The first of these three images was taken on 30th May 1959 and shows Norton East signal box box in virtually original condition as built (1870). The brick chimney stack is at the back of the box and the frame inside is along the wall adjacent to the track. During the winter of 1959/1960, a major internal reorganisation occurred in which the frame was relocated to the back of the box. This required a new site for the chimney stack, which was now shifted to the wall nearest to Norton Station. In the second picture dated 5th March 1960, a temporary exit for the stack is seen, which passed through the window. Image three shows the box as it was in April 1961. The ventilator is intact and the chimney now emerges from the roof. Photographs and information courtesy of David P Williams. 
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
A HISTORIC railway signal box in Stockton has been granted Grade II status by English Heritage as part of its Heritage Plan project.
Norton East signal box dates back to the 19th century and is one of the last surviving examples of its kind. Located at Norton East junction in Stockton-on-Tees, the signal box is one of two in the Borough from 1870 – the other is located at Norton South.
Signal boxes are small huts or cabins provided for men operating railway signals. From the 1840s they were often located on raised platforms with levers to operate signals and were built in a variety of different designs and sizes to meet traffic needs.
The Grade II listing now recognises Norton East as having special architectural and historic interest. English Heritage, the Government’s statutory adviser on the historic environment responsible for the allocation of listing grade, set out a range of reasons as to why the signal box now deserved listed status.
Norton East is a very rare surviving example of a typical form of signal box, with its gable wall facing the railway tracks. Although the signal box retains many of its original features, a projecting side extension was added as a characteristic building modification, of which the signal box is the last known example to survive.
Norton East Signal Box still has its original timber windows and has not been modernised internally, keeping its inside unchanged from the days of steam locomotives. With only the external timber steps replaced with steel, the signal box also has its original porch intact and is otherwise untouched.
The listing means the signal box will now be protected and remain in place as a mark of the region’s railway heritage and to showcase its historical value.
Councillor Mike Smith, Stockton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Transport, said: “We have a rich railway history which we are very proud of, so to have not one but two historical signal boxes in the Borough is fantastic.
“We are thrilled Norton East signal box has been recognised for its historical and architectural value with such a prestigious grade listing. The Grade II listing now means that even though the signal box is no longer used, it will be protected so people can enjoy it for many more years.”
It may have been elevated to grade 2 status but in the early sixties this was a horrible signal box to work in, a paraffin lamp the only source of light and a small coal stove with a little oven on top the only form of heating and cooking,and just to make things worse this was a 2 shift signal box which meant that the stove had to be lit each morning and usually took until 9 o clock to warm the cabin through, and to be able to make a cup of tea,all this combined with draughty windows door and floor boards made this especially in winter a place you would rather not be,then of course there was no water supply so you had to walk when there was a lull in branch traffic to norton west for water then carry it back, no car of course. I can’t remember many signal men that did it was either a bike or if you could afford one a motor bike, people have this romantic idea of a signal box of being a warm and comfortable place to work but most of them were quite primitive, I know some people yearn for “the good old days ” but believe you me when I see the conditions signallers work in today with their central heating, modern cooking facilities, double glazing etc, I know which I would have rather worked in. This is much the same as the drivers of the steam engines which in reality were filthy cold beasts, ask them in their modern diesel engines which they prefer and I know what the answer will be, so yes preserve these old places and things as part of our heritage and growing up with them but don’t think they were better.
Can I ask where this Signal box is? I have a photo of my Great Great grandfather working in one of the Norton Boxes at the turn of the last century but have no record of where it was ? I can supply said photo if it helps ..Thanks in advance, Gary.
Norton East was just off Junction Road where Kew Gardens are now. If you email the photo to Picture Stockton I think I would be able to identify the box, it would also be interesting to see your great great grandad.
Thank you Gordon – A message with photo has been duly sent .. You appear to be very knowledgable where the local railways are concerned, Thanks !!
Just seen comments on signal boxes at Morton station. I lived in Calf Fallow Lane in the early 1950s. I often spent time as a young child in both signal boxes, no health and safety then. At the age of 5 much to my parents concern I climbed the signal tower and worried them greatly trying to get me down.
Happy days.
Think you may well be correct re:Matisa tamping machine Gordon. If it was 30th May 1959, it would be a Saturday. Perhaps with traffic being a little lighter than on weekdays they were doing a bit of maintenance and adjustment on the curve.
Always a pleasure to see these images of the local railway scene, recorded as it was, by D.P.Williams. I hope he has many more to share with us.
The vehicle in the first photo looks like a moterised Wickham type trolley used by Permanent Way staff for getting around and easily man-handled off the tracks.
It appears to be a self-propelled track maintenance trolley as as used by rail maintenance gangs.
It looks, as far as I can make out, an old Matisa used for lifting and packing the track – Anon will probably tell you better than me including the day and date it was.
What is the vehicle (for want of a better word) beyond the ‘box in the first picture?
My Mam (Doris Bowron nee Arnold) worked this signal box during the war. Mam & Dad’s marriage certificate shows Dad’s occupation as “Signaller RN” and Mam’s as “Signaller LNER”.