Plumpton is home to the renowned agricultural college which bears its name and the village is also well known for its racecourse.

It is a place I have often thought of visiting and I am so glad I recently got around to going there.

Approaching the station, I was delighted to be confronted by crossing gates, instead of the expected automatic barriers, which I had always thought were long standard at all crossings.

I discovered, as if frozen in time, a scene from the age of steam - the original signal box with flowers blooming on its steps and, incredibly, a big wheel still operated by the signalman to open the crossing gates.

He told me only a handful of these gates remain today, where special circumstances demanded a human presence rather than robot control.

In Plumpton's case the proximity to the racecourse's entrance means a watchful eye is needed at all times.

-Michael Parker, Brighton