While it was open, drivers used to "step back" at Shoreditch tube station, meaning that the driver of a terminating train would leave the cab at the front (rear from the point of view of the next service) and ring this bell on the wall of the platform to indicate he'd shut the cab down and vacated it. As soon as the train arrived into the station a driver waiting by the new front of the train would get into that cab, wait for the bell and then power up and drive the train on its next service. The first driver then walks the length of the platform so that he is in position to take the next train out when it arrives.

Photo by Chris McKenna 31/05/2006.
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