Signals that Appear to Have No Function.  In 2010 very little remains of the once extensive interlocking at Petone. The Down Advanced Starting and Up Outer Home signals exist because there were once crossovers and other track structures in this area. Similarly, 74 Down Directing once protected a cross-over.

Branch Signalling.  All signals except 78 Down Directing from Branch have been removed from the branch. Track circuiting has also been removed. Indications on the diagram turn on and off depending on the order of occupancy of track circuits and the setting of 48 points.

1874.  A single line railway from Wellington reached Petone. The alignment was to the west of the present track, approximately on the alignment of the Western Hutt Road (SH2).

1898.  Signals had been installed by 1898 as this Evening Post story about a large bush fire demonstrates. The Koro-koro bridge is that over the stream at the south end, opposite what is now Cornish St.

During yesterday the railway signals near the Koro- Koro bridge could not be seen for smoke, and trains had to be slowed down until they were clear of the smoke. (E. Post 13th Jan 1898).

1905.   The line from Lower Hutt to Petone was duplicated and moved to the east - onto the current alignment. A new station (the third), designed by Troup, was built. A signal box was built at the northern end of the up platform (date to be confirmed). (E Post 24 July P5 & 26 July P6 1905).

1940.  Western Hutt Road constructed west of the railway between the Petone and Normandale crossings. (E Post 11 Oct 1940 P4).

1952.  The present signal box was opened as part of the project to electrify the railway to Upper Hutt.

1958.  The Hutt Valley Junction to Lower Hutt section was singled and control of the branch and Lower Hutt station transferred to the Petone signal box.

1975.   Petone became a switch-out signal box.

1980s?.   Petone and Lower Hutt yards closed.

(Above)   The site of the Petone yard is being converted to a commuter carpark. The signal box windows have been painted to reduce the glasshouse effect.

1986. Off peak Melling services cancelled. Box switched in peak hours only.

2004 Off-peak Melling services reinstated, requiring the box to be switched in from 0615 to 1900 hours, Monday to Friday.

2009.  Switched in from 0445 - 2330. Evening and early morning trains replaced by buses Petone - Wellington for overhead upgrade. Also during second half of 2010.

2008 - 2010.  Regularly switched in at weekends for BOLs between Petone and Wellington. Part of WRRP (Wellington Regional Rail Project).

The Control Machine.  In the 1950s personal computers were science fiction. The panel on the first floor is the equivalent of a GUI, controlling the relay logic on the ground floor.

The Relay Room.  View some interesting items of 1940s technology.

The Building.  The Hornby Dublo style reinforced concrete building is one of only a few standalone signal boxes extant in 2010.

Managing the Junction.   A variety of factors must be considered when deciding priorities at the junction.

Blocking.   19th century technology is used in the 21st century to protect track workers and also vehicles that may not operate track circuits.

Signalling Peculiarites.  In certain situations the branch indicator lights can show Occupied when there isn't a train on the branch. Conversely, the lights can show Not Occupied when there is a train on the branch.

Replacing Indicator Bulbs.  The indicators on the panel diagram and on the desk use 12v ??ma bulbs. This page explains how they are changed when they fail.

Petone Signals.   A photo gallery.

Paperwork.  Examples of paperwork including 1975 and 2009 train registers and train advices sent by telegram.

Reversing EMUs.  When there is a Block of Line south of Petone EMUs reverse at 38 points. I explain the reversing move.

Signalling History.  Diagrams explain the signalling layouts at Petone Station (excluding Hutt Valley Junction) from 1922 to the present day.

Interlocking in 1975.  Study the once extensive interlocking controlled from the Petone Signal Box.

Timetable.  Trains signalled by the Petone signalman in 2007. I also make some observations about the timetable.

Before and After.   "Aerial" photographs of the Petone Station/Signal Box and yard site before and after the D2P road project.

Miscellaneous.  Items that do not need a full page - or I am not motivated to create the page!

ANZAC Memorial Flagstaff. An essay by Petone historian Gerald Davidson about the memorial flagpole outside Petone Station.

Relay Circits. I explain the relay circuits used to implement approach and back locking.

Interlocking The Junction. I explain the logic behind the interlocking of Melling Junction. The Petone control tables for circa 1993 can be downloaded and I also explain how unusual running can lock points, requiring them to be hand wound.

Local Instructions

L824 (Cancelled by L71)

Petone L71 1975

L330 (Cancelled by L357)

Petone L357 2001

Petone September 2011

L357 refers to special Working Timetable instructions for working on the Branch. The 2009 version of these instructions can be viewed here. These special instructions would probably have been issued when signalling was removed from the Branch, sometime between 1983 and 1996 (an S&I is missing).

For future use

For future use