According to the Midland Railway Company's weekly notices, this structure is the fourth signal box covering the Blea Moor Sidings area, but it was the first to be constructed on the 'up' (east) side of the main running lines. (The new site was chosen to enable the lie-by sidings to be lengthened and converted into loops, which helped to increase the line's capacity for wartime traffic.) It officially opened on 16th December 1941, replacing an earlier structure on the 'down' (west) side of the running lines (see Location ID 248590). It controls the adjacent sidings (Location IDs 248450 & 248620, plus the sections of main line across Ribblehead Viaduct and through Blea Moor Tunnel.
Blea Moor signal box originally coordinated with the boxes at Ribblehead (station) and Dent Head, but it now coordinates with the boxes at Settle Junction and Garsdale. It is one of the most remote permanent workplaces on England's railway system. There is no road access to the site, so the signaller arriving for duty must park at the foot of Ribblehead Viaduct, then walk alongside the railway for almost a mile to reach the box. This walk is relatively pleasant on warm sunny days, but it can be extremely challenging in wintry conditions and on dark & stormy nights, etc.
