The old Petone Station was west of the Petone Railway Workshops. The line was single, with safeworking by tablet from 1901. May have been Winter's Block prior to 1901. I have not found a diagram.

In 1905 a new station was built to the east of the Petone Railway Workshops on the present site and the line double tracked. Lock & Block was installed; the Lower Hutt - Kaiwharawhara section was commissioned in 1909. No diagram found. To see how Petone *may* have been signalled in 1905 go to my Lower Hutt Signalling History page where there is a 1905 diagram.

Automatic signalling with three-position upper quadrant semaphores was installed, replacing lock & block. The text of S & I 377 contains some interesting informatiion about the operation of the various signal cabins in the area. Petone was a switchout signal cabin.

S & I 460. Cannot find a copy. Was this S & I issued for the closure of the Petone Workshops in the 1920s?

A new S&I diagram was probably issued because of the introduction of the Prepare to Reduce to Medium Speed indication and other changes at Lower Hutt. Semaphore symbols changed. Shunting line to Petone Junction shown - the Petone Workshops had been closed in the 1920s. North now at left-hand side of diagram. Note the use of a dummy lower arm rather than a marker light. Petone was a switchout signal cabin. Motor operated single slip installed at 16 points.

22 Up Main Starter converted to two-arm semaphore and can display the new Prepare to Reduce to Medium Speed indication. Semaphores at Petone Junction replaced by ground lights; I think that this may have been when the upper quadrant semaphores between Kaiwharawhara and Petone were replaced by colour lights - but I have not yet obtained all relevant S & Is. Petone was a Switchout signal cabin.

Colour light signals replaced semaphores but the old box remained. Normal for signals was clear. Was this the start of the project to commission a new signal box? Petone Junction Cabin replaced with switchlocked siding. Signals were equipped with A-lights and Petone remained a Switch Out signal cabin. Mechanically operated points but colour light signals.

New signal box commissioned, with change in designation from cabin to box. Petone became a permanent signal box. The text of S & I 665 is much less informative than earlier diagrams. A-lights removed. Motor points installed on main line points. Signals & points renumbered. Normal for signals is changed to Stop.

S & I issued because of singling of Melling Branch. Hutt Road level crossing now closed. 43 points changes - one set of points worked by rod. Permanent signal box.

S & I 1444. Electrical detection of hand points in yard. Automatic signal numbers metricated. Changes in West sidings - rod operation of 43 and 41 points eliminated. Permanent signal box.

A-lights installed and Petone became a switchout signalbox. North and South on diagram reversed - Wellington is now on the left. 11B co-acting signal added.

Co-acting 11BB shunt signal removed. 11B combines the functions of 11A and 11B. East siding A and Gear Siding (south) removed. Gear Siding (north) connection rearranged - connected to East Siding rather than Goods siding. Telephone changes on up platform. Shunt signal removed. Switchout signalbox.

S & I 2142 not found. Was this S & I issued when the Petone yard was lifted but the suburban siding (platform 3) remained in use? I recall an instruction in the WTT specifying that two freight trains a day use the siding to de-rust it. Switchout signalbox.

North end cross-over removed. Switchout signalbox.