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Most of the levers have been weighted to simulate real operation, although some are actually connected to real signals erected around the site. To the left of this view is Crewe Station "A" box and, in the far distance, Crewe North Junction box. Both of these boxes are also on display at The Railway Age
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An electronic simulator has been provided, and the job working the simulator can be harder than working the box itself, for the operator has to act as signalman at all the adjacent boxes, make telephone calls representing local staff, and work the track circuit lights to emulate the passage of trains.
The box can be worked to the full summer timetable of the 1960's, although generally the box is demonstrated to visitors with a very limited timetable to allow movements and actions to be explained. However once a year, on May Day weekend, members of the Group let their hair down and for sheer pleasure simulate a full timetable for a 54-hour continuous period! At its busiest, this requires four staff in the box (just as it used to be) and two further operators controlling the simulator.
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