Ardleigh

The level crossing at Ardleigh was converted from manual gates to automatic lifting barriers on April 24th 1983. Despite no working signals or track circuiting, the trains were kept running by basic signaling methods that dated back to the early years of railways. In this photo taken on that day, 47 431 heading a Norwich to London express is being flagged down for the driver to be assured that the line ahead was clear. I learned from a signalman some months later that there had been a “miscommunication” during this operation which had resulted in a “narrow squeak”.

Location: Ardleigh (former)

Original line: Eastern Union Railway

Photographer: Mark Dufton

Contact photographer: Mark Dufton

Contact editor

Date: 24/04/1983

Image number: 31830


Other photographs of Ardleigh on RailScot