Date filmed: Tuesday the 14th of May 2024
Videos filmed between 16:29 and 16:55
Route: East Coast Main Line (ECML)
- Between Alnmouth (ALM) and Chathill (CHT) Stations
Crossing type: Manually Controlled Barrier crossing with CCTV (MCB-CCTV)
Filming location: Windyside Hill, Little Mill (NE66 3LN)
A level crossing found to the northeast of Alnwick near Howick on the Northumberland Coast in the far north east of England - further north even than the Galloway Forest park in Scotland. A 'crossover' exists just south of this level crossing, and this allows trains to switch between lines as this northerly section of the East Coast Main Line is bi-directionally signalled from Northallerton to as far north as Torness (Scotland) - trains can run either way on either line (useful in case of problems or engineering work). It's one of eight level crossings controlled from Alnmouth Signal Box, one of three active signal boxes between Morpeth and the Scottish Border that still remain despite being on the East Coast Main Line. The alarm combination here is quite high-pitched and screechy, but they blend quite nicely, and this level crossing has another of those stone trackside buildings located right next to it, and I noticed a few whilst in the area. They're most likely former crossing keeper's accommodation as there are numerous other relay buildings here.
You have a decent variety of trains for a video of this length, as in this video, both a TransPennine Express 'Nova 1' train and LNER Azumas feature along-side an oil train heading from Seaham to Oxwellmains (also near Torness as it turns out). This train only runs as required (not particularly frequently even for freight trains), and as such was a fairly lucky catch even if I missed the lowering for it as it was allowed to run ten minutes early on this section. That was worked by a Class 70 - not the most common of locomotives either. In keeping with the 'efficiently-operated crossings' theme of this area, the second full lowering for the southbound Azuma is actually un-cut. As commanding as my starting shot for the first full lowering was, I did have to stand slightly in the road - not ideal even if it's not a particularly busy road here.
Trains featured:
801 201 (LNER Azuma) - 0:00
1E21 Edinburgh Waverley ➡ London Kings Cross | 1 minute early
-
70 814 (Colas Rail) - 1:00
6S26 Seaham Harbour (Colas Rail) ➡ Oxwellmains Lafarge (Colas) | 10 minutes early
-
Lowering 1 (1:39):
802 219 (TransPennine Express 'Nova 1') - 3:05
9S16 Newcastle ➡ Edinburgh Waverley | On-time
-
Lowering 2 (3:35):
801 203 (LNER Azuma) - 5:05
1E22 Edinburgh Waverley ➡ London Kings Cross | On-time
-
End-of-video picture showcase: 5:34
Train details sourced from:
Real Time Trains: www.realtimetrains.co.uk/sear...
Open Train Times: www.opentraintimes.com/maps
Traksy: traksy.uk/live
Filmed on: Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus in 4K 30fps
Thanks for watching!