IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Station Road, MANNINGTREE, CO11 2LH

Here the railway line splits. The line on the right goes to Harwich port the line on the left continues north east to Norwich.

Scan Spedition truck on the A137, crossing the London Norwich mainline at Manningtree before the line was electrified. The truck is en-route to Harwich docks where it will board a ferry to its Denmark base. The vehicle must have been a regular visitor as it carries both Danish and UK registrations (the latter may be that of the trailer). Along with the Danish Flag, the truck carries its TIR badge indicating that it is a sealed vehicle and that minimal customs checks will be required - thus speeding its journey. See Wikipedia for further info on TIR.

The driver of crosseyed 37052 cracks on the power - clearly not stopping at Manningtree! Taken before the electrification of the Ipswich and Norwich line, this Junction forms the western end of a triangle giving access to the Harwich Docks Branch, the tracks for which diverge to the right. The yellow speed limit sign advises drivers that the maximum speed around the curve to Harwich is 25mph. Behind is a platelayers hut with some permanent way maintenance equipment outside. The Signal box had been converted some years before from semaphore to colour light signalling. The signal box was removed when the line was electrified and the platelayers hut was replaced by power supply equipment. Compare with the current scene in Oxyman's photo from the same spot - Image

The Great Eastern Main Line crosses the A137 Colchester-Ipswich road. The bridge is too low and narrow for some vehicles. They use the level crossing.

The village sign on the far side of the roundabout, in front of the left hand house, is in fact for Lawford rather than Manningtree.