Final visit to Farnborough North (User-Worked) Level Crossing in operation, Hampshire

Описание: Date filmed: Wednesday the 21st of August 2024
Video filmed at 14:34

Route: North Downs Line
Farnborough North (FNN) Sation

Crossing type: User-Worked Crossing with Miniature Stop Lights (UWC-MSL)

Filming location: Farnborough Street, Farnborough (GU14 8AQ)
Featuring: Electra Level Crossings:    / @electralevelcrossings  

A fast train is seen speeding through Farnborough North station towards Reading on what is almost certainly going to be my last ever video of this 'active' user-worked crossing beside it in operation before it closes permanently. This level crossing has amongst the highest collective risks of any on Network Rail's 'Wessex' route, and an accessible step-free footbridge has been constructed as a replacement for it. Construction of this footbridge with lifts swiftly progressed throughout 2024, and it will by definition remove the need for this level crossing all together, which is a benefit given this crossing has had more than its fair share of misuse, near misses, and trespass incidents over the years.

Given how quickly it had come along since my prior visit in May 2024 (it was practically complete on this visit), the crossing will not have had long left after this video was filmed, and may very likely be gone (or at least about to go if it hasn't already) by the time this video is published. Equipment consisted of four Unipart 'Dorman' red/green signals, E2S 'Appello' alarms with anti-vandal protection, and magnetic locking gates which could be released from within the crossing in an emergency. Due to its excessively high collective risk (and also increased vehicular usage for the construction of the footbridge), a crossing attendant was deployed here.

For contrast, I have featured an old photo in my collection of what the crossing looked like in 2008 at the end of the video, featuring its halogen bulb miniature stop lights of which there were only two as opposed to four, and no alarms. Farewell, Farnborough North crossing.

This foot crossing officially permanently closed to pedestrians in March 2025, but the manned road crossing remains solely for local access.

Trains featured:
Intro - 0:00
-
Activation (0:46):
165 114 (Great Western Railway) - 1:13
1V50 Gatwick Airport ➡ Reading | On-time
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End-of-video picture showcase: 1:37

Train details sourced from:
Real Time Trains: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/sear...
Open Train Times: https://www.opentraintimes.com/maps
Traksy: https://traksy.uk/live

Filmed on: Panasonic HC-VX1 in 4K 25fps

Thanks for watching!