Salisbury Tunnel Junction signal box contained a large, for the

size of the box that is, Stevens & Sons lever frame that grew over time eventually topping out at twenty-one levers as seen here. As can be seen, this filled the box with very little space to spare. It operated absolute block through Fisherton tunnel to Salisbury East and as far as Dean on what was referred to as the 'branch' but was in fact the route to Portsmouth and Southampton. On the afternoon of my visit just nine days prior to its closure a signalman, Reg, of some forty-five years service was on his last shift before retirement. I have a cassette recording of him finishing his six to two shift by ringing the bells after signalling his last train and handing over to his relief with the poignant words said in his rich Wiltshire accent, 'There you go, it's all yours'! With that done, he exited the box, climbed on his ancient bike and rode home; the end of an era.