Railway Gates - rules

[GLink]

Can anyone tell me if there is still a rule where, when at a manned crossing, the far gate should always be opened first by the crossing keeper?

GLink

 

[O L Leigh]

Bit of an odd question. Why do you ask?

I don't believe there are any such instructions. There's certainly nothing of the sort contained in the Rule Book. In fact, I don't think it really matters in what order the gates are opened. I would imagine that each crossing keeper has his or her own way of doing things, presumably with speed and distance walked being the factors deciding which gate gets opened first.

O L Leigh

 

[AlexS]

Having had to do it once or twice we opened the exit gates before the entrance gates and the busiest ones first - only then did we open the entrance gates to let traffic through to stop people queueing on the crossing.

 

[O L Leigh]

Though not all manual crossings have double gates. Many, such as Elsenham, just have a single gate double width on each side.

O L Leigh

 

[driver9000]

There was a rule years ago which said the far gate was to be opened first but this is no longer the case. I would imagine as these gates arent overly common the opening of the gates will be dealt with as a local instruction or left to the keepers discretion.

 

[GB]

Speaking as an ex crossing keeper who did the job for a number of years it all depends on the layout and where the locking bolts lie. There is no written instruction to which gates must be opened or closed first but you would aim to finish where you started. Other wise you would end up on the wrong side of the road waiting for the traffic to pass before you can get back into the crossing hut.

So in the somewhat basic picture below, you would do the gate closest to the hut first (Lock One) then the other gate will bring you back to the hut.

This is a typical layout found on most crossings, however, there are a few oddities out there. There was one I worked at where due to the narrowness of the road, two half gates where located on one side. In this instance you could open both at the same time with gravity taking hold of one of them.

Edit: In fact here is a picture: http://www.east-rail.fotopic.net/p55592158.html

 

[GLink]

Thank you for your replies. i will pass the info on to my father

Gail Link

 

[mathmo]

I'm surprised it's still cheaper to pay a crossing-keeper than to install automatic/remote equipment in this day and age - is there a particular reason that manual crossings are still used in these locations?