Wateringbury Level Crossing Upgrade Process (Old Vs New)

Wateringbury Level Crossing, Wateringbury, Kent on the Medway Valley Line.
Location: Bow Hill, Wateringbury
Date Filmed: 29-05-2018, 11-11-2018, 24-11-2018, 21-12-2018
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Nearest Station: Wateringbury
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Trains:
Class 375 (Southeastern)
Class 375 (Southeastern)
Class 375 (Southeastern)
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Featuring:
‪@SouthEastLevelCrossings‬
A unique video showing the upgrade process of Wateringbury's level crossing, from manned gates to barriers monitored from the signal box. The upgrade process took around 2 months, from mid-October to mid-December. The crossing now looks and operates considerably different to what it use to.
Thanks For Watching!

[@SouthEastLevelCrossings]

I think I'm actually starting to miss the gates in some ways than others - the classic charm and visualisation of the manual crossing was what I thought of when I thought of the village. Funny how they've been gone for coming up to two years 😶

[@UKLevelCrossingsChannel]

For me it doesn't feel like 2 years, it feels longer. I've got quite used to seeing the new crossing with lights and barriers, more so than I did the gates. Probably the same situation with East Farleigh even though that was done second.

[@personwhotalkstomuch4898]

We still have manually operated crossings here in Lincolnshire, one not far from where I live at Hubberts Bridge. However, it is right on top of a dangerous crossroads & upon approaching from one side you have to cross a hump backed bridge & then the crossing is immediately after that. It is known locally as a notorious accident blackspot

[@LeviJamesRE]

It looks to me like it needs signals and signals further back off the bridge too so traffic is kept off the bridge while the crossing is down and maybe adding traffic lights for the junction beyond maybe a good idea if they incorporated it all into the level crossing

[@UKLevelCrossingsChannel]

Yeah I've been to Lincs twice and there's quite a few gated crossings still around, including that one at Hubberts Bridge.

[@amandasmith3303]

Preferred the old crossing. No horrible alarms and just seems a little safer.

[@brightonvr1806]

Nicely covered. Side by sides really work well, well done !

[@jayburgh]

That first cut between the old gates and upgraded barriers from the same position was very good.

[@UKLevelCrossingsChannel]

Yeah I spent a bit of work editing that 😎 I marked the position before the crossing was upgraded so knew roughly where to stand after the upgrade 😊

[@jayburgh]

@@UKLevelCrossingsChannel it's a mindnumbing, soul destroying, painstaking job alright but as you can see the rewards are fruitful :-)

[@UKLevelCrossingsChannel]

Indeed ☺️👍

[@User-3O3]

I think it'll be a shame when all of these traditional gated-crossings are gone. Back in the day, some crossings had their gates opened and closed by a ship wheel located in the signal box that the signalman would turn to operate the crossing. I wonder if there are any of those left.

[@duskjs1]

Worker: now I can stop getting in and out

[@317masterkiller_gaming6]

You know he’s probably getting paid less now

[@masonholder69]

Thank god the poor sod only has to manage the electronic barriers now.

[@Notactive-VLC]

I kinda like the new system tbh

[@theofficialnerdcrew4670]

well. they removed the country aspect of the medway valley line! manned gates for the win #vintageforthewin!

[@UKLevelCrossingsChannel]

East Farleigh and Cuxton remain. East Farleigh's new automated crossing will be complete early March, but there's no plans for Cuxton yet.

[@theofficialnerdcrew4670]

Yes! I'm so glad I only live down the road!

[@g.groves616]

Pre. Feels more classic and what the heritage of our railway is about. What about other people??

[@UKLevelCrossingsChannel]

Whilst mainline gated crossings are getting upgrades you can still find plenty of gated crossings on heritage / preserved steam railways up and down the country

[@kimpossibleyescruelladevil4960]

8:35 That was my 12th birthday

[@paulwilliams5208]

why they call them "up grades", what is some geaser going to come along try and drive through thinking the beam is just going to go up and over their car, and bottom part just going to flop away - old gate, formidable imposing barrier

[@75elgrebo]

Love the vids keep it up

[@UKLevelCrossingsChannel]

Thank you 😊

[@danielferstendig]

It's the thomas the tank engine crossing from sodor.

[@freebrickproductions]

Great video! Do you prefer the crossing pre or post upgrade?

[@UKLevelCrossingsChannel]

Thank you 😎 I prefer the new automated crossing (post upgrade) 👍

[@jameshardy3489]

I preferred it pre upgrade. I like the Gated crossings more than the modern ones.

[@MichaelMcFerrin]

Guy lost his job to automation/upgrade...sad. But great side by side action...thanx!

[@UKLevelCrossingsChannel]

The crossing is still manually controlled from the signal box (there are buttons to initiate the lowering sequence) 😊

[@Baloongis2]

I'm sure he prefers not having to manually open and close the gates. It looks tedious

[@masonholder69]

So glad they used yodalarms on this crossing, most new crossings get those horrible E2S alarms 🤮

[@UKLevelCrossingsChannel]

Yeah ikr lol

[@khmcc5556]

I noticed that grifiti

[@blairwalker6771]

It’s sooooooo cool

[@ragnarragnarson5184]

Much prefer the old style gated crossing

[@UKLevelCrossingsChannel]

Unfortunately there's not many examples left in the UK now. Most can be found on heritage and private railways.

[@JPLCUK]

Cool

[@UKLevelCrossingsChannel]

Thanks 😁

[@dashcamdude6690]

And some one lost there job

[@UKLevelCrossingsChannel]

No, the signal box is still here and a signalman controls this crossing

[@mathewbeem6904]

Okay cool

[@masonholder69]

I am far too familiar with that humming sound the bloody trains make! Guess what is right behind my house? The London to Oxford Mainline! Guess what is 700yd down the road from my house? The train station!

[@3500P5]

What a shame these are gone now

[@UKLevelCrossingsChannel]

Yeah they've been gone well over 2 years now.

[@LiftEnthusiast2020OFFTOPIC]

Do east fairleigh next

[@UKLevelCrossingsChannel]

It's completed in March

[@khmcc5556]

Plz don’t mind my spelling in the other comment.

[@matthewrobertson95]

Anyone else notice the graffiti on the train at 1:14?

[@alexburdyn1196]

Matthew Robertson yes

[@jameshardy3489]

I did notice it. Those graffiti artists will spray anything these days

[@TheRealDandyes1997]

Yes I do poor class 375

[@sjrailways301]

Sad :(

[@denelson83]

@@TheRealDandyes1997 Electroscarred.

[@liliwinnt6]

ouch! the red background reminds me of simulated EAS videos, i would like to ask you to change into some colour else, could you please do me a favor? many thanks

[@UKLevelCrossingsChannel]

The video is public now so I can't change it

[@liliwinnt6]

@@UKLevelCrossingsChannel uhm... maybe later

[@avlifts1989]

This comment is now removed

[@blairwalker6771]

That is one old level crossing

[@UKLevelCrossingsChannel]

Yeah it was

[@Bobrogers99]

And now these young men are out of a job. Hopefully the railroad found other positions for them. Sometimes progress isn't pretty, just practical.

[@UKLevelCrossingsChannel]

What do you mean they're out of a job? No-one has lost a job. There is still a signalman on the signal box and the workers who upgraded the crossing will just move onto the next rail project.

[@dragondancer1814]

UK Level Crossings Channel They certainly get their exercise with all that walking about opening and closing the gates! I’m used to automated gates, but that’s just what I grew up with and got more accustomed to as a result. These older manual gates are fascinating!

[@dragondancer1814]

UK Level Crossings Channel They certainly get their exercise with all that walking about opening and closing the gates! I’m used to automated gates, but that’s just what I grew up with and got more accustomed to as a result. These older manual gates are fascinating!

[@dragondancer1814]

UK Level Crossings Channel They certainly get their exercise with all that walking about opening and closing the gates! I’m used to automated gates, but that’s just what I grew up with and got more accustomed to as a result. These older manual gates are fascinating!

[@johnnz4375]

Another bit of British rail history destroyed in the name of automation, next the guy who controlled the gates will lose his job as he is now obsolete. ☹️

[@UKLevelCrossingsChannel]

The crossing is still activated from a control panel in the signal box. Most of the Medway Valley Line is all still controlled with signal boxes here, at East Farleigh, Maidstone West, Aylesford and Cuxton.