The openSignalBox project exists to provide free, open-source designs for software and hardware to simulate railway signalling. This can range from traditional mechanical systems up to state-of-the-art computer-based systems, depending on what has been contributed to the project. Please visit the Get Involved! page for more information on using and developing openSignalBox, or see the About page for a roadmap of official developments.
September 2026 update. Well, a big pause since the last update in July 2025! Apologies for this, but as oSB development is still a one-man-band until the first release, relocating back to the UK and sorting house and commitments meant a pause on this work. However, that is now largely out of the way so expect regular updates to begin again and rapid progress on the project.
July update. Work has continued on preparing the simulator software for timetable-driven trains with full block bells for August. Progress is slow as the author prepares to move back to the UK from two years on contract in Geneva. However, continue reading for an exciting hardware announcement…
You can now find an SVG file in the Downloads section for creating a variety of 2D printed, 3D printed or engraved plaques.
We have decided to start publishing a monthly update on the website, also shared to our Facebook Page. Please follow the page for regular news, and shortly we will be making our user group public in anticipation for the oSB simulator release. Read on for the latest update, including the first deployment of the simulator code at Sleaford East!
Now available on the openSignalBox website is a Downloads section! This initially contains some excellent recreated fonts and diagram symbols from Owen Stratford, and will shortly include some 3D print files for various plaques made with them. We have some exciting 3D files in the pipeline to share with you all too. Once the openSignalBox framework software is ready for release, it will be available from this section of the website too.
We have taken delivery of the main IO modules for the Knighton Crossing Project.
We are pleased to announce our third early partner for openSignalBox: Lowdham Railway Heritage! This museum project started as the resignalling of the Nottingham to Newark line came to fruition and Lowdham box was one of four made redundant in 2016. A group of Lowdham residents formed a charity, Lowdham Railway Heritage (LRH) with the aim of moving the signalbox from its original inaccessible location to some spare land at the other end of the station and restoring it as far as possible to how it looked in the mid-1950s. The box has been running successful open days since summer 2021, with the first open day being on the 175th anniversary of the opening of the Nottingham to Lincoln railway in August 1846.
The parts have arrived for prototyping telephone support in openSignalBox!
We are pleased to announce our second early partner for openSignalBox - the Knighton Crossing Project! This museum project, under construction in Norway, is a recreation of a level crossing signalbox on the GWR mainline between Didcot and Swindon, set in the early 1950s steam era. It features a new-build 14-lever frame and will make use of telephone audio interactions and permissive and fog working practices. The idea of the Knighton Crossing Project is to allow members of the public to work a highly realistic interactive signal box simulation, showcasing British signalling to Scandinavians!
We are pleased to announce our first partner for bringing openSignalBox to life - Sleaford East reproduction signalbox! This private project by Alastair Larter is a recreation of a busy 24-lever signalbox on the GN & GE Joint Railway as it existed in the 1970s. openSignalBox was started as a result of development work for this signalbox, so it is closely involved with the project.