For the 6.00 am shift change, if the local passenger train from Carlisle was due to be shunted at Quintinshill, the signalmen had developed an informal arrangement allowing whoever was working the early day shift to arrive later aboard it, thus saving the walk from Gretna.
For the 6.00 am shift change, the signalmen had developed an informal arrangement allowing whoever was working the early day shift to arrive for work at around 6.30 am. This allowed the day shift signalman to get up slightly later, and to travel to work on the local train when it was to be shunted at Quintinshill, thus saving the walk from Gretna.