Little Faringdon Crossing

LITTLE FARINGDON CROSSING

1½ miles after leaving Kelmscott & Langford we come to the site of Little Faringdon level crossing (SP234005). Why this was the only level crossing on the East Gloucestershire Railway remains something of a mystery, especially as the numerous road overbridges were built so cheaply and the terrain was so flat that level crossings would have been the normal choice. The East Gloucestershire Railway provided a crossing keeper's cottage in the same style as their station buildings, constructed from the local stone, with brick quoins.

Pictures of trains in the vicinity of Little Faringdon Crossing seem to be extremely rare, but here is a superb view of 22xx Class 0-6-0 2221 approaching the crossing with the 12:32 Fairford to Oxford train on 8 June 1962. With only just over a week to go before the line's closure, the loco carries the chalked inscription 'The Fairford Flyer' on the smokebox door. A fascinating picture taken on a perfect summers day, with the crossing keeper looking on and the peonies in full bloom in the trackside flower border. Note the spelling of Little Farringdon Crossing Ground Frame. This seems to be the GWR subtly altering the spelling, as happened at various other locations. Virtually all other sources show the village name as Little Faringdon. Directly behind the locomotive is one of the stately elm trees that were such a feature of the Oxfordshire landscape until the coming of Dutch Elm Disease in the decade after the Fairford Branch closed.
Howard Burchell

Little Faringdon Crossing in 1990

This view (above) shows the crossing keeper's house on 17 March 1990, when it was still largely in its as built condition, although the cabin containing the ground frame which controlled the crossing had gone. This stood in the garden in front of the house. Note the bay window which gave a good view of the line in both directions.
Martin Loader

This 23 March 2003 view is taken from the site of the level crossing and shows the course of the line heading off towards Lechlade. Note that the bay window has now gone and the building has been considerably extended art the rear.
Martin Loader

Little Faringdon Crossing in 2003

An even earlier view of Little Faringdon crossing keeper's cottage, this time from the rear of the building, looking along the course of the line towards Kelmscott & Langford. This view from 10 August 1972 shows that although the gates had gone, the posts were still there, and of course the ground frame hut hadn't yet been removed, and at this time still retained its original stove pipe chimney.
Stanley C. Jenkins

Little Faringdon level crossing ground frame in 1984

The ground frame cabin was still in situ on 23 April 1984. This housed the three levers that controlled the level crossing locking bolt and the two ATC ramps that protected the crossing (All distant signals having been removed in 1906). When the track on this section was lifted in 1964, the rails were left in the road, merely being tarmaced over, but recent investigation with a metal detector (thanks Malc!) has failed to locate any sign of them now.
Martin Loader

The flat open nature of the countryside in the area is exemplified in this view which shows the course of the line just west of Little Faringdon Crossing. The crossing keeper's cottage is visible in the distance. As can be seen, the line here is on a gentle curve. 17 April 1987.
Martin Loader

Near Little Faringdon Crossing

A short distance after Little Faringdon crossing, the line crossed the River Leach on a twin span girder bridge (SP229004), each span being 8 ft 3 in (9 ft 6 in on the skew) wide. In this 19 April 1980 view, looking east, the bases of the central piers can be seen in the river. Originally these would have been timber piles. To quote from the GWR bridge register: "The whole of the timber is in very poor condition & extensive renewals are required. Work authorized 6 March 1906, renew timbers £100." From here the line continued on a curve towards Lechlade station, passing over numerous culverts and another small twin span girder bridge over a backwater of the River Leach.
Martin Loader

On 22 April 2006, a small section of a girder from the River Leach bridge could still be seen abandoned next to the railway fence on the north side of the line, just to the west of the River Leach. It is the section that rested on the brickwork abutments, and you can clearly see where it has been cut from the remainder of the girder. The black paint is sill extant, except where the heat from the oxy-acetylene cutter has burnt it away. Why this one small section was not removed with the rest of the steelwork is a mystery.
Martin Loader

Section of River Leach bridge girder

All along the branch, numerous gates were provided giving farmers access to fields on either side of the line. This surviving example a short distance west of the River Leach (SP228004) shows the standard construction: a wooden gate between two concrete posts, with reinforced rail sections used to terminate the post and wire fence. On 22 April 2006 the sheep come to investigate the unexpected appearance of a photographer at this difficult to get to section of line!
Martin Loader