Monk Bretton box was closed and Gertrude successfully applied for a transfer to Crofton Junction (Grimethorpe North) signalbox as a Class 4 Signalman, beginning on 22nd January 1962.

Six months into the job she sustained a nasty accident. Workmen installing central heating controls called her to the back of the box, where she fell through a trapdoor they had left open. She fell 10ft into the workings of the box. After a court case the contractors were found to be negligent and she received £100 compensation.

On 30th July 1966 the signalbox was closed and Gertrude was made redundant. She held various jobs outside the railways but her true love was railway signalling and she wanted to return to it. Near the end of 1969 she heard that there were signalling vacancies and so she applied to the Divisional Manager at Sheffield for a job at Glasshouse Crossing on the Worsborough branch. This was on a fairly busy road, with large crossing gates operated manually by a big wheel in the box. She was successful and was appointed to the staff in December. As she had been away for three years and four months, she was at first designated 'trainee signalwoman'.

Just over seven years later Gertrude moved to Dearne Valley Colliery Sidings signalbox, on the Leeds to Sheffield main line, as a signalwoman Class A.





In 1973 she fractured her wrist, ironically this happened not at work but in her own garden, while hanging out laundry to dry. Just 3 years later she fractured her right wrist after slipping on paraffin oil spilled by the shunter.

Gertrude worked alone in her various signalboxes and it wasn't unusual for people to try the door during the lonely night shifts at Glasshouse Crossing. Her worried husband put an extra bolt on the door to increase security. She had sometimes to walk to and from work in inclement weather if transport wasn't available. Dearne Valley Colliery Sidings box in particular was difficult to reach by public transport.

She remained in service at Dearne Valley until being forced to take compulsory retirement because she had reached the age of 60, on 18th January, 1980.

In total, Gertrude worked for 16 years at Monk Bretton and for 4 years 6 months at Grimethorpe, a total of 20 years' and six months' service. She was a member of Cudworth branch of the NUR. None of the signalboxes in which she worked is still in existence.

Gertrude passed away on 13th September 2000, after a two-year battle with cancer.

She is pictured here in 1973 with her railway-fireman husband, Fred, to whom I am indebted for the information and photographs presented on this site.

(c) Helena Wojtczak 2007