[JohnW]

Just a little anecdote about the signal box at Shoe Mill in the picture above. As a child, much of my time was spent at the Shoe Mill area. There was a five-barred gate by the signal box. My best mate, David Ratcliffe and I would sometimes hang on the gate to watch the trains go by. The signalman sometimes used to invite us into the signal box for a cup of tea. Once inside he used to allow us to try to pull the levers which changed the track direction. Neither of us were strong enough to pull them, mind you we were only about 7 or 8 years old. It's strange how times have changed. If you heard of some signalman now inviting two young kids into the signal box for a cup of tea you would immediately be suspicious that he was some kind of pervert or something. What a damn shame. The guy who invited us in gave us tea, entertained us and educated us about the signal box and the workings of the railway lines and we went home happy and totally unabused. Far, far better times methinks.