Springwell
Crossing Cabin

© Dave Hardy
Springwell crossing cabin

Since the opening of the railway in 1826 there has always been a level crossing here. However the crossing cabin itself has been replaced on a number of occasions. The cabin has been located on either side of the road at various times.

This building with its steel plate fire is shelter to the people working the crossing today. In addition to a signal bell and bell push it contains a phone and an electric interlocking repeater indicator box. In the early days of preservation this building doubled up as the site office with an outside telephone connection and letter box, and the site keys held within a small cupboard by the door.

The traditional white fence that runs south from the building encloses a triangular piece of land far larger than necessary from the crossing to an area above the catch point that protects the crossing from runaways. A siding once occupied this area where wagons for repair were sometimes held. As the railway carried items for other companies who had private sidings connected to the railway, this line may well have crossed the road in earlier times to gain access to the location of the now gone brick works located on the other side of the road.

In the final years of the railway's working the gates were removed and replaced with electric barriers. Evidence of this can be still seen by the lined hole in the floor beside the door, provided to house the barrier power supply and cables. The barriers remained after closure but were recovered for re use by the NCB in exchange for the return of the four gates that were removed when the barriers were installed.

The crossing and barriers feature in the film "Bowes Line" made shortly before closure.

This page last updated 30 November 2002