How to be a Railway Signalman

At the heart of any rail network lies the signal box. The engine driver may be the public face of the service but it is the signalman who has the big picture of what is going on and where trains are on the line. Preserved steam railways have to perform to the same high safety standards as public railways and as this programme shows, the process of becoming a signalman can be as rewarding as driving a steam locomotive. Alan Greatbatch, Signal Inspector at Swanage Steam Railway and Mike Rodgers, signalman at Corfe Castle take us through the steps of becoming a signalman as well as showing us how a signal box operates.

The heritage railways around Britain today operate hundreds of miles of track. The role of signalling on these railways is vital in enabling them to operate their services safely. This guide is perfect for those who wish to learn how the signalling operates on the heritage railways. With background history of the development of railway signalling since its beginnings in the 19th century and packed with practical advice on the operation of the signalling. Although the practices vary from railway to railway