Preserved railways and level crossings...

[hairyhandedfool]

Simple question really, are there any preserved railways which operate over level crossings? if so, what type are used and how are they operated?

 

[Old Timer]

Simple question really, are there any preserved railways which operate over level crossings? if so, what type are used and how are they operated?

As a very quick response, the West Somerset Railway does, including manned gated crossings, as well as automatic crossings.

 

[Wyvern]

The Ecclesbourne Valley Railway as well. One at Idridgehay. Looks like an ordinary manual gated crossing. Guess they have to have someone posted there. There's another I think in Wirksworth.

 

[D107]

The Mid Norfolk has quite a few, both gated and ungated (with warning lights). One in particular is over a rather busy main road!

 

[Aictos]

The Nene Valley railway has three as far as I remember, one is a gated crossing operated by the signalman at Wansford, there's one at Ferry Meadows which is the only road in and out which only has lights, there's a white light authorising movement over the crossing from Wansford which is automatic and a plunger operated by the train crew at the end of the platform going to Wansford and finally there's a crossing by Orton Mere which is gated.

Nearly forgot, there's a gated crossing between Ferry Meadows and Orton Mere used by the boating club and I think one between Peterborough and Orton Mere as well.

 

[Mvann]

The Nene Valley railway has three as far as I remember, one is a gated crossing operated by the signalman at Wansford, there's one at Ferry Meadows which is the only road in and out which only has lights, there's a white light authorising movement over the crossing from Wansford which is automatic and a plunger operated by the train crew at the end of the platform going to Wansford and finally there's a crossing by Orton Mere which is gated.

Nearly forgot, there's a gated crossing between Ferry Meadows and Orton Mere used by the boating club and I think one between Peterborough and Orton Mere as well.

I think you will find that the last two mentioned are occupation crossings. You also missed Castor crossing.

The Welsh Highland have at least 2 stop and proceed crossings. one at Pentre Helen and one at Tryfan Junction.

 

[mumrar]

The Severn Valley have one at Northwood that is operated by treadles, flashing lights and audible alarm but no barriers. It is a very quiet rural, dead end road.

 

[Ploughman]

NYMR has
High Mill open crossing flashing lights.
Newbridge - Gated box operated
Levisham - Barriers box operated and self operated when box shut.
Grosmont - Gated box operated
plus numerous footpath, accomodation and occupation crossings.

 

[craig87034]

The Leighton Buzzard Narrow Guage Railway has three road crossings where the flag men get out and stop the cars. It also has three stop and proceed road crossings.

 

[Dreadnought]

Cholsey & Wallingford has a full width barrier crossing, which listening to a couple of people talking on the train last week is linked to the Reading signal box in case of failure!

 

[Tomnick]

Cholsey & Wallingford has a full width barrier crossing, which listening to a couple of people talking on the train last week is linked to the Reading signal box in case of failure!

Quail shows Wallingford Bypass LC as an ABCL (and Google Streetview confirms), so it's not "full width" barriers and there's no requirement for remote supervision. Don't believe all you hear!

The current preserved GCR's certainly unusual - if not unique - in having no level crossings (bar a foot crossing between Rothley and Leicester and further foot crossings giving access to the three 'island' platforms on the railway. The near-complete lack of crossings was a feature of the London Extension, and one that certainly makes our work easier today!

 

[Spagnoletti]

The Llangollen railway has a gated crossing at Glyndyfrdwy.

 

[ukrob]

Ribble Steam Railway has a few including a shared road/rail swing bridge

http://www.railbrit.co.uk/location.php?loc=Preston (Ribble Branch)

 

[Oracle]

The RHDR does. The North Norfolk's new connection at Sheringham has been described as a tramway, and not a LC.

 

[Tomnick]

...but the NNR does have an AOCL just outside Sheringham's section signal on the Up.

 

[WatcherZero]

ELR has a couple I believe, dont know how many for sure though.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1a/ELR_Ramsbottom_Level_Crossing.jpg

 

[Wyvern]

The RHDR does.

Wasn't there a fatal collision a few years back?

 

[hairyhandedfool]

Thank you very much for the information everyone, I had no idea there were so many, but I guess there had to be. Much appreciated.

 

[chuffchuff]

Wasn't there a fatal collision a few years back?

Yes more than one and always a local car driver
I can remember 3 in the last 40yrs

 

[TheExmoorBeast]

Yep. On the RH&DR.

RUK article: http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=723
BBC article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4670335.stm

 

[jamie119]

The Ecclesbourne Valley Railway as well. One at Idridgehay. Looks like an ordinary manual gated crossing. Guess they have to have someone posted there. There's another I think in Wirksworth.

YES we do have 2 manual gated crossing. like said one at Wirksworth and one at idridgehay and we have a 3rd man that does gates when we are running

 

[TheExmoorBeast]

The West Somerset has a right mixture of crossings.

Roebuck Gate & Leigh Woods (AOCL)
Williton - Station Road - Gated
Blue Anchor - Carhampton Road (Gated & Wheel Operated)
Dunster - Sea Lane (AOCL)/ West (Station Road) Open
Minehead - Seaward Way (ABCL)

 

[StoneRoad]

The Festiniog has a number (IIRC four) of automatic lights only (ie train controlled) ones, plus one set of manually operated gates. (plus various user operated ones).
I can list them, and the operating details, if you want.

R&ER has a number of open crossings, which drivers need to take very carefully!

South Tynedale has modern style barriers operated from Alston signalbox. Which closes off the car park when the train arrives/departs/shunts Alston station.

Welshpool (I think) has one operated by the train crew.

NYMR has one at Grosmont which can block the road for quite a time, operated from the signal box.

Bowes at Springwell (can't remember if it is the rope hauled section or not)

Beamish Museum - the gates are closed to the road when trains are operating in the colliery yard.

I am sure most preserved lines have crossings. The above are just the ones that spring to mind at the moment.

 

[paul1609]

At the KESR we have 6 gated crossings, 2 of which cross the A28, open open crossing and numerous user worked crossings.

 

[45552]

Worth Valley has one at Damems station, hand operated, and one at Oakworth, also operated by hand

 

[starrymarkb]

Seaton Tramway has a plunger operated with lights over the A3052
Quite a few on the Paignton and Dartmouth (all Light and Barrier IIRC)

 

[richw]

As a very quick response, the West Somerset Railway does, including manned gated crossings, as well as automatic crossings.

immediately after departing minehead if i remember correctly, i was about 8 or 9 when i went on it though

 

[furryfeet]

ELR has a couple I believe, dont know how many for sure though.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1a/ELR_Ramsbottom_Level_Crossing.jpg

the picture is Ramsbottom - gated worked via a wheel.
the others are
rawtenstall - four gates all manually worked, since the crossing is on an S shaped bend.
townsend fold - another two manual gates, using blacks locks for the interlocking with the signals.

 

[45669]

As has been mentioned, there are, indeed, lots of level crossings on preserved railways with many of them being 'proper' level crossings ie : with big white gates.

Here are a few pictures to prove it :

http://ronfisher2.fotopic.net/p60185678.html

http://ronfisher2.fotopic.net/p60679781.html

http://ronfisher2.fotopic.net/p61533460.html

Others are modern flashing light jobs like this one :

http://ronfisher2.fotopic.net/p62030018.html

http://ronfisher2.fotopic.net/p61979916.html

Hope that they are of interest.

45669.

 

[scotsman]

Strathspey has one AOCL at Dalfaber housing estate, unusual as it has a 'school' type bell rather than the more common multi-tone 'fire alarm' sounders, and numerous UWCs for fishermen and farmers