Memoirs of a Signalman

By Jack D Harrison

This is Jacks second book and turns from Verse to Prose for an autobiographical work.
Memoirs of a Signalman covers his years as a Signalman with British Railways on the Fylde Coast of England between 1978-88. It is not just a cold technical book about Railway Signalling, but also includes some very funny tales of very unusual events and incidents. But despite the fact that his home town of 60 years once had the largest deep-sea fishing fleet on the West Coast, there are no Big Fish Stories. It is all true and really happened.
It actually covers Jacks life from leaving School during 1974, right up until recently, when the very last Signal Box [Poulton No 3], was demolished, to make way for the Electrification of the Blackpool line. However Jack was involved in the original calls for this overdue modernisation, and he knew it was important for the Routes long-term future. Besides some basic background on traditional Railway Signalling, and life on the Railway, it covers the decline of Fleetwood and its once great Maritime and Railway heritage.
It is hoped that an Audio version of the book will also be produced later this year.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Mar 29, 2018
• ISBN: 9781546289791

Jack D Harrison

Jack D. Harrison became a Poet/Author, as part of the process of re-inventing himself. He was a Railway Signalman until back injuries forced him to retire early during 1988. He has always loved writing and composing since boyhood, and his work includes lyrics, poetry and short stories. Apart from previously published poems and articles, his first book [of Verse] was self-published only in November-2017. Rhyming Lines The Poems of Jack D. Harrison, provides some idea of the range and variety of Jacks work, Including works about his home town and port of Fleetwood, along with the former deep-sea fishing fleet and local history, to poems which read like stories, including Poppies in a Field, Remember October, The Boy and The Spider and One Christmas In Fleetwood. www.rhyminglines.com But his second book Memoirs of a Signalman, is Autobiographical and deals with one of his happiest periods; his time on the Railway. So, climb aboard for this new journey, calling at various points along the way. A journey of Jacks time as a Railwayman and the last heydays of the Port of Fleetwood and ultimately, Electrification, and the end of traditional Signalling on the Blackpool and Fleetwood lines.

Book preview

© 2018 Jack D. Harrison. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,

or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 03/22/2018

ISBN: 978-1-5462-8980-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5462-8979-1 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

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Contents

Preface

About The Author

Chapter 1 WHAT JOB DO YOU WANT TO DO?

Chapter 2 SIGNAL SCHOOL, AND MY FIRST SIGNAL BOX.

Chapter 3 A BETTER CLASS OF SIGNAL-BOX.

Chapter 4 UNUSUAL MOVEMENTS AND EVENTS.

Chapter 5 THE NUR, AND OTHER INTERESTS.

Chapter 6 THE RAIL LINK-84 CAMPAIGN.

7 EPILOGUE

8 GLOSSARY

9 ACKNOWLEGEMENTS

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(BLOCK INSTRUMENT AT POULTON No 3 SIGNAL BOX. PHOTO BY. J.D. HARRISON).

MEMOIRS OF A SIGNALMAN. BY JACK D. HARRISON. ©

Preface

Most of those included here were Railwaymen, although we did have Railway women in Signal boxes, Crossings and Train Crew, amongst others. These days they also drive trains (as indeed, there are women Pilots etc). And they all do the job to the same standard. Just as during the two World Wars. And why not indeed?

In writing this, I am not just charting the ups, downs and inside-outs of my life, but it is also, partly a record of the [further] decline of my home town and Port of Fleetwood. It was to so many of us, a wonderful place in which to grow up. To play and explore as children, and to work and live as adults. And yet Fleetwood is not just the physical location. It’s perhaps a metaphor to some, and for others now scattered across every Continent, it’s an idea or a vision to hold onto. ‘Fleetwood People’ may well move around the World with work or family, but they still hold onto that vision of what is really still Home; and they can even refresh that Vision through Facebook pages like ‘Fleetwood Past & Present’.

And yet again it’s not a technical book on Railway Signalling; or about the life and experiences of one local Signalman, but also of the decline and even death and disappearance of much of the ‘Old Fleetwood’; and the beginning of the end, for traditional [Semaphore] Signalling on the Fylde Coast; along with the many Industries and Skills that have gone; perhaps never to be seen here again; at least in the previous numbers or strength.

These include Ships Riggers (as my late Dad was); Ship Wrights; Boiler Makers; Chandlers; Net-makers/Braiders; Marine Engineers; Lumpers; and other jobs vital to our Town- Train Drivers, Firemen, Shunters, Crossing Keepers; yes, and Signalmen.

I must ask the reader to indulge me for a moment, whilst I set a couple of records and misguided individuals straight. I recently watched several YouTube videos showing all of my former Signal Boxes being demolished as part of the Electrification work between Preston and Blackpool North, and yes it was sad to be watching some workmen with little or no apparent interest in the times when those places were alive with activity. (No guys I don’t blame you; it had to be done; but maybe- just not like that).

And yet as a keen member of my Railway Union (NUR as was), I took part in all the public and behind-the-scenes discussions, and campaigns supporting and calling for Electrification, because we knew it was in the best interests of the Line and surrounding Communities. We knew it would come to this at some time. That point needs making every time someone believes the Gutter Press and attacks Trade Unions. We live here too. Once again- no apologies here. At a time when certain ‘elements’ were calling us "The enemy within" from behind