Great video clip,, it would however have been better from Preston station,,,,, but I did notice the facing and trailing crossovers at Houghton level crossing have been removed,,,but still remain at Cherry Tree,, look forward to seeing the next clip
Very nostalgic. At around 4:20 we pass the site of Houghton station, closed in the 60's, now long gone. During the 50's when I were a lad my Grandad would take me to Houghton. At the level crossing (still there), there was a signal box and he knew one of the signalmen, Joe. We would go up and I pulled some of the levers and turned the big wheel to close the crossing gates. Then there would be a quiet spell and my Grandad and Joe would go across the crossing into the pub (The Boar's Head?) for a pint, leaving me alone in the box. Bells would ring, and I got very worried, but nothing ever came until they wandered back across to resume duties. Imagine a signalman doing something like that now!
