Manager in Birmingham. I attended classes led by Harold Hook at Stanier House. Inspired, I considered continuing the class after Harold retired— but I was soon promoted to Area Operations Manager in Teesside.
Over time, I opened the class to everyone— heritage railway staff, contractors, retirees, jobseekers, and enthusiasts. As privatisation reduced BR’ s footprint, mine became the last surviving Block Class nationwide. I am grateful to signal engineers Bruce Macdougal for wiring my Block Instruments and Steve Sherlock for making them work over the internet! Technology helped the class evolve: visual aids, videos, and email replaced chalkboards and Roneo’ d papers. Even after retiring in 2014, I continued teaching. I invested in a model lever frame and working Block Instruments that link my home in Knaresborough with Steve’ s in York. I simulate live train movements as“ Grampus Central” Signaller, with students following diagrams on their PCs. The setup brings the subject vividly to life.
Adapting to Modern Times
Above: The lever frame is a demonstration model made by the Railway Signal Company of Fazakerley in Liverpool in 1890. Students have a diagram to follow. The layout is considerably enhanced by the imagined provision of some hand-worked siding connections on each side of the main line. I call the location“ Grampus Central”.
COVID-19 moved the class online in 2020 and 2021, today, I offer each lesson four times— twice online and twice in York. Online attendance has grown significantly thanks to support from CIRO, with students joining from around the world. In 2024, 341 people enrolled, the majority attending online. The course is over two winters and goes from Absolute Block and semaphore signals through to ETCS and cab signalling.
The Future
There, I found an existing informal class run by Signalling Inspector Steve Shields and Traffic Manager Jan Garrill. I attended and suggested they adopt the more structured“ Safe Working of Trains” syllabus. They agreed, but by the next year, both had moved on. So, I took over.
After some back-and-forth with the York HQ Education Department( they initially required a minimum number of students), I was allowed to run the class as long as I didn’ t seek payment. I ran it in Middlesbrough for two years.
I’ m now approaching 40 years of running the class and have no plans to stop. It’ s a privilege to contribute to so many people’ s railway journeys. Whether sparking careers or deepening passion, the course remains free and open to all. I hope to welcome more students when the 2025 / 2026 course begins in September.
Growing the Class
Above: All students have a copy of this diagram in front of them.
Above: Like father, like son. My eldest son, Ed Graham receiving his 2017 Block Class certificate from Network Rail Route Managing Director, Rob McIntosh at York Railway Museum.
www. ciro. org
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