Signal Box, Stanley Village

Description

A signal box is the railway equivalent of today’s air traffic control tower found at airports. The Trinidad Government Railways (TGR) once had 17 signal boxes at various locations across the rail network, operated by a staff of 66 signalmen. Today there is only one signal box left in Trinidad at a place now called Stanley village which is located about a quarter of a mile north east of the old sugar factory at Usine Sainte Madeleine (about five miles east of San Fernando). The signal box is popularly known, by those who know of it, as “Stanleyville Box” and it was built soon after the Cipero Tramway, established in 1849, was taken over by the Trinidad Government Railway in 1912. Located on the ground next to the box is an old iron lever once used to switch lines and signals. The old lever still bears the title of its UK manufacturing company, Tyer & Co London & Carlisle and date of installation, 1913. Text by Glen Beadon Photos by Sharon Burford