(Manually-operated gates) Thuxton Level Crossing, Norfolk

Date filmed: 13/08/2023
Video filmed at 15:54

Route: Mid Norfolk Railway
Thuxton Station

Crossing type: Manually-operated Gates crossing (MG)

Location: Station Lane, Thuxton
Trains featured:
47 580 "County of Essex" - Seen from 1:02
The locomotive was performing a 'run-around' to re-attatch to the other end of the train for the return journey to Dereham

For more information about the railway: https://www.midnorfolkrailway.co.uk/

A Class 47 locomotive in British Rail blue and yellow colours can be seen thundering out of Thuxton Station on its own for a short distance towards a set of points, to then come back and pass its train on the other line to reach the far end of it where it would then set back to then re-attach to these carriages at that end ready to take the train back to Dereham. It really piled on the power after the signal was cleared with a mighty roar from the engine and a lot of clag! Everything about this location is retro and authentically 'heritage' (bar the electric white lights under the closest signal), as there is a mechanical signal box, semaphore signalling, heritage trains, and even still manually-operated gates. There are just the two here, and both are fitted to the same side of the road closest to the signal box. Keys from the gates have to be taken and put into slots in the traditional mechanical signal box to allow the signals over it to be cleared once the gate locks are engaged.

The video was filmed from the end of the platform, and the signalman can be seen manually-operating these wooden gates as a contrast to the much more common visual and audible warnings with lifting barriers. Enjoy!

Thanks for watching!