(Halogen Lights) Stewartby Brickworks Level Crossing, Bedfordshire

Рет қаралды 1,278

South East Level Crossings & Trains Channel

Күн бұрын

Date filmed: Tuesday the 1st of March 2022
Video filmed at 15:04
Route: Marston Vale Line
Stewartby (SWR) is the closest station
Location: Site of the old Brickworks, Stewartby
Trains featured:
230 004 'D-Train' (London North Western Railway) - 2:16
2S20 Bedford ➡ Bletchley | On-time
-
Please note: the only reason I was able to film this level crossing from the adjacent ground was because, at the time of filming, making, and uploading of this video, there was a public footpath which runs through the site of the old brickworks (officially known as Footpath 5, Stewartby), albeit it's a dead-end footpath and you can only walk along it to the end and back so long as you don't diverge onto any of the other land within the site. However, as of August 2024, the footpath has been temporarily closed due to development, and it's expected to be a lengthy closure. The level crossing itself is actually on the route of this footpath, which made it accessible as it had been since it was originally deemed a public right of way (Massive thanks to ‪@Nathan_A_RF‬ highlighting the existence of this public footpath and allowing it to be clarified as still officially open at the time.) At the time of filming, the footpath was clearly included on the Council's own 'right of ways' map, as well as a handful of other OS maps as it was a recognised right of way.
However, It was made apparent on my visit that the landowners had applied to close the footpath due to its poor condition. Whilst the footpath was not yet officially closed at the time of filming (meaning it was technically still open at the time), it was made clear that it was in an unsafe condition, so there and then, I was only allowed and able to go up to only one side the level crossing and no further, and I made sure I was there for no more than a few minutes and no longer than necessary to film this lowering. The right of way still officially existed years later, though it was constantly obstructed by a locked gate and entry refused up until its official closure - this was far from the only right of way facing this problem.
-
Probably one of the strangest locations for a level crossing I've filmed at thus far, this level crossing is found within the former site of the London Brick Company Brickworks at Stewartby in the Marston Vale, once a top, bustling, and very important brickworks in its heyday. This Brickworks shut in 2008 with its chimneys demolished in 2021, and all that remains now is a derelict site with ruins of former buildings scattered across it. The level crossing itself has halogen lights which are rare to find across the country, with the exception of the Marston Vale Line where they're still seen at most crossings on this line. It sees pretty much no use any more these days (apart from the odd authorised vehicles accessing the site), so it's quite surprising to see it still here and still needing to be raised and lowered for every train, and in pretty much immaculate condition despite a single dis-lodged skirt rod on one of the barriers. You'd've thought it'd just be a user-worked crossing by now, or an 'on-call' level crossing which is only raised upon request.
Thanks for watching!

Пікірлер: 19

@EastAngliaLevelCrossingsUK 10 ай бұрын

Amazing that you could record a closure here! I assume you're delighted to have had this opportunity at a unique crossing!

@SouthEastLevelCrossings 10 ай бұрын

I absolutely am. It was a stroke of luck I was allowed to use any of the footpath here at the time. There's a public footpath that goes through the brickworks, but it seems to be routinely obstructed.

@EastAngliaLevelCrossingsUK 10 ай бұрын

@@SouthEastLevelCrossings ok

@freebrickproductions 2 жыл бұрын

Great video and crossing! What a neat crossing, kinda reminds me of one on the CSX Mineral Sub in Birmingham, lol.