Dover Marina Swing Bridge, Kent

Dover Marina Swing Bridge, Dover, Kent.
Location: Union Street, Dover
Date Filmed: 13-06-2020
Swing bridge at Dover Marina in the port town of Dover, Kent. This is the old swing bridge providing access to the 'Wellington Dock', soon to be replaced by a new lift bridge as part of the 'Dover Western Docks Revival' Project, which involves major investment and changes to the western docks. The swing bridge is monitored and controlled from the Marina office, a separate building as what appears to be the former bridge control building seen in the video was empty. To protect vehicles and pedestrians, the bridge has four 'twm' warning lights, one of which is surprisingly completed broken. These are unique warning lights without light shades and I've only seen them at bridges. There are four 'Automatic Systems' barriers, all of which their lights are completely broken. I found that there was actually six individual alarms (two on each warning light) but, yet again surprisingly, not of them seemed to work. One alarm, I believe on the side of the old bridge control building, was the only one working. The bridge takes around 5-6 minutes to swing open and close for one vessel. The bridge opens on request so it was luck that I managed to film the bridge open, and I don't know how often it opens. This video appears to be the first online showing the operation of the swing bridge, from start to finish.
Thanks For Watching!

[@reidy008]

Loved watching the boats go through this when I was a kid brings back lots of good memories

[@liftsfromrblx8844]

Great video! What odd alarms & signals! Great vid. Always makes my day seeing these videos

[@UKLevelCrossingsChannel]

Thanks! 😁 Yeah, these lights are unique, as are the barriers which I've not seen anywhere else. Glad you're enjoying them.

[@dasy2k1]

@@UKLevelCrossingsChannel looks like a prototype VMS level crossing light

[@danieldabloxgamer9205]

They might have stuck an alarmsense sounder base ontop of the light poles

[@yabbaguy]

I always love seeing how bridges take all kinds of liberties with the specs of the warning lights/barriers and the procedure, since they're clearly not bound by the same guidelines as level crossings.

[@UKLevelCrossingsChannel]

Yeah, clearly. I've never managed to see a level crossing with one of the warning lights completely dead. A lot of bridges in the UK are interesting. Its a shame seeing most of them active involves waiting around and luck lol

[@danielcollins7849]

Blue is my favourite colour

[@SouthEastLevelCrossings]

Oh well, what a strange array of equipment, and how funny to see a wigwag where none of the lights work! Interesting how only one alarm works too, and I must say I'm really not keen on the way those wigwags look! How the bridge tilts before swinging out reminds me of the swing bridge in Newhaven, yet a lot smaller! Anyways a fab video - I've known about this for a while - glad to finally see a video on it!!!

[@UKLevelCrossingsChannel]

Yeah, very surprising seeing a whole wigwag doesn't even work. These LED lights aren't that old either. I quite like these lights without the shades, and I've been wanting to film these for a while. I've only ever found them at bridges in the UK. Thanks 😁

[@dragondancer1814]

I’ve always found swing bridges to be fascinating devices, and to catch this one in operation must have been an unbelievable stroke of luck for you! It’s a pity there are plans to replace it with a lift bridge, but I suppose one can see why from a practical standpoint. Nice catch!

[@UKLevelCrossingsChannel]

Thanks! 😁 It was quite a good stroke of luck during the hour I waited, considering the bridge is opened entirely on request. Glad I managed to film it before it's replaced. As part of the western docks revival, the lift bridge will become new access to the Wellington inner dock and the swing bridge access will be developed on.

[@UKLevelCrossingAndBridges]

These look like some amazing wigwags lights i have never seen! This is my first time seeing a light like this. Was the right light not working?

[@UKLevelCrossingsChannel]

Yeah, for some reason the right side light was not working at all!

[@pianoandstufflad1240]

Wow!! Very fascinating!! 👏👏 Ive never seen something like that!! 🤔🤔 Amazing job btw!! 😀😀😁😁

[@UKLevelCrossingsChannel]

Thank you very much! 😁👍

[@pianoandstufflad1240]

@@UKLevelCrossingsChannel No problem

[@harrywheeler1633]

Interesting! What odd alarms! Also odd how that offside wigwag didn’t switch on when the bridge was closing!

[@UKLevelCrossingsChannel]

Thank you Harry 😎 Yeah I was very surprised to find a wigwag wasn't even working. I think there's only one alarm working, despite there being alarms on the backs of the four lights. I'm glad I filmed this very interesting swing bridge.

[@SurreyTravellingandMore]

UK Level Crossing Channel there is another swing bridge right next to it if you look on google maps you can see another swing bridge which is really cool! Can you film it if you like I’m not saying need to just a request.

[@gemth9853]

Government: We have received complaints about a lot of level crossings and swing bridges... what should be do? Some stupid Tory minister: I know! Let’s renew stuff that doesn’t need renewing but we will leave everything else alone.

[@UKLevelCrossingsChannel]

Lol that sounds about right 😂 Although in this case, the Western docks at Dover are getting a complete upgrade and it will make this area much nicer and economical. There's still going to be a bridge thankfully, you can see the new lift bridge in the background.

[@amandasmith3303]

Those alarms are odd but I quite like them!

[@UKLevelCrossingsChannel]

Yeah, I've not managed to film any alarm like this at a crossing. Bridges usually have different alarms and bells compared to crossings

[@vibezwithando1041]

Great video! What odd alarms!

[@UKLevelCrossingsChannel]

Thank you! 😎 Yeah, I wasn't expecting what I heard. It was much louder when I was the other side.

[@danieldabloxgamer9205]

The alarms sound like CTEC

[@Blue_LineProductions]

Nice catch of that mate Edit: whats wrong with the lights 0:06 on the right

[@UKLevelCrossingsChannel]

Thank Denis 😊 They were completely dead lol

[@DRrailfanning3115]

the signal on the right does not want to operate!

[@nathansrailwayphotography8125]

Great video

[@UKLevelCrossingsChannel]

Thanks! 😊

[@freebrickproductions]

Nice video!

[@UKLevelCrossingsChannel]

Thank you 😁

[@SurreyTravellingandMore]

Please can you do the one with the swing bridge pedestrian also the pedestrian lights please!

[@UKLevelCrossingsChannel]

Which one are you talking about? Do you know where it is?

[@SurreyTravellingandMore]

You did film it before? I think it had pictures of pedestrians swing bridge??

[@UKLevelCrossingsChannel]

Is it the one in Torquay, with the metal gates that swing across the path?

[@SurreyTravellingandMore]

@@UKLevelCrossingsChannel no

[@SurreyTravellingandMore]

It is in the uk

[@ellismahoney328]

Interesting video

[@UKLevelCrossingsChannel]

Thanks 😊

[@kianthetrainspotter7777]

7:16 whats that sruff drooping from the leds?

[@UKLevelCrossingsChannel]

I have no idea, it looks very weird. This is right beside the seafront so it may be to do with coastal environment, some substance has reacted and left a mark somehow

[@cristobalcampos2011]

No visors???

[@UKLevelCrossingsChannel]

No, not on these lights there isn't, which are quite rare to find in the UK.

[@theryaman6578]

Is the other one on the side u filed broken i see no lights

[@UKLevelCrossingsChannel]

Yes it was, completely dead.

[@theryaman6578]

@@UKLevelCrossingsChannel did u call network rail about it

[@UKLevelCrossingsChannel]

No because they don't manage bridges, only the railways with level crossings. Since this bridge is probably going to be decommissioned soon and it's not very busy, there wasn't much point

[@reidy008]

@@theryaman6578 it would be Dover harbour board. As that is Owens by then I live in Dover

[@stanlee_x329]

This is pretty much a cheap rip off of train crossings XD great catch tho!

[@UKLevelCrossingsChannel]

Thanks 😊 There's always different equipment on bridges compared to level crossings

[@dasy2k1]

The specs for bridges aren't at rigid for whatever reason. Although if I was replacing the equipment at one I would just stick standard level crossing kit on it. From an availability of spares perspective more than any other reason

[@theuklevelcrossings-channe4454]

Nice! 👌🏻😁

[@UKLevelCrossingsChannel]

Thanks! 😎

[@SurreyTravellingandMore]

UK Level Crossing Channel there is another swing bridge right next to it if you look on google maps you can see another swing bridge which is really cool! Can you film it if you like I’m not saying need to just a request.