Signal box prefix codes

A (hopefully) comprehensive listing

'Boxes beginning G

Last update 18 November 2023

Additional information is always gratefully received, whether entirely new records (particularly historical records) or information to fill in gaps or correct errors, via the contact link under the Miscellaneous entry in the navigation bar above. Thank you.

Please select a starting letter from the links below:

Code Signal Box Note ELRMileage Opened Closed Control to
G Gaer Temporary panel SWM2159m 34ch 27 November 1961 9 December 1962 Newport (N)
GN Gaerwen Formerly named Gaerwen No 1. At least two distant signals CNH3245m 09ch 1882
Gaerwen No 1 See Gaerwen
GC Gainsborough Central Closed, reopened ≈19 January 1994 MAC374m 30ch 1885
LR Gainsborough Lea Road Burnt down 11 February 2009, some functions taken over by Gainsborough Trent Junction (TJ) 15 February 2009 SPD398m 03ch 18 November 1895 4 January 2014 Lincoln Control Centre (LG)
TJ Gainsborough Trent Junction MAC373m 24ch 11 October 1964 (planned)✖delayed from 10 June 2013 Lincoln Control Centre (LG) (planned)
G Galashiels Code used from 1937 ETC33m 48ch 10 January 1937 27 April 1969 Line closed, controlled by Edinburgh (EMB) on reopening
G Garden Street Code possibly not carried MAC3109m 27ch 1881 26 September 1993 Pasture Street (P)
G Garforth HUL412m 73ch 10 November 1984 Peckfield (P)
D Down line automatic signals
U Up line automatic signals
GD Garngad SGN1m 25ch 9 April 2011 25 February 1968 Yoker (YS)
Garnqueen North Junction SCM397m 05ch ≈1890 1 May 1999 Cowlairs [new] (CN)
G Garsdale SAC256m 55ch 1910
Garston Church Road SCR24m 00ch 1969 13 June 1993 Speke Junction (SE)
GJ Garston Junction Destroyed by fire 7 July 2003 SCR23m 47ch 1908 10 April 2006 Speke Junction (SE)
Gartcosh GHE97m 06ch 12 May 1899 1 May 1999 Cowlairs [new] (CN)
GS Gartsherrie South Junction SCM395m 64ch 20 December 1903 1 May 1999 Motherwell (MG)
GW Gascoigne Wood MGW6m 27ch 1908
G
B Gascoigne Wood down sidings Discharge bunker signals HUL3
C Calling on signals
also had draw-ahead signals in colliery sidings lettered A to E (sometimes referred to as SA to SE), with no number
GF Gas Factory Junction FSS12m 52ch 1886 12 June 1961 Upminster IECC (UR)
G Gateshead PLG20m 05ch 9 December 1962 12 April 1991 Tyneside (T)
D Down direction automatic signals
R Banner repeater signals
U Up direction automatic signals
Gatwick See Gatwick Airport
CM Gatwick Airport Named Gatwick to ≈1 June 1936 then Gatwick Racecourse to 25 May 1958 VTB326m 50ch 1907 26 April 1978 Three Bridges (CL)
CA Automatic signals
Gatwick Racecourse See Gatwick Airport
G Geneva DSN1≈1m 16ch 13 May 1972 Darlington (D)
GC Gerrards Cross Named Gerrards Cross West to 11 November 1923. Code used by 8 February 1953 NAJ27m 33ch 1905 11 August 1990 Marylebone [new] (ME)
Gerrards Cross West See Gerrards Cross
GH Gibbet Hill LSC2 December 1972 Coventry (CY)
GP Gidea Park LTN113m 63ch 1931 23 August 1997 Liverpool Street [new] (L)
DL Down local line automatic signals
DT Down through line automatic signals
UL Up local line automatic signals
UT Up through line automatic signals
Gidea Park EMU Sidings LTN113m 75ch 7 December 1997 5 February 2018 Liverpool Street [new] (L)?
G Gilberdyke Junction HUL117m 07ch 1903 23 November 2018✖last train; official closure 26 November 2018, delayed from 3 April 2018 York Rail Operating Centre (GH/SG/TG)
GM Gillingham [Dorset] Downgraded to ground frame 27 February 2012: line controlled by Basingstoke Signalling Control Centre (SE) BAE2105m 23ch 28 April 1957
GH Unclear whether code used
ES Gillingham A [Kent] VIR35m 78ch 6 May 1913 inspection date 21 January 1973 Gillingham [Kent] (ET)
Gillingham B [Kent] See Gillingham [Kent]
ET Gillingham [Kent] Named Gillingham B to 21 January 1973 VIR36m 15ch 1913 29 March 2016✖delayed from 3 April 2015 East Kent Signalling Centre (EK)
A Automatic signals
CFC Gipsy Hill Code used from 2 April 1969. Three signals only BBJ7m 71ch 1881 13 July 1969 Victoria Signalling Centre (VC)
GV Girvan Named Girvan No 2 to 11 November 1973. Code used from 2002 STR20m 18ch 26 March 1893
Girvan No 2 See Girvan
Glaisdale MBW2≈26m 50ch 1902 20 August 1989 Nunthorpe (N)
G Glasgow Central Code used from 1961 AYR10m 02ch WCM2101m 54ch 2 January 1961 27 December 2008 West Of Scotland Signalling Centre (G/GG/GS)
GR Banner repeater signals
T G Some shunt signals: 'T' indicates telephone present see this sketch
Glasshoughton Colliery Had draw-ahead signals in colliery sidings lettered A to C, with no number
GC Glasshouse Crossing PED26m 48ch 20 July 1981 Barnsley (BY)
G
GE Glazebrook East MAJ24m 60ch 1961
G Glencraig Junction CWH329m 29ch 21 April 1896 10 May 1981 Edinburgh (ET)
GN Glendon North Junction SPC374m 77ch 8 May 1904 5 December 1987 Leicester (LR)
GW Glenwhilly Code used from 2002 STR220m 70ch 1905
G Gloucester BAG292m 69ch 25 May 1968 (unknown dates) in part West Midlands Signalling Centre (BA) in part Wales Rail Operating Centre (CF) in part
DC Down Charfield line automatic signals
DG Down goods line automatic signals
DK Down Kemble line automatic signals
DM Down main line automatic signals
GL Signals controlling crossings supervised by Lydney gate box
GP Signals controlling crossings supervised by Pirton gate box. Code used by 1986
GU Up direction signals on down main/down Charfield lines
UA Up avoiding line automatic signals
UC Up Charfield line automatic signals
UK Up Kemble line automatic signals
UM Up main line automatic signals
ES Gloucester Engine Shed Junction CHL92m 30ch 22 February 1942 26 May 1968 Gloucester (G)
CY Gloucester Road Junction VTB19m 59ch 21 March 1954 7 April 1984 Three Bridges [new] (T)
GN Gobowen North WSJ2189m 57ch 1884
GE Godley East Junction HAJ8m 75ch December 1906 10 October 1971 Godley Junction (GJ)/ Mottram No 1 (M1)
GJ Godley Junction HAJ8m 31ch by 1916 7 December 1984 Dinting (DG)
G Godnow Bridge Gate box: line controlled by Doncaster (D). Believed code not carried DOW14m 08ch 1886 15 August 2000 Godnow Bridge [new] (G)
G Godnow Bridge [new] Gate box: line controlled by Doncaster (D). Believed code not carried DOW14m 08ch 15 August 2000
GD Godstone RTT28m 14ch 1893 31 May 1986 Three Bridges [new] (T) (Retained as a ground frame)
GS Ground frame code
GS Golborne Station CGJ5≈1m 40ch 30 September 1972 Warrington (WN)
GM Gomshall Code used on one signal for 11 days in 1980 whilst control passed to Shalford (WY) and Betchworth (BW) RSJ35m 17ch 26 October 1941 6 November 1980 Shalford (WY)/ Betchworth (BW)
G Goodmayes LTN19m 36ch 26 September 1949 29 March 1997 Liverpool Street [new] (L)
DE Down electric line automatic signals
DM Down main line automatic signals
UE Up electric line automatic signals
G Goole Named Boothferry Road to 19 January 1975 TJG26m 51ch 1909 York Rail Operating Centre (GP/TG) (planned)
BR Code when named Boothferry Road
D Down line automatic signals
R Shunt signals
E Goole Engine Shed WAG173m 52ch WAG20m 64ch WAG373m 52ch ≈25 May 1980 Goole Engine Shed [temporary] (E)
E Goole Engine Shed [temporary] Temporary 'box on opposite side of line to previous, damaged, one WAG173m 52ch WAG20m 64ch WAG373m 52ch ≈25 May 1980 19 October 1980 Goole (G)
GB Goole Swing Bridge Britain's first panel 'box (1933), predating Thirsk. Temporary closure 2 October 2010 to 13 November 2010 TJG25m 08ch August 1869
D Down direction automatic signals
U Up direction automatic signals
G Goonbarrow Junction NEW287m 40ch 1909
G Goose Hill Junction MVN250m 31ch TJC3184m 56ch 2 October 1988 Wakefield Kirkgate (K)
GJ Code reported probably in error
G Gordon Hill HDB9m 55ch 4 April 1910 4 July 1976 Kings Cross (K)
GS Goring & Streatley Code used by 1953 MLN144m 47ch January 1892 9 May 1965 Reading (R)
GG Goring By Sea BLI113m 10ch 1900 25 June 1988 Lancing (LG)
G Gorgie Junction SUB20m 49ch 14 December 1897 15 December 1975 Haymarket [temporary panel] (EH)
G Gorton Junction HAJ2m 43ch c. July 1906 6 May 1984 Ashburys (AS)
GO Gosberton SPD149m 13ch 6 March 1882 19 March 2012 Gosberton [new] (SL)
G
SL Gosberton [new] Spalding to Lincoln section SPD149m 26ch 19 March 2012 11 August 2014✖delayed from 30 December 2013 Lincoln Control Centre (SL)
GO Gospel Oak BOK21m 12ch 18 August 1985 27 February 2011 Upminster IECC (NL)
G Goswick Code used from 10 April 1960 ECM760m 67ch 28 March 1982✖delayed from 15 March 1981 Tweedmouth (T)
D Down direction automatic signals
U Up direction automatic signals
GK Gourock Named Gourock No 2 to 14 March 1966 GOU2≈126m 20ch 31 May 1889 22 September 1985 Paisley [new] (PU)
Gourock No 2 See Gourock
G Goxhill BAR104m 50ch 1910
- Grain Crossing Gate box: line controlled by Ashford IECC (NK) HTG38m 23ch 11 September 1882
GS Grand Sluice Downgraded to gate box: line controlled by Boston West Street Junction (WS) GRS3107m 41ch November 1891 9 November 1985 Boston West Street Junction (WS)
GC Grange Court GCT121m 41ch 17 April 1935 2 June 1969 Gloucester (G)
GE Grange Junction CMD218m 26ch 26 February 1966 2 March 2002✖last train; official closure 17 May 2002 Stoke on Trent Signalling Centre (SOT)
BP Grangemouth BP Terminal GMH≈3m 75ch 1970
GH Grangemouth Junction Code used from 1979 PMT23m 71ch ≈1899 18 August 1997 Grangemouth Junction [new] (GH)
GH Grangemouth Junction [new] PMT23m 75ch 18 August 1997 27 December 2017 Edinburgh (ECL)
GS Grange Over Sands Code used from 2008 CBC19m 31ch 1956
R Distant signals
G Grangetown Code used by 1973 DSN218m 65ch 30 May 1954
D Down line automatic signals
R Distant signals
RR Outer distant signals
GS Grangetown Ground Frame Code used by 24 October 1978 BRY0m 69ch Sidings closed
G Grantham Named Grantham Yard to 20 February 1972 ECM1105m 30ch 19 January 1874 3 February 1980 Doncaster (D)
GN Grantham North ECM1105m 48ch 15 May 1881 20 February 1972 Grantham (G)
D Down line automatic signals
R Repeater signals
U Up line automatic signals
GS Grantham South ECM1105m 07ch 19 January 1874 20 February 1972 Grantham (G)
Grantham Yard See Grantham
RU Grantshouse Distant to up line automatic signals ECM841m 23ch 7 April 1918 20 February 1978 Edinburgh (EG)
U Up line automatic signals
EZ Graveney Crossing VIR54m 78ch by 1887 2 November 1972 Faversham (EY)/ Margate (GE)
GG Grayrigg Code used from 15 April 1973 CGJ7≈26m 26ch 28 April 1973 Carlisle (CE)
G Grays Formerly Grays East? TLL19m 77ch 1900? 8 April 1996 Upminster IECC (UR)
GB Great Barr PBJ≈7m 54ch ? Walsall (WL)
Great Bentley Downgraded to gate box 21 December 1958: line controlled by Thorpe-le-Soken (T) COC60m 62ch 1889 4 May 2009 Colchester [new] (CO)
ch Great Chesterford Downgraded to ground frame? If so, final closure 14 December 1988 BGK45m 59ch 1881 11 December 1983 Cambridge (CA)
D Down direction automatic signals
GC Great Coates No 1 MWN108m 34ch 1909
GM Greatham Code used from 1 November 2004 LEN367m 27ch 1889 6 February 2021✖last train; official closure 10 February 2021 York Rail Operating Centre (GM)
G Code used by 1975
A Great Missenden Automatic signals MCJ229m 00ch 1 September 1892 23 April 1990 Marylebone [new] (ME)
R Repeater signals
- Great Rocks Junction CNB1163m 02ch 1923
GS Greaves Sidings Code used by 8 November 1953 DCL99m 13ch 3 February 1918 ? Fenny Compton (FC)
GK Greenbank CDM222m 21ch 21 December 1975
G Greenfield Junction MVL312m 46ch 1888 5 April 1999 Stalybridge (SE)
Greenfoot Level Crossing SCM397m 59ch before 1910 18 April 1999 Cowlairs [new] (CN)
G Greenford East General code as shown on signalling plans ANL7m 44ch 1 October 1904
GE One signal only on signalling plans, but many 'on the ground'
DB Down branch line automatic signal
GJ Greenhill Junction Named Greenhill Upper Junction to 8 June 1975. Code used from 1971 EGM117m 28ch 1890s 18 November 1990 Greenhill Junction [new] (GJ)
GU Code used from 1966
GJ Greenhill Junction [new] Retained as emergency panel EGM117m 28ch 18 November 1990 27 December 2017 Edinburgh (GJ)
GL Greenhill Lower SCM3106m 40ch 1886 9 June 1975 Greenhill Junction (GJ)
Greenhill Upper Junction See Greenhill Junction
F Green Lane Code shown on 1934 plan MIR22m 70ch 1886 1955 Rock Ferry [new]? (RF)
GL Green Lane Crossing WSJ2211m 01ch ≈1925 13 January 1985 Chester PSB (CR)
OW Green Lanes Crossing Downgraded to ground frame 5 May 1968 WPH241m 68ch 1879 21 November 1976 Portsmouth (PW)
GL Greenloaning Code used from 2002 SCM4129m 18ch 2 July 1891
Green Oak Goit Gate box: line controlled by Gilberdyke Junction (G) TJG21m 42ch 23 November 2018✖last train; official closure 26 November 2018, delayed from 3 April 2018 York Rail Operating Centre (SG)
GW Greenock West GOU2≈123m 76ch 31 May 1889 12 February 1967 Ladyburn (L)
U Greenwood Up line automatic signals ECM110m 10ch April 1876 26 April 1959 Potters Bar [new] (PB)?
HM Greetland Emergency Operating Panel Panel still available for emergency use: dates for regular planned use MVN230m 77ch 27 July 2009 7 August 2009 Healey Mills (HM)
G Greetland Junction Named Greetland No 2 to 25 September 1966. Switched out for many years, restored 3 April 2000 MVN230m 77ch 1942 26 July 2009 Greetland Emergency Operating Panel (HM)
R Distant signals
Greetland Mill BFB7m 27ch by 1880 27 November 1966 Bradford Junctions (BJ)
Greetland No 2 See Greetland Junction
G Greskine WCM145m 25ch 29 April 1973 Motherwell (MC)
GL Gresty Lane Named Gresty Lane No 1 to 28 October 1984. Demolished 17 January 2016 CSG157m 47ch GSG0m 00ch SYC0m 33ch 18 December 1898 5 December 2015 Gresty Lane Signalling Centre (GL)
GLP Gresty Lane Down Sidings Ground Switch Panel Stop boards SYC0m 61ch 7 December 2015
GL Code possibly not used (see Gresty Lane Signalling Centre)
Gresty Lane No 1 See Gresty Lane
GL Gresty Lane Signalling Centre In same building as Crewe Signalling Centre LLI158m 21ch 7 December 2015
GA Gretna Junction WCM18m 57ch 10 October 1915 7 July 1973 Carlisle (CE)
GAR Distant signals
GJ Griff Junction CNN 3 February 1985 Nuneaton (NN)
GD Grindleford MAS159m 06ch 1934
G Code given on 2006 signalling plan
B Grimesthorpe Junction No 2 Temporary code until taken over by Brightside (B) TJC2≈160m 34ch 8 August 1965 Brightside (B)
G Grimethorpe Colliery Panel in shunter's cabin 23 October 1977 Colliery closed
GC
also had draw-ahead signals in colliery sidings lettered A-E, with no number
G Gristhorpe Downgraded to gate box 13 March 1983: line controlled by Seamer West (SW) HBS46m 38ch 1873
EBF Grove Junction Code used by June 1957 TTH34m 56ch 15 October 1932 19 April 1986 Tonbridge (PE)
A Automatic signals
Z Grove Park Code used from ≈1960 XTD9m 07ch 4 September 1938 3 February 1962 Hither Green (P)
GR Grove Road Downgraded to gate box 22 August 1978: line controlled by Retford (RD) (later Doncaster (D)) ECM1137m 37ch October 1887 15 March 1998 Doncaster (D)
GC Grovesend Colliery Loop SDI29m 35ch 1913 7 July 1973 Port Talbot (PT)
GB Guide Bridge Named Ashton Junction to 10 December 1984. Code used from renaming HAJ5m 04ch 1909 5 December 2011✖delayed from 16 October 2011 Manchester East Signalling Control Centre (GB)
R Banner repeater signals
A Code to 10 December 1984
GBE Guide Bridge East Junction HAJ5m 31ch December 1906 24 November 1984 Guide Bridge (GB)
GN Guide Bridge North Junction SAJ0m 22ch January 1907 9 December 1984 Guide Bridge (GB)
WX Guildford [panel] WPH130m 09ch 17 April 1966 30 October 1998 Guildford Area Signalling Centre (GD)
CA Automatic signals
DCA Distant to automatic signals
RWA Repeaters to automatic signals
WA Automatic signals
GD Guildford Area Signalling Centre WPH130m 40ch 30 October 1998
WY Guildford South WPH1 July 1886 17 April 1966 Guildford [panel] (WX)
WX Guildford Yard WPH130m 18ch July 1886 17 April 1966 Guildford [panel] (WX)
G Guisborough Junction Burnt out June 1980 DSN2≈15m 23ch June 1980 Guisborough Junction [temporary] (G)
G Guisborough Junction [temporary] DSN2≈15m 23ch June 1980 8 May 1982 Middlesbrough (M)
GY Guisley Also called Guisley Station ILK1205m 22ch 1906 11 July 1994 Leeds (L)
G Earlier code
G Guisley Junction 'Shipley Guisley Junction' carried on 'box GUE23m 38ch TJC3205m 44ch 1901 25 July 1994 Leeds (L)
GJ
Guisley Station See Guisley
G Gunhouse Junction DOW20m 34ch ≈21 May 1916 31 March 1973 Scunthorpe (S)
WBM Gunnersbury SAR29m 68ch 1 January 1869 26 March 1980 Richmond (GB)
G Gyfeillon Upper THT14m 34ch ≈1897 16 December 1984 Pontypridd (P)