Romsey and can be seen on Open Days.
9. Further exhibitions and events planned for 2008.
In future, it is planned to update the website at least every time the Newsletter is produced - i.e. three times a year. Watch this space for a full update planned for early December 2007 with pictures!
For those who are interested in the way that the Romsey Signal Box simulation works, we have produced an operational manual.
Click here to download the latest version of the operating instructions for the signalbox.
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The Strongs sign on the signal box site has been fully restored after the receipt of the grant from the Hampshire Brewery during 2004.
We have acquired equipment from Network Rail which should enable us to complete the fitting out of Romsey box. After many years searching, we obtained some rods that were made redundant as part of the Bournemouth re-signalling. Thanks to those who were involved in the authorised "raids", especially Bill Tyndall.
The Friends of Romsey Signal Box have received a grant of £4500 from the National Lottery's "Awards for All" scheme towards the costs of re-building an old wooden pavilion which was donated to the Romsey Heritage Trust and has been stored at the site for some four years now. The erection of the building will be undertaken by voluntary labour, and the funds will permit new materials to be purchased. The Pavilion, when erected, will provide toilet and washing facilities at the site. It will also enable us to provide disabled visitors with the opportunity to see what goes on in the signalbox via a video link, as it is not possible to provide disabled access to the operating floor which is upstairs. The remainder of the space will enable us to improve the information displays currently situated in the old container; and by giving us a larger space we will be better able to accommodate groups of visitors who can't all crowd into the signal box operating floor at once!
The Friends of Romsey Signal Box have just completed the acquisition of another part of Romsey's railway history. 
Through a friend of the Friends, we discovered that one of the old station name boards dating back to the days of the L&SWR (pre-1920s) was for sale, and the owner agreed to sell it to the Friends so that it could join our exhibits at the signal box site. The sign is a classic "running in board" that would have been located at the extreme end of the platforms, so that it was the first sign that would be seen from the carriages of a train as it arrived in the station. The board is in enamelled steel, in two parts, and when assembled is about 2.4m long and 40cm high. The picture shows the board in its current condition, and before it goes on display some restoration work will be done. However, the board will be going to Romsey for the open day in April 2003, so those keen to see the newest acquisition should make sure they get along on Sunday 6th.