Guard/Fireman operated level crossings

[Glenmutchkin]

I am having a discussion on an Indian orientated forum with someone who claims that guard operated level crossings are unique to India. By this I ean where the train stops before the crossing and the guard gets down to close the gates for traffic. Once the train is a cross he reopens the gates and gets back on the train.

My guess is that there must be examples on preserved lines here. Can anybody throw any light on this.

Thanks

 

[GB]

They are called trainman operated crossings here. There are some on the sizewell branch.

 

[Mvann]

Nene valley railway has a crossing that has to be set by the fireman. I think the stoomcentre at malgdem does as well.

 

[james60059]

Going back a bit, I think the Cambridge - St Ives line did too, until it closed in the early 90's. Of course the guided bus way now runs along it :roll:

 

[paul1609]

I am having a discussion on an Indian orientated forum with someone who claims that guard operated level crossings are unique to India. By this I ean where the train stops before the crossing and the guard gets down to close the gates for traffic. Once the train is a cross he reopens the gates and gets back on the train.

My guess is that there must be examples on preserved lines here. Can anybody throw any light on this.

Thanks

On the Kent and East Sussex Railway 5 out of our 6 public road crossings are traincrew operated, although some of these are also operated by crossing keepers, station staff or signalmen.

 

[D365]

Going back a bit, I think the Cambridge - St Ives line did too, until it closed in the early 90's. Of course the guided bus way now runs along it :roll:

Ahem, the Misguided Bustway

One of the many hated things about it are that buses have to slow to 30mph to cross roads. Better than 0mph though!

 

[KA4C]

They are called trainman operated crossings here. There are some on the sizewell branch.

Par Bridge crossing, Paignton South TMO barriers, Teingbridge gates, etc, etc

 

[tirphil]

Barmouth and Porthmadog level crossings on The Cambrian coast are both trainman operated despite the introduction of ERTMS.

 

[Harlesden]

One of the many hated things about it are that buses have to slow to 30mph to cross roads. Better than 0mph though!

So what is the average speed for buses in your area? 30mph is quite a reasonably fast speed for a bus

 

[MattRobinson]

At KWVR there are occasional non-public operating days (eg: prep for galas) which require the train-crew to operate the crossings. Otherwise, they're staffed by crossing keepers.

 

[p123]

At Kingsknowe on the Glasgow to Edinburgh via Shotts line, the driver always has to press a button while the train has passengers boarding/alighting at the platform to start the barriers on the level crossing. It's always the driver and not the conductor I have noticed.

I've also noticed that the barriers work automagically when East Coast/Virgin/TPE rattle through at however many hundreds of miles per hour.

[Edit]

Sorry I should really have put that in context. This is when a train is travelling from Edinburgh to Glasgow, the level crossing is immediately west of the Glasgow-bound platform.

Glasgow to Edinburgh trains don't have to stop, operate the crossing, then pull into the platform. That'd be silly now.

 

[KA4C]

So what is the average speed for buses in your area? 30mph is quite a reasonably fast speed for a bus

Buses? what is this of which you speak?

 

[Ploughman]

Rylstone LC on the line from Skipton to Rylstone quarry is still TMO as far as I know.

 

[RichmondCommu]

The Denby branch in Derbyshire was infamous for this kind of thing but was lifted this year.

 

[Tiny Tim]

A few years ago in France, somewhere around Carcasonne, I think, trains routinely stopped for the crews to operate crossing gates. Not TGVs.

 

[Glenmutchkin]

Many thanks for all of the responses.

 

[swcovas]

Quite a few on Heart of Wales Line operated either by driver or guard.

 

[D365]

So what is the average speed for buses in your area? 30mph is quite a reasonably fast speed for a bus

On the Guided Busway, they go up to 58mph IIRC. Probably to try and make the fuel economy look better. As I said, they have to slow to 30mph at level crossings, but since most are next to stops, this isn't so much of a problem. Had the railway been reinstated, up to 75mph would be possible without slowing for crossings.

This is getting way off topic though!

 

[D2022]

The Swindon & Cricklade have one at Blunsdon for the barrow crossing. A little further down the line there is a crew operated gate to the coaling platform and road/rail spur. During Gala days and such the crossing is usually manned by a member of the Signal and Telecoms dept.

 

[DarloRich]

Wensleydale Railway

 

[507 001]

Most of the AOCLs on the Cambrian are driver operated, not just Barmouth and Port.

Pont Croesor on the WHR is train crew operated (Caernarfon bound) and Britannia bridge (Porthmadog Bound) Electrically released by the signaller]
Penrhyn Crossing is also traincrew operated when there isn't a crossing keeper on duty. Manual gates too, I had the pleasure of closing these just last week at 10:30pm!

 

[tirphil]

Most of the AOCLs on the Cambrian are driver operated, not just Barmouth and Port.

Barmouth and Porthmadog are TMO's. They are the only crossings that traincrew must operate for the passage of every train. Harlech must be operated by traincrew in the up direction only. It is automatic in the down direction.

You are correct in as much as some of the AOCL's and ABCL's have a plunger that the traincrew use in the event of equipment failure. For example Llanbadarn ABCL. However if an AOCL such as Fairbourne fails (or times out) then the traincrew may proceed as long as they carry out the provisions of section 4.4 of module TW8 of The Rule Book.