Stainforth Sidings Signal Box directly controlled the short sections of 'up' & 'down' main lines immediately adjacent to the box, including the access to & from Stainforth Sidings. It also operated as a block post to jointly control the adjoining sections of the twin-track main line (in conjunction with Settle Station Signal Box to the south and Helwith Bridge Signal Box to the north).
The first signal box opened on 2 August 1875. Replacement boxes were provided by the Midland Railway in August 1898 and by British Railways in March 1950 (using an LMS standard design). These structures seem to have had more than their fair share of mishaps. A derailment on 23 October 1949 caused damage to the 1898 box (which may have contributed to its replacement in 1950) and further derailments on 8 September 1961 and 9 May 1963 caused significant damage to the 1950s box.
Stainforth Sidings Signal Box was officially closed on 29 August 1963 and the structure was demolished shortly thereafter.
