Probably the most stupid / dangerous thing I've ever seen today...

[Phil H]

Picture the scene...
I trudged out today to see the Southall to Carnforth working on RTT to see what was the traction. (a class 47 with a single old carriage incidentally).
I chose a spot near a foot crossing in Kingsthorpe in Northampton, which anybody local will know is a footpath between Kingsthorpe and a forest called Harlestone Firs.
Anyway this chap comes up to the crossing with his dogs and is pulling along behind him with a rope around his waist a branch off a tree of about 5m long to take back into the housing estate.
Now anyone local will know that this crossing has swing gates where you have to walk in and then open the gate while you stand in the recess, so not straight gates.
So this chap wants to get this long heavy branch across the WCML at 11:45am, so what does he do...does he lift it sideways over the pallasade fence and then quickly get across the line and then lift it over the fence at the other side or does he he stand it up and try to avoid the overhead wiring....

no, he does neither...he pushes the branch under the fence and has to wriggle it through, with it straddling both tracks, huffing and puffing as the larger end was binding under the fence as the rails are quite high and the branch wasn't exactly straight. Ok so he finally gets it through, then has to do the same the other side, struggling to get the branch under the fence with much struggle.
I was in no way helping him, but rather planning which way I was going to run as I knew the service i was waiting for was imminent and it was only a matter of time before a service from Long Buckby was due.
Anyway, no exaggeration, but he completed his manouvre with about 20 seconds to spare as a london Midland came down from Long Buckby just after he had cleared that line.
All I can say is what a tw@t. Considered reporting him to Police or something, but perhaps a bit late now.
I discreetly took this photo of him in the act where you can see him threading it under the fence and the branch across both lines and no I was not going to help him and risk my life. At best I would have tried to flag the train down.

Your thoughts....?

 

[VTPreston_Tez]

I'd have been straight on the phone to the police if I'd have seen that if I'm honest. Endangers lives and ruins stock. (Something similar happened at Lostock, and lets just say it hurt the poor 185)

 

[Muzer]

Reading the post, thinking, "hmm, probably some exaggeration going on here..."
Then I saw the photo.








BLOODY HELL!

 

[Chris M]

Yikes!

I think if I saw that I'd have phoned someone - if there was a contact number anywhere at the crossing I'd have phoned that, if not probably the BTP and asked them to let the signallers know there was someone dangerously crossing the tracks. Whether that's the right thing to do I have no idea though.

 

[island]

Lucky he didn't end up fouling the tracks. What a numpty!

 

[Sidious]

Words fail me.

 

[gazzak]

What an idiot!

How much danger would a branch that size pose in reality? Wouldn't your normal train slice through that pretty easily? How big a size of branch would pose a real chance of derailment, or is that big enough?

 

[Phil H]

What an idiot!

How much danger would a branch that size pose in reality? Wouldn't your normal train slice through that pretty easily? How big a size of branch would pose a real chance of derailment, or is that big enough?

Don't know the physics I'm afraid, but it was a good 8" at the thick end.

 

[TBY-Paul]

I think your both overlooking the fact that "If" a train were to go over the (rather large) branch, the chances are that the ends outside the rails will fly up into the air and end up going anywhere. Should another train also becoming in the other direction, there's every chance one of those ends could end up flying through a cab window/side window etc. So looking at the picture, it not just the risk of derailment I would be concerned about.

 

[Dieseldriver]

There is a potential for derailment/damage. Trouble is no two incidents are the same. It's similar to road vehicles on the line, some people seem to think that a train will just plough through a car and carry on it's merry way like in the movies. Sometimes it can happen that way and the train will just suffer minor damage, slightly change the circumstances and you could be looking at a full blown derailment.

 

[Welshman]

There is a potential for derailment/damage. Trouble is no two incidents are the same. It's similar to road vehicles on the line, some people seem to think that a train will just plough through a car and carry on it's merry way like in the movies. Sometimes it can happen that way and the train will just suffer minor damage, slightly change the circumstances and you could be looking at a full blown derailment.

Sadly, very true.

I was reminded of the Great Heck accident. An EC train hit a landrover on the track, the train remained upright but unfortunately the leading bogie of the DVT was derailed. Unfortunately, leading pointwork then deflected the DVT towards the down line. Unfortunately there was a freightliner approaching.

 

[gazzak]

I think your both overlooking the fact that "If" a train were to go over the (rather large) branch, the chances are that the ends outside the rails will fly up into the air and end up going anywhere. Should another train also becoming in the other direction, there's every chance one of those ends could end up flying through a cab window/side window etc. So looking at the picture, it not just the risk of derailment I would be concerned about.

That's an excellent point.

 

[plymothian]

Then of course the rope the man was using could have become entangled on something and dragged him under.

 

[Bald Rick]

You have to report it, even on the basis that it's very unlikely the offender will get caught. But Network Rail need to know these things so it can be logged on the safety reporting system and used in future assessments of LX risk. Suggest you go through the NR helpline (0845 7 11 41 41), and they will advise who to email the photo and details to.

Perhaps send it to the local paper as well; it could well have led to a rather nasty incident.

 

[BestWestern]

Perhaps send it to the local paper as well; it could well have led to a rather nasty incident.

Send it to the Daily Mail, they'll run a story about how the evil railway is outrageously obstructing innocent citizens and their tree branches....

Sadly, I'm only half joking

 

[theageofthetra]

I totally agree that this retarded incident should be reported to BTP and the photo sent to the local paper. Any thoughts why this log would be needed on a housing estate?

 

[DiscoStu]

Maybe as fuel for a chiminea?

 

[JGR]

I agree that reporting it to the BTP is prudent, but why send it to a local newspaper?
The odds of them writing something both insightful and factually correct about the dangers of level crossing abuse are quite thin to say the least.

 

[theageofthetra]

Sending it to the local paper could be useful as they will have some good photo enhancement software which could help someone recognise the idiot involved. Or ideally the idiot will recognise themselves and may promote their limited brain not to do it again.

 

[Essexman]

Definately should be reported to BTP and media.
Any publicity that makes people think about the dangers of crossings might help prevent another tragedy.