Memoirs of a Signalman

About the Book

This is Jack’s second book and turns from Verse to Prose for an autobiographical work. ‘Memoirs of a Signalman’ covers his years as a Signalman with British Railways on the Fylde Coast of England between 1978-88. It is not just a cold technical book about Railway Signalling, but also includes some very funny tales of very unusual events and incidents. But despite the fact that his home town of 60 years once had the largest deep-sea fishing fleet on the West Coast, there are no ‘Big Fish Stories’. It is all true and really happened. It actually covers Jack’s life from leaving School during 1974, right up until recently, when the very last Signal Box [Poulton No 3], was demolished, to make way for the Electrification of the Blackpool line. However Jack was involved in the original calls for this overdue modernisation, and he knew it was important for the Route’s long-term future. Besides some basic background on traditional Railway Signalling, and life on the Railway, it covers the decline of Fleetwood and its once great Maritime and Railway heritage. It is hoped that an Audio version of the book will also be produced later this year.

About the Author

Jack D. Harrison became a Poet/Author, as part of the process of re-inventing himself. He was a Railway Signalman until back injuries forced him to retire early during 1988. He has always loved writing and composing since boyhood, and his work includes lyrics, poetry and short stories. Apart from previously published poems and articles, his first book [of Verse] was self-published only in November-2017. ‘Rhyming Lines – The Poems of Jack D. Harrison’, provides some idea of the range and variety of Jack’s work, Including works about his home town and port of Fleetwood, along with the former deep-sea fishing fleet and local history, to poems which read like stories, including ‘Poppies in a Field’, ‘Remember October’, ‘The Boy and The Spider’ and ‘One Christmas In Fleetwood’. www.rhyminglines.com But his second book ‘Memoirs of a Signalman’, is Autobiographical and deals with one of his happiest periods; his time on the Railway. So, climb aboard for this new journey, calling at various points along the way. A journey of Jack’s time as a Railwayman and the last heydays of the Port of Fleetwood – and ultimately, Electrification, and the end of traditional Signalling on the Blackpool and Fleetwood lines.