Recorded in the cab of Pacer 142032 on the 12.54 service from Preston to Colne on 20th June 2019. With many thanks to Northern for arranging the cab ride and giving me permission to record it.
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!
