Physically, the cabin was located between Daglish (once a Block Box) and West Leederville. Just east of West Leederville was another Block Box called Cecil Street which is in a deep cutting formerly known as Mount Eliza (which also had a signal cabin of the same name). These were used during the Sykes Lock and Block era to shorten the 'headway' between trains and therefore speed up the flow of traffic. Both Daglish and Cecil Street are now but memories. The location of the Daglish Block Box (which replaced the nearby Lawler Street Block Box) can still be located by the 'rodding tunnel' under the platform at Daglish and the wide, bricked-up windows of the signal cabin above same. Little remains of the Cecil Street Block Box, though for those with quick eyes on passing 'Up' suburban trains, will see the stonework of the foundations where the box was once located in the deep cutting between West Perth (now City West) and West Leederville stations.

The Subiaco signal cabin serviced a number of sidings for factories as well as the normal railway Goods Shed and yards. It replaced an earlier platform-level signal cabin which was located on the Fremantle end of the 'Up' platform. Whilst this earlier cabin was long gone when the present Subiaco cabin closed, evidence of the former cabin's location could still be found in the form of the 'rodding tunnel' under the platform - that was until the entire station was redeveloped into an underground station!

Thankfully, the Subiaco Signal Cabin has survived this redevelopment. It has been moved to the operating 2' 0" gauge Bennett Brook Railway at Whiteman Park. Here at least, it will continue to be used in the role for which it was created, and will control actual train movements through the railway's most complex station. Soon, the Subiaco cabin will be back in operation - beginning another whole new life - a real Phoenix!

The Subiaco cabin has had quite a life! It was opened in July 1923 (after an as yet unconfirmed relocation from the Geraldton / Narngulu area). Later that year, in line with other cabins along the suburban section of the Eastern Railway, Duplicate Levers were positioned on the platform. This allowed for stopping trains to be protected by station staff being able to place the Home signals to stop when the Signal Cabin was unattended and 'switched out'. The Duplicate Levers were removed in February 1947. In April 1956 disaster struck when the cabin was destroyed by fire. According to the records, the cabin was back in action by the 7th of May in the same year, and this must have been an incredible feat of re-construction because virtually all that remained of the cabin was part of the front wall, the interlocking room floor and the lever frame. The robustness of the McKenzie and Holland lever frame was proven to this author when it was discovered on a recent visit to the cabin at the Bennett Brook Railway, that the frame still shows the burnt residue of oil and paint on the interlocking machine. It would seem that the frame had survived the fire, was re-oiled (and no doubt fully tested) and put straight back into service without a thorough cleaning! Evidence of the fire can still be seen in other areas as well. The main timber support beams for the lever frame, and end wall uprights are still heavily charred, but obviously still useable!

The interior of the Subiaco cabin was pretty much standard for W.A.G.R. cabins, although the ceiling and walls were of plasterboard. The 45 levers of the McKenzie and Holland No. 9 Patt. frame seem little effected by their history! A standard glass-fronted 'black' diagram and normal accoutrements such as S.G.E. shelf lights and glass-domed Union Switch & Signal Company time releases can be seen. It was sad to report that the block bells and bell plungers seen on this shelf, along with the wooden-cased telephones on the walls of the cabin were unfortunately removed by 'persons unknown' during the cabin's relocation in December 1998. It would be welcome gesture if they were returned - even anonymously, to the B. B. R.

The only colour photo of the 'black' diagram to hand at present, is not quite in focus. Yet it does show the layout of the tracks through the station.

West Leederville station is to the left and the Daglish station is on the right. The Brown track just discernable below the 'Back Platform' had points to the various industries served by the cabin. This author was quite surprised on his first (and only) visit inside the cabin to see just how far the sidings extended into the nearby surrounds. "Royal Show" special passenger trains were also run between Fremantle and Subiaco during Show Week, although it was never as busy as Claremont. Subiaco did cater for the AFL football fans though, and many have journeyed to the "Subiaco Oval" to watch their teams 'battle' the opposition. Naturally enough, the new station fulfills this role without Signal Cabin, Signalman or extra platforms.