Uckfield - 1983

The gates are just about to swing open for a morning train to London on 17 September. Thanks to years of neglect and uncertainty, investment on the Uckfield line had been minimal since the 1960s, and it was for this reason that the level crossing retained its wooden swing gates for as long as it did.

In fact, at one stage, a set of lifting barriers was even manufactured, and the steps of the signalbox were moved to the opposite end of the box to make space to accommodate them. The new foot crossing that this required can be seen just beyond the crossing gates.

But in the end, the scheme was cancelled at the eleventh hour, and Uckfield's new set of barriers languished unused at Three Bridges until eventually another use was found for them elsewhere.