High jinks at Tenterden Station

A third day this week on the railway. This time at Tenterden Signalbox where I was having a turn with the duty signalman to see if I would like to learn this box next. I have a learning turn at Northiam during the Santa Specials so after that I'll decide which box will be next to learn.

Having said all that it was a wonderful day in a totally different environment to the tranquil isolation of Wittersham Road box. Tenterden is positively cosmopolitan compared to Wittersham and I enjoyed the buzz of people coming and going and things happening all around. As you can see here with the youngsters having a bit of fun with the hosepipe while cleaning the windows of the DMU.

There were two photographic events during the morning. Kent Life came to shoot the cover photo for an upcoming magazine then a production crew working for the BBC came to shoot a few scenes for Saturday Kitchen. Not sure when that will be on though.

The weather was superb, sunny blue skies and warm for the time of year and the station was busy with passengers and with preparation for Thomas the Tank Engine coming up this weekend. And the staff mess is always open so soup and sandwiches are near at hand and tea is always on the go in the box.

Tenterden signalbox is much more straightforward than Wittersham Road. As it is a terminus trains begin or end at the station and there is no crossing of trains either. But it is just as easy to make a mistake as it is at Wittersham. I pulled off a section signal which locked a signal I should have pulled off first. So that train had to be cancelled with Rolvenden, the token put back into the block instrument and offered on again before the train could depart.

It only took a couple of minutes but it was a good lesson learned, but by the end of the day I was operating the box on my own while the duty signalman sat on the platform.