One Day in Severn

A day in the life of Shrewsbury’s Severn Bridge Junction Signal Box.

Europe’s largest surviving mechanical signal box is seen here as never before - on video. This is the most comprehensive railway video production ever undertaken. We employed a multi-camera outside broadcast unit for “LIVE” continuity. Shot on the 30th June 1990, a busy summer Saturday, there is plenty of action to witness.

The program starts with a thorough description of the area controlled by the box and looks inside all three fringe boxes as well. HTV presenter Arfon Haines Davies then discusses events as they happen ‘live’ with the Area Movements Inspector Bernard Hitch. The program is divided into three main sessions: one in the morning and two in the afternoon. There are original DMU’s and Sprinters as well as class 37s & 47s. The star attraction is steam loco “Duke of Gloucester” passing through on a rail-tour.