At Network Rail's Manchester classroom, I learn why it's very rare for trains to collide... and try out signalling for real. | ▶️ The next episode is on Nebula right now: https://nebula.tv/videos/toms
As a heritage signaller, I enjoyed this video. Thanks for highlighting possibly one of the most underrated engineering developments this country has ever produced. It was a career opportunity missed for me, but I am fortunate to be able to do it at a heritage railway.
I love how Tom was instructed to always use two hands when moving the levers and then when they went to watch an actual operator in action that operator was just casually flinging the levers with 2-3 fingers 😂
I'm a mainline driver and one of my routes passes through the control of 7 signal boxes in around 40 minutes. We visited a signal box during my driver training and it was fascinating to see how much goes in just to keep us moving. I'll remind myself of this video next time I get annoyed when a signaller doesn't clear the road quick enough for my liking 😅
It's good for old equipment to still be in use. The goal should be to build infrastructure that is reliable enough to last a hundred years, rather than replace it every ten.
As someone who has JUST finished signalling school, this was awesome to watch! The training is so long and important, not just because there's a lot to know, but because you need to be 100% competent before you even start the job proper. We learn multiple topics every day for weeks till we can almost recite those rulebooks word for word and perform the actions and comms that go with them!
As someone who works in the railways (albeit safely in HQ, you won't see me messing with signals any time soon!) I've always loved Tom's deep respect for each task he does. A lesser man would've taken it for granted that he'd be allowed to change the signals on the live railway, and not been anywhere near as thankful afterwards.
Update, 19th June 2026: Given the news of the crash near Bedford today, I've paused comments on this video. My thoughts go out to everyone involved, and to the emergency services personnel who are on the scene.
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Comments (20)
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proceeds to make a 25 minute video on signal levers
Thank you Tom!
Signalman: uses one finger