THRASHING Class 56 & More at Teston Level Crossing, Kent
We will remember them.
Date filmed: Wednesday the 16th of October 2024
Videos filmed between 13:36 and 14:18
Route: Medway Valley Line
Between Wateringbury (WTR) and East Farleigh (EFL) Stations
Crossing type: Manually Controlled Barrier crossing with CCTV (MCB-CCTV)
Filming location: B2163 Teston Lane, Teston (ME18 5BX)
A level crossing located beside the River Medway and Teston Country Park near the village of Teston, Kent. This level crossing is on the Medway Valley Line between Wateringbury and East Farleigh, and controlled from the signal box at the former. At the time of filming, Teston Bridge was shut for major works (and will still be shut until the start of December), so the road across the level crossing once more fell really quiet, and some unusual shots were possible. Some traffic still used the crossing for the park, and a number of vehicles tried their luck against the road closure to no success, but it was still quiet enough to allow the area to be appreciated for how nice it is and this filming session to be enjoyed by me all the more.
The level crossing in its current form dates back to a full renewal in 2013, and whilst one alarm is still a good 3-4 years newer than that, it and the other alarm at this level crossing both sound faulty. Perfectly audible at the time of filming, they're usually quiet enough to be mostly drowned out by the traffic noise across this crossing. One corner of this level crossing is already on its third different wigwag due to the one in that corner often getting struck badly. Pity the old set-up with the back to back lights across the track from it wasn't kept after the renewal.
5 different lowerings and 6 trains feature in this video. One lowering for a heavy freight train also included a double-pass with a local unit passing out of view, but the one after for another freight train provided a very nice surprise; a slightly less common Class 56 locomotive was heading from Halling to Hoo (having to go via Tonbridge due to there being no way to go directly from the plant) and it SHATTERED the peace of the area with some incredible thrash as it passed! The audio has been boosted for that clip so you can enjoy some of the best thrash I've caught in a while. Enjoy!
Trains featured:
Intro - 0:00
-
Lowering 1 (0:52):
375 307 (Southeastern) (1) - 2:00
2T36 Strood ➡ Paddock Wood | On-time
-
Lowering 2 (2:30):
66 734 "Platinum Jubilee" (GB Railfreight) - 3:20
6O86 Acton Yard GBRf ➡ Tonbridge West Yard GBRf | 1 minute late
Also passed:
Class 375 (Southeastern)
2T39 Paddock Wood ➡ Strood | On-time
-
Lowering 3 (4:06):
56 049 "Robin of Templecombe" (Colas Rail) THRASHING! - 4:55
6Y86 Halling NR Colas ➡ Hoo Junction Up Yard | 3 minutes early
-
Lowering 4 (5:58):
375 308 (Southeastern) - 7:00
2T38 Strood ➡ Paddock Wood | On-time
-
Lowering 5 (7:27):
375 307 (Southeastern) (2) - 8:19
2T41 Paddock Wood ➡ Strood | On-time
-
End-of-video picture showcase: 8:42
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!