Kwinana Signal Box

Statement of Significance

Kwinana Signal Box has rarity value as one of the few surviving signal boxes in Western Australia and representative of those boxes. It demonstrates technological change in signalling methods and its diverse range of surviving equipment increases its rarity value. the place demonstrates technological change in signalling methods and contains a diverse range of technolog ies, in particular the presence of a late 19th century lever frame and the late 20th century computer based electronic panel; the place is representative of the multitude of signal cabins that were once common across the Western Australian Government Railways system; the place has rarity value as it is one of the few surviving signal cabins in WA and the only one still operational; the place has historic links with the development of the Kwinana Industrial Area and with the former Eastern Railway due to its previous location at Koojedda; the place has historic, and rarity, value as it is the only railway site with ten semaphore signal posts in the yard as part of the signalling technology associated with the lever frame as few signals remain around WA in operational condition; the place has landmark value emphasized by its location adjacent to a major road ; and, the place demonstrates a way of life when railway traffic was predominantly other then the bulk traffic carried at the beginning of the twenty-first century .

Physical Description

The Kwinana Signal Box is an elevated structure located in the Kwinana Railway Marshalling Yard, adjacent to the Rockingham Road overpass. It is isolated from other buildings on the site, except for the small buildings housing relays and a standby power unit, which are situated at ground level on the eastern side of the box. Most of the building is clad in asbestos sheets. Exceptions to this are the corrugated fibro-cement sheeting on the north-east and south-east comers and the weatherboard around the stairway. Asbestos, weatherboard and corrugated sheets are all painted cream. The stairway, on the south-west corner, is semi-enclosed. At the upper level there are windows on all sides. Windows on the eastern side were louvred. Louvres are still present in the window at the top of the stairwell and in the toilet. The building has a reverse skillion roof with all around overhang and is constructed of unknown material, most likely asbestos. The eaves are slatted, providing a ventilated space, necessary as the cei ling is very close to the roof. Gutters, and roof edging is painted dark brown. The signal cabin comprises two rooms; the lower floor, called the interlocking room, houses the mechanical and electro-mechanical equipment; the top floor is called the operating floor of the signal cabin. On the top floor is the actual cabin where the signalman on duty carries out his work. Across the stairway from the room is the toilet. Below the windows the interior is lined with brown painted tongue and grooved timber. Centrally located is the 40 lever McKenzie and Holland No. 9 interlocking machine lever frame from Patent No. 4355 originally registered in l 886. The manufacturer 's name is cast into many of the components with both Melbourne and Worchester, England being given as places of manufacture. An unusual feature of the lever frame at Koojedda was the presence of cut­ down lever handles to indicate that such levers activated a switch below the floor, rather than actually being connected to the older style mechanical semaphore signals or heavy points. The semaphore signal posts, one with rail supports dated 1893, remain in the yard. Seven still have signal arms attached. These are controlled by levers in the signal cabin that are connected to rodding. The rodding runs across the rail yard to the signal posts.

History

Assessment 2001 Construction 1959 The Kwinana Railway Marshalling Yard was developed in response to the development of industry in the area. Earthworks for the yard commenced in April 1966 to ensure that the railway was prepared for haulage of iron ore from Koolyanobbing to Kwinana. With the 1966 completion of the standard gauge railway from East Perth to Kalgoorlie that linked the metropolitan area directly to the Eastern States, the old Eastern Railway was made redundant. Koojedda, situated 72 kilometres from Perth along the old line, had, until then, been an important locomotive servicing depot, which included a relatively new signal cabin. The cabin was built there, at a cost of £3,920, in 1959 to replace the original 1936 cabin. The new structure was constructed by Esslemont & Co. to the same design as the new Perth 'A' cabin (which replaced the original Perth 'A' box) adjacent to Melbourne Rd in Perth. Electric lever locks were ordered from the United Kingdom and were attached to the Australian built McKenzie and Holland No. 9 interlocking machine (lever frame design) when it was installed. The lever frame was probably assembled using a mix of new and used components on hand from other signal cabins. The new cabin at Koojedda had been opened on l 4th June 1959 when earlier signals were replaced by a modern three-aspect colour-light signal ling system. On 7th February I 967 the District Engineer was authorised to dismantle the disused Koojedda Signal Cabin, extend the steel frame and re-erect at Kwinana with the necessary alterations. The alterations were the lengthening of the columns supporting the cabin to ensure an unobstructed view over the proposed roadbridge. Completion was required by l 8th March- a period of less than six weeks. When installed at Koojedda, it was estimated by the WAGR that the signal cabin, with its steel frames and asbestos cladding, would have a life of 30 years, the mechanical signalling and interlocking (at a cost of £3,488) would have a life of 40 years whilst the electrical signalling would last 25 years. However, its work at Koojedda was completed after only seven years, so it was still a valuable asset to the WAGR at that time. At Kwinana, the cabin houses a 40 lever McKenzie & Holland No. 9 interlocking lever frame which was augmented by a small 'black-faced' panel. This panel, in use in the 1970s, was itself replaced by the current 'NX' (eNtrance-eXit) route-setting panel, located centrally above the 40 lever frame. Officially the Kwinana Signal Box was known as Kwinana Box 'B' as the title 'A' frame was given to an enclosed ground frame located at the Wellard end of the yard. note: An extended history is held on the National Trust records

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