Overseas, women are often employed as crossing keepers and occasionally have control of a small roadside signal cabin as well; but in this country there are only a few instances where level crossings are in charge of females. One is found on the Great Western Railway, at Leigh Wood crossing, Crowcombe, where Mrs Hill has the distinction of being one of the few women concerned in traffic operations upon a British railway, and we are glad to be able to reproduce her photograph. When employed by the Great Western Company at Chard station, Mrs Hill's husband met with a serious accident in 1880. He was transferred to Leigh Wood crossing, Crowcombe, in the famous hunting district of the Quantock Hills, so that he might the more speedily recover; but was never again fit for duty. His wife pluckily undertook his work on the line and performed it so well that, ever since his death, which occurred in the following year, the company have allowed her to remain in charge of the crossing - an act of kindly consideration for which she is deeply grateful.
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