A photograph of the signal box at Station Road/Calf Fallow Lane level crossing adjacent to Norton Station (now demolished).
Photograph and details courtesy of Bob Harbron.
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
A photograph of the signal box at Station Road/Calf Fallow Lane level crossing adjacent to Norton Station (now demolished).
Photograph and details courtesy of Bob Harbron.
Some family names I remember from the bottom end of Station Road in the 1950s and early 60s is Davison, Wilton, Gardiner, Michinson and Raw.
I was trained as a signalman in the Norton Station box by three wonderful responsible gentlemen, I learned a lot form the three regular signalmen who worked the shifts, 6-2, 2-10 and the 10-6 nightshift. I was given my own box, Belasis Lane a few days shortly after my 18th birthday on the day I passed the required Block Telegraph exams, largely due to their teaching and guidance.
Due for replacement by 2015 as are the three signal boxes at Norton Junction, two of which date back to C1870.
This is a wonderful old box and I do hope it survives any of the proposed plans to close dozens of boxes in favour of centralisation? It still uses an old manual wheel, just like an old ship’s wheel, to lower and raise the crossing gate! It’s a wonder Will Hay doesn’t work there!
Years ago there was a wooden staircase leading up to the box which was like a magic place to us as youngsters. We probably shouldn’t have been let in. The gates were the old farm gate type and there was a side gate so that people could cross without waiting for the main gates to open especially if they were old or infirm. For the rest there was a bridge which could be used to cross from Station Road to Calf Fallow Lane or to access the platforms from the outside or the up line or down line. The station itself was a warren on the Stockton side but if memory serves me well there was a waiting room on the Hartlepool side which, I think was light and airy due to the window space. I also remember a notice which stated rather grandly I thought “Ambulance Station No. 9.”
Is this the Derek Graham who lived with his mother and brother on Calf Fallow Lane? I used to visit my aunt and uncle Dodds who lived next door to Mrs Graham.
The very same Malcolm, we left CalfFallow Lane in 1965 when they began to pull the houses down. Mum died in 1969 and my brother Paul in 2010.
Gday Derek!- Dave Whitfield here all the way from Australia…we used to play on that railway bridge and wait for the smoke off the steam trains!
Thanks to Bob Harbron records have been kept on important matters concerning Norton. I remember this whole area of Norton well, as I was born in Milner Road. I learned to drive courtesy of Mr Horton of Norton Cement Works on the old circuit around the Cement works. Mr Horton also let us use the firms wooden garage until we could put a new one up at home. These are little things which should be remembered about our village and the friendships formed by such kindness’s. The Horton’s were distraught when they lost their only son Ronnie killed on his bike by a massive lorry. It was also tragic Mary Bottomley also lost her son also killed on his bike in Norton High Street
Ronnie Horton and I used to build wooden aeroplanes from his Dads planks of wood with landing wheels off old prams, small push chair wheels were just bright. Bordom was unheard of in those days when we made our own amusement like playing in the old sand pit next to Walkers field on Junction Road. This field produced the best quality carrots in the area which had sandy ground just right for crop.
I remember Jackson Walker and his son, two good lads, salt of the earth. we used to drink together in the ‘Top House’ (Nellies) when I was a young lad, too young to be in the pub!
Not too old, can see the ‘new’ cricket club pavilion behind! How many hours have I spent watching trains by that signal box?
I used to live at number 7 calfallow Lane. I was aged 9 in 1956 we used to stand on the bridge as the trains went past fun days
My parents lived in the old Station masters house for 30 years, Tom and Jean Ford, there’s a picture of me as a baby with the row of houses on Calf Fallow lane in the background taken around 1966..
Hi Andrew, I used to live in 127 Station Rd and was good friends with your brother Phillip
Hi Andrew , could you please post that picture? Would love to see the cottages. My husbands Grandad was born and grew up at number 5 Calf Fallow Lane.
Fordy!- We used to play together, This is Dave Whitfield, we used to live in Calf Fallow Lane just round the corner from you!! I am now in Australia (last 35 years).. found this site while reminiscing!