Many years ago I used to visit signalboxes in the Canterbury and Faversham Kent areas as I was studying for my railway operating examinations - by working a box all the old rules and regulations fall into place. One of my favourites was Canterbury East, an elevated box adjacent to the country end of the down platform (it's still there and fully operational). On the down line at Canterbury there was a distant (one hell of a throw as the signal was the best part of a mile away on the other side of the Stour Valley - now a colour light as are most distants in semaphore country), a home, a starter (mounted on the outside of the box itself) and an advanced starter/section signal.
Once of my most satisfying, and therefore memorable recollections, was being in the box one summer evening. The normal service train to Dover had departed and the section south of Canterbury was therefore occupied. A 47 approached from the Faversham direction with some vans bound for Dover. As the section ahead was occupied, the distant signal was at caution with all the stop signals at danger. With a further service train to Dover waiting to enter the section north of Canterbury, we had to move the 47 down to the advance starter to be able to clear the section in rear. As the 47 crept up to the Home signal we gently pulled it off, balancing the lever to pull the arm up very slowly so that the driver knew that the starter signal was still at danger. In the distance we could hear the exhaust increase and the loco came gently in sight around the curve and into the station. As it approached the starter we replaced the Home and repeated the exercise. This time, with the signal right outside of the box, the effect was much more marked as the throttle was opened and with a friendly hoot the 47 passed by us with its' vans in tow and trundled down to the advance starter........
I can honestly say it was the best present I've ever had.
see the Salisbury page for what I play with for a living.