Exeter West Signal Box

Exeter West Signal Box Welcome to the official page of the Exeter West Group. For opening times and details about how to find us, please visit: https://www.crewehc.co.uk/

Independently owned, but housed as an attraction at Crewe Heritage Centre, Exeter West Signal Box is unique in being the largest preserved mechanical signal box in full working order. Visitors are able to see what life was like in such a big, busy signal box during the last days of steam. Removed from Exeter when it closed in 1985, Exeter West has been restored so that visitors can see a full simu

lated operation of a 1960 summer weekday, summer holiday Saturday or summer Sunday. Volunteers undertake the simulations using either a manual simulator or one based on a 'laptop' computer. Signalmen are always happy to explain the complexities of what is going on and any other questions regarding railway signalling. As well as all of its original, working equipment, Exeter West also houses a series of displays explaining how various items of signalling equipment worked (by means of interactive displays,) and also tells something of the story of railways in the Devon city. The signal box is Open when the Crewe Heritage Centre is open, a visit is included in your admission ticket to the Center.

An up service leaving Central.
05/02/2025

An up service leaving Central.

Exeter Central with the resignalling in full swing.
27/01/2025

Exeter Central with the resignalling in full swing.

A view of some of the home signals at Exeter West
16/01/2025

A view of some of the home signals at Exeter West

Don’t forget our latest video is available to watch on YouTube. This 1 hour long video continues from our first video ti...
11/01/2025

Don’t forget our latest video is available to watch on YouTube. This 1 hour long video continues from our first video titled: “A night in west box”. The video starts off showing the quieter part of the shift but progresses into a very action-packed session of shunting and running movements.

Part 1 of a 4 part series of videos showing Exeter West signal box being worked to the 1960 Summer weekday working timetable. Steam locomotive hauled trains ...

Here we have a pair of Panniers banking a cement train up the bank.
15/12/2024

Here we have a pair of Panniers banking a cement train up the bank.

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to operate our signal box? With the Heritage Centre and the box closing to the pub...
25/10/2024

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to operate our signal box? With the Heritage Centre and the box closing to the public from November, now’s your chance.
We hold training sessions every Saturday throughout the winter. Our friendly training team can take you through the basics from lever handling all the way to achieving full operator status, at your own pace. Interested?

To book a place mail our Training Officer at [email protected] as soon as possible, letting him know your availability.

Remember, you have to be an EWG member to operate the signal box, so join up if you haven’t done so already!
For membership details and applications contact: [email protected]

Ready for today's visitors.
20/10/2024

Ready for today's visitors.

Here we have Exeter West in 1983.
02/08/2024

Here we have Exeter West in 1983.

16/07/2024

Due to sudden changes at the Crewe Heritage Centre, we are saddened to announce that
Both the Crewe Heritage Centre and the signal box will be CLOSED on Sunday 14 July.

The box will therefore be open additionally on Wednesdays 24 July, 7, 21 and 28 August and 30 October (when entry to the Centre will be free of charge).

Here we have a different view shewing a pair of class 33's heading up the bank to Exeter Central with the west box in th...
22/06/2024

Here we have a different view shewing a pair of class 33's heading up the bank to Exeter Central with the west box in the background.

Here we have with permission shewing signals 20, 21, 60, 61, 62, 76 and 78.
27/05/2024

Here we have with permission shewing signals 20, 21, 60, 61, 62, 76 and 78.

All ready for today's visitors.
27/04/2024

All ready for today's visitors.

Fellow volunteer Will is giving some visitors a chat about how it all works 😁
01/04/2024

Fellow volunteer Will is giving some visitors a chat about how it all works 😁

We are open! Fancy having a go on our lever frame, why not pop down to the Crewe Heritage Centre, and pay us a visit?
01/04/2024

We are open! Fancy having a go on our lever frame, why not pop down to the Crewe Heritage Centre, and pay us a visit?

Starting on the up at St Davids with middle box in the background.
28/03/2024

Starting on the up at St Davids with middle box in the background.

Some entries from Middle box from 1982.
30/01/2024

Some entries from Middle box from 1982.

We are pleased to announce that our latest video (part 1 of 4) has just been released on YouTube. This video is 1 hour l...
28/01/2024

We are pleased to announce that our latest video (part 1 of 4) has just been released on YouTube. This video is 1 hour long and shows the signal box busy with shunting movements on a summer's night, working to the 1960 working timetable.
Audio recordings of trains and locomotives at work have been included in the video to enhance the viewer's experience.
We hope you enjoy our latest video!

Part 1 of a 4 part series of videos showing Exeter West signal box being worked to the 1960 Summer weekday working timetable. Steam locomotive hauled trains ...

Here we have a train on the down approaching Exeter Riverside just after East box had closed.
11/01/2024

Here we have a train on the down approaching Exeter Riverside just after East box had closed.

Address

Crewe
CW12DB

Opening Hours

10am - 4pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Exeter West Signal Box posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Museum

Send a message to Exeter West Signal Box:

Shortcuts

Share