signal box

American  

noun

British.

1. a railway signal tower.

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signal box British  

noun

1. a building containing manually operated signal levers for all the railway lines in its section

2. a control point for a large area of a railway system, operated electrically and semiautomatically

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Etymology

Origin of signal box

First recorded in 1820–30

Example Sentences

The work vehicle careered down the road before smashing through the gates beside Knaresborough Station and hitting a Victorian signal box, causing major disruption to services between Harrogate and York.

From BBC • Jul. 10, 2025

I sat on top of the streetlight signal box at the QFC and waved.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 1, 2023

Even Hansen’s signal box portraits hasn’t escaped tagging, such one at 12th Street and Union Avenue of racing great Enzo Ferrari.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 11, 2021

Photographer Gary Kelly gained newfound appreciation for his art when he saw its impact on some parolees - and also after he was one of 20 winners in a traffic signal box design contest.

From Washington Times • Dec. 4, 2017

As the rest of the city went about its business, fireman Dorsey was racing through the streets to the closest signal box, which happened to be at Goll’s drugstore.

From "The Great Fire" by Jim Murphy