Signal failure

IN MY local paper, the Cumberland and Westmorland Herald, recently its ‘From the Archives’ section had the following item dated 1922: “Appleby Borough Councillor Mr E Watson, a signalman at Appleby North East station, escaped with only severe bruising and a sprained ankle when a signal post he had climbed – with the intention of fixing the lamps to the signals – broke off at ground level. He fell with it and could have been crushed to death by its great weight.” Not your usual railway accident in the scheme of things! Ian Shaw By email