16th June 1992

(13) My wife was waiting for me: in the signal box, having been invited in for a cup of tea by the signalman Ray Allan, after she had explained that she was waiting for a passenger off the next train! Ray was an old railwayman of a different era, a kind, generous and welcoming sort of chap, who was really retired by this point, but had agreed to stay, on a part time basis, to manage these limestone trains, along with another colleague. Once the limestone trains ended, full retirement followed. We remained friends for a few years afterwards, but sadly contact was eventually lost, and I fear that he may well have passed on by now. We even stayed with him at his home at Richmond on one occasion. Lovely man.

This is a view of the box after the limestone train had departed.