Maltby Colliery signal box is a mechanical box that has been modified to include control of the line towards Doncaster. These modifications were made in the mid 1980s and included the provision of a relay interlocking to control the former Maltby North and Firbeck Junction signal box areas. The points and signals at Maltby North are controlled from the lever frame at Maltby Colliery box. Firbeck Junction, along with the branch from there to Harworth Colliery, is controlled by a small electrical control panel in Maltby Colliery box. The former block section at Firbeck Junction is now an intermediate block between Maltby Colliery and the power signal box at Doncaster. The running lines through Maltby form three parallel tracks which are denoted up and down main, passing loop and arrival/departure. The arrival/departure name is derived from the fact that it gives access to Maltby Colliery sidings. The arrival/departure line is not only used for trains requiring access to the colliery, it is also occasionally used for running round or as a passing loop as longer trains can be accommodated on this line than on the up and down main line due to the position of the block joints in the rails. The signals at Maltby are not fitted with AWS or TPWS as this is a freight only line and these systems are not required, so there is no indication on the OTMR to show whether a signal is on or off.

The CTC sign at Vance is lined for a westbound freight – as is the signal at Homer – the other end of the siding – in the distance. Notice how much taller the far signal (Homer) is than the near signal (Vance); the far signal's height allows the signal to be sighted from a distance despite the hill between the two signals.