![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.railuk.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/20120846\/Mick-Brooks.jpg\")
<\/a>After around three years, Mick became a relief crossing keeper, covering locations including Medge Hall and Godnow Bridge. Five years later, he secured a signalling role at Ranskill signal box on the East Coast Main Line, witnessing the electrification of the route during his time there.<\/p>\n
In the early 1990s, he moved to Keadby \u2013 one of the most unusual signal boxes in Britain. As well as controlling trains on the South Humberside route, the signaller keeps canal traffic moving by operating the adjacent Keadby Sliding Bridge \u2013 a rare movable railway bridge believed to be the only operational sliding bridge of its type on the national rail network.<\/p>\n
Grandad-of-two Mick, 65, of Thorne near Doncaster, said: \u201cI always wanted to work at Keadby. It feels like I\u2019ve seen it all there, from bathtub racing in the canal, sea cadets in the summer, and no end of people fishing and boating.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the quieter times at Keadby, when there\u2019s no-one else around, you notice the wildlife come out \u2013 deer, swans, squirrels, badgers and even the odd snake!<\/p>\n
\u201cI watched the demolition of the old brick power station nearby when I was given the honour of staying on duty in the signalbox while everyone else was evacuated from the area.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy beloved Keadby Bridge has seen many changes over the years, and I\u2019ll hopefully keep up with how it\u2019s progressing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mick\u2019s grandad, dad, and uncle worked in the rail industry before him \u2013 and two of his three children have followed suit. He said: \u201cI\u2019ve seen so many changes and it\u2019s been a brilliant experience. I\u2019ve gone from old-fashioned signalling to modern technology, but I\u2019ve loved my job right to the end.\u201d<\/p>\n
Karen Duffy, Network Rail operations director, said: \u201cMick\u2019s 49 years of service are an incredible achievement and demonstrate his outstanding dedication to the railway.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis knowledge of Keadby Bridge and the surrounding railway is exceptional, and countless colleagues have benefited from his experience, enthusiasm and commitment.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe would like to thank Mick for everything he has contributed during his long career and wish him a happy and well-deserved retirement.\u201d<\/p>\n
Image credit: Network Rail<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A signaller has retired after almost half a century working on the railway \u2013 with most of his career spent at the unique workplace of Keadby Canal Signal Box. Mick Brooks, whose last day with Network Rail was Friday 16 October, began his career as a train register lad assisting the signallers at Stainforth in [\u2026]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[16017,8221,47,16115,85],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-581886","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-industry-news","category-people","category-rail-news","category-signalling-and-telecoms","category-uk"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t