I thought your video was excellent thank you for making it. I was lucky enough in the 1980's to be invited to go into a Signal Box and see how it all worked and when there were no trains about having a go at pulling the levers. It was a rural isolated box with 64 levers in the frame, to this day I remember to cross 4 trains at this Single Line Junction Box it took 90 moves on the frame to do this, you were pulling or putting back levers for about 19 minutes. That experience led me to become one of only a handful of qualified Movements Inspectors on a Narrow Gauge Railway following a six hour examination by the railway Inspectorate. I still think real signalling can only be done in a mechanical Signal Box but whatever type of Signal Box you are in I hope you have a long and happy career signalling.
Brought back memories of my time as a signalman in the 1960/70s. Started at Crystal palace, then onto Leigham Junction , Hayes (Kent) ending at Twickenham West Junction box.........scariest was a short stint at Star Lane on the Brighton line just south of Coulsdon. It was situated in a deep cutting, well away from anyone. There was a mental institution close by, and often some of the inmates would get out and try to get into the signal box.......lots of fatalities in the area due to them committing suicide........ Glad to get out of there!
Very good point about the mid nineties privatisation, I was working on Woking pway and the sense of dis jointed control , loss of ownership , personal pride in the patch was destroyed in a moment . I had to move on , shame . If there'd been more collaboration rather than political shuffling it may have been different . Great interview . Signallers are the safety valve . 👍🇬🇧
This was really fascinating. Didn't realize that signal boxes still exist. Also loved the ghost story he shared. I wonder how often does he get people telling him about the Charles Dickens short story, The Signalman?
Great little film. This would suit my husband down to the ground and there are a couple of positions available at the moment. But I worry about the long term if signal boxes are getting closed! Being in Cornwall I can’t imagine an alternative role could be offered. I bet it gets blooming cold in there?????
From Christopher: Signalboxes are getting slowly centralized into fewer larger regional control centres, but the job itself isn't going anywhere. The location might have to change, but generally speaking the company are keen to support any existing staff to stay in the job once they've shelled out to train you up. More importantly: even if there turns out to be no long term... why not do it for the short term! You only live once. (and some do get pretty cold on nights, it's true; but they all have heaters, and the smaller boxes can feel very cosy when it's cold or wet outside)
Fantastic video signalling is very interesting sorry to learn that your signal box closed that was featured in video did network rail relocate you are you still in signalling in 2024
Hello, Chris says he's "still happily signalling away at my remaining five signalboxes, so did not need to be relocated (although NR certainly supported any residents who wanted to stay on somewhere, as they don't like losing skilled people that they've paid to train up)"
I have an interview for a signaller grade 7 role tomorrow. Thanks for your honest insight into the role, if I'm lucky by the look of it, this could be a great career change for me!
I like with the lunch being brought over to you on a Sunday. I’m sure it’s so easy for that person stuck away in the signal box on their own to be forgotten by the rest of the team
Cheers Chris, very well presented short film.
Christopher also has a very engaging way of speaking. Overall great video.
I thought your video was excellent thank you for making it. I was lucky enough in the 1980's to be invited to go into a Signal Box and see how it all worked and when there were no trains about having a go at pulling the levers. It was a rural isolated box with 64 levers in the frame, to this day I remember to cross 4 trains at this Single Line Junction Box it took 90 moves on the frame to do this, you were pulling or putting back levers for about 19 minutes. That experience led me to become one of only a handful of qualified Movements Inspectors on a Narrow Gauge Railway following a six hour examination by the railway Inspectorate. I still think real signalling can only be done in a mechanical Signal Box but whatever type of Signal Box you are in I hope you have a long and happy career signalling.
Thank you Andrew! Lovely to hear about that :-)
Fantastic, such a cool job 👍
Brought back memories of my time as a signalman in the 1960/70s.
Started at Crystal palace, then onto Leigham Junction , Hayes (Kent) ending at Twickenham West Junction box.........scariest was a short stint at Star Lane on the Brighton line just south of Coulsdon. It was situated in a deep cutting, well away from anyone.
There was a mental institution close by, and often some of the inmates would get out and try to get into the signal box.......lots of fatalities in the area due to them committing suicide........ Glad to get out of there!
This is fantastic!
I just passed my IST course can't wait to get started.
good luck!
How’s it going??
Very good point about the mid nineties privatisation, I was working on Woking pway and the sense of dis jointed control , loss of ownership , personal pride in the patch was destroyed in a moment . I had to move on , shame . If there'd been more collaboration rather than political shuffling it may have been different .
Great interview . Signallers are the safety valve . 👍🇬🇧
This was really fascinating. Didn't realize that signal boxes still exist. Also loved the ghost story he shared. I wonder how often does he get people telling him about the Charles Dickens short story, The Signalman?
Thank you. And apparently, he gets that often!
Great little film. This would suit my husband down to the ground and there are a couple of positions available at the moment. But I worry about the long term if signal boxes are getting closed! Being in Cornwall I can’t imagine an alternative role could be offered.
I bet it gets blooming cold in there?????
From Christopher: Signalboxes are getting slowly centralized into fewer larger regional control centres, but the job itself isn't going anywhere. The location might have to change, but generally speaking the company are keen to support any existing staff to stay in the job once they've shelled out to train you up.
More importantly: even if there turns out to be no long term... why not do it for the short term! You only live once.
(and some do get pretty cold on nights, it's true; but they all have heaters, and the smaller boxes can feel very cosy when it's cold or wet outside)
Great video, thanks for sharing your insights. I am going for a Trainee Signaller role and have my interview this week. Wish me luck!
Best of luck!
Mee too 🙏
How did it go? If you got it, how did you find the training?
@@ChrisEyreFilmAs a track operative
Can I do signalling?
Hi! Yes absolutely. People go in with no railway experience, so you'd be very welcome I'm sure
Fantastic video signalling is very interesting sorry to learn that your signal box closed that was featured in video did network rail relocate you are you still in signalling in 2024
Hello, Chris says he's "still happily signalling away at my remaining five signalboxes, so did not need to be relocated (although NR certainly supported any residents who wanted to stay on somewhere, as they don't like losing skilled people that they've paid to train up)"
great!!
With that amount of tea a day, I strongly suggest replacing that plastic kettle with a stainless steel one :)
I have an interview for a signaller grade 7 role tomorrow. Thanks for your honest insight into the role, if I'm lucky by the look of it, this could be a great career change for me!
Best of luck with the interview!
how’d you get on?
@@Timbodadonwaiting to hear back now. Today should be the day I find out 🤞
How did your interview go?
Could you give me some examples of questions you were asked?
Thanks
@@TheJ182I’d like to know this too, got an interview soon
I like with the lunch being brought over to you on a Sunday.
I’m sure it’s so easy for that person stuck away in the signal box on their own to be forgotten by the rest of the team
As much as this looks like such a rewarding job, wow it looks like such a stressful job given how easily things could go wrong.
Hi Jordan, Chris says he finds 'the busiest shifts the most rewarding; challenging, for sure, but not stressful as such'
It does get pretty stressful. It depends on how busy the line is you’re on, tbh.
Why isn't this automated? He's said 95pc of his job is drinking or preparing tea
The trains in those lines are in safe hands!
Not great pulling the levers in your socks! 😂😂
Socks? My man, upgrade to a pair of box slippers