Northern Ireland oddities(?)

[ANDREW_D_WEBB]

During a recent trip to Ulster I noticed that the level crossing at Coleraine station incorporates a road junction (Streetview shows it clearly). This means that road traffic regularly has to stop across the running line. Obviously the way the crossing is worked will mean that cars won't become trapped inside the barriers with a train approaching, but how many other level crossings are there where it is seemingly legal to stop across a running line?

On the journey from Londonderry to Coleraine the train was held at a signal alongside the city's airport apparently whilst a light plane took off. Is this usual?

 

[Gloster]

There are a number of places with signal protection for when aircraft take-off and land, although most are (I believe) emergency return ones. A bit further east you have Ballykelly, where one of the runways was extended over the railway in World War II and arrangements had to be made to stop trains for take-offs and landings, for which a small signalbox was built.

 

[AngusH]

That's weird, I've never seen anything like it in other parts of the UK.

Here is the street view link to save some searching:

Google Maps

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I see a signal box adjacent to the crossing...
I expect there is a requirement to have someone inspect the crossing before allowing trains across it?

 

[geoffk]

There is a freight line, with a passenger service planned, crossing the runway at Filton airport, Bristol (well, South Gloucestershire). No idea when it was last used.

 

[Dave W]

There is a freight line, with a passenger service planned, crossing the runway at Filton airport, Bristol (well, South Gloucestershire). No idea when it was last used.

I believe the line actually crossed a taxiway (was it something to do with Vulcans?)

Think it's all closed now isn't it?

 

[AlterEgo]

The Derry to Belfast main line crosses the runway at (former) RAF Ballykelly, and airmen were routinely dropped off by train directly into the base. Believe this picture shows a railtour, but you get the gist.

 

[LickeyIncliner]

There are a number of places with signal protection for when aircraft take-off and land, although most are (I believe) emergency return ones. A bit further east you have Ballykelly, where one of the runways was extended over the railway in World War II and arrangements had to be made to stop trains for take-offs and landings, for which a small signalbox was built.

There is a freight line, with a passenger service planned, crossing the runway at Filton airport, Bristol (well, South Gloucestershire). No idea when it was last used.

Possibly the best example, though outside the UK, was the spur into Le Touquet airfield (on the French coast south of Paris) which crossed the airfield and entered the station from airside:

Aérodrome du Touquet-Paris-Plage — Wikipasdecalais

www.wikipasdecalais.fr

I don't have a date for this picture but it shows exactly the transport components of my first trip to Paris - Eurostar is much faster and more comfortable but not nearly as interesting! The railway alignment is still clearly visible on Google Earth.

 

[AngusH]

That's a brilliant photo!

To me, this seems very like the way that railways went into harbours.

The train went to the gangplank of the ship, why shouldn't the train also do the same and go to the door of the aircraft?

 

[geoffk]

I believe the line actually crossed a taxiway (was it something to do with Vulcans?)

Think it's all closed now isn't it?

A taxiway, yes. My book by Colin Maggs has a photo of the crossing, which was built to allow the Brabazon plane to access a new runway long enough for it to take off.

 

[Edgeley]

In England Kiveton Park on the Sheffield-Worksop line has a road junction immediately beyond the crossing on the north side - with room for only one vehicle without fouling the track. There is a signal box immediately adjacent which can keep an eye on things, however.

 

[Ediswan]

Possibly the best example, though outside the UK, was the spur into Le Touquet airfield (on the French coast south of Paris) which crossed the airfield and entered the station from airside:

The defunct railway at Le Touqet is a 'feature' for visiting light aircraft. But north of Paris rather than south. Le Touquet is closer to London than it is to Paris.

 

[Llanigraham]

I believe the line actually crossed a taxiway (was it something to do with Vulcans?)

Think it's all closed now isn't it?

It crossed a taxiway from what was originally the Brabazon hangers towards the main runway, and had nothing to do with the De Havilland Vulcan.

RAF Cosford used to have an emergency signal wire along the railway line in case an aircraft came in too low.

That's weird, I've never seen anything like it in other parts of the UK.

Here is the street view link to save some searching:

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

goo.gl

I see a signal box adjacent to the crossing...
I expect there is a requirement to have someone inspect the crossing before allowing trains across it?

Streetview also shows there is a barrier on the road that filters into the main road.

 

[LickeyIncliner]

The defunct railway at Le Touqet is a 'feature' for visiting light aircraft. But north of Paris rather than south. Le Touquet is closer to London than it is to Paris.

You're perfectly correct - I meant to type "south of Calais", not "south of Paris". As I recall it, the Victoria - Gatwick - Le Touquet - Paris Nord rail/air service was branded the "Silver Arrow" and promoted as an alternative to the "Golden Arrow" by rail and sea

 

[Dave W]

It crossed a taxiway from what was originally the Brabazon hangers towards the main runway, and had nothing to do with the De Havilland Vulcan.

Fair enough. Knew I was wrong somewhere

 

[Gloster]

It crossed a taxiway from what was originally the Brabazon hangers towards the main runway, and had nothing to do with the De Havilland Vulcan.

The Vulcan was an Avro product, not a de Havilland one.

 

[Elecman]

Possibly the best example, though outside the UK, was the spur into Le Touquet airfield (on the French coast south of Paris) which crossed the airfield and entered the station from airside:

Aérodrome du Touquet-Paris-Plage — Wikipasdecalais

www.wikipasdecalais.fr

I don't have a date for this picture but it shows exactly the transport components of my first trip to Paris - Eurostar is much faster and more comfortable but not nearly as interesting! The railway alignment is still clearly visible on Google Earth.

Judging by the plane I would ahazard a guess at Late 1960s early 1970s

 

[Gloster]

It is an RGP, so probably 1972 to 1980, when the service ceased. Previously it had been a Caravelle.

 

[WAO]

The crossing at Wokingham Station (SR) includes a congested junction although it retained the adjacent signal box.

WAO

 

[Elecman]

It is an RGP, so probably 1972 to 1980, when the service ceased. Previously it had been a Caravelle.

1973 onwards as it’s a BIA HP Herald

 

[AlastairFraser]

The crossing at Wokingham Station (SR) includes a congested junction although it retained the adjacent signal box.

WAO

It's a little less weird than Coleraine perhaps, given the roads do not converge directly over the crossing and have the same gates. I'm surprised they didn't fix it when they did the station redevelopment tbh.

 

[AntoniC]

The Derry to Belfast main line crosses the runway at (former) RAF Ballykelly, and airmen were routinely dropped off by train directly into the base. Believe this picture shows a railtour, but you get the gist.

I lived here 1967-1970 when my dad (and family) was stationed here.
He serviced Shackleton ASW aircraft that were based here.

 

[Turtle]

That's weird, I've never seen anything like it in other parts of the UK.

Here is the street view link to save some searching:

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

goo.gl

I see a signal box adjacent to the crossing...
I expect there is a requirement to have someone inspect the crossing before allowing trains across it?

If you'd been visiting Northern Ireland for the past 60 years you'd realise that "weird" is the least of the place!!

 

[cce]

Fair enough. Knew I was wrong somewhere

Filton was, though, a dispersal base for V-bombers, most notably during the Cuban missile crisis, so it's an easy mistake to make.

Flight operations ended in 2012 and the whole site is being given over to housing. There's some suggestion locally that the demolition crews breaking up the runway bit off more than their quote could chew digging up a runway rated for nuclear bombers and 747s!

 

[LickeyIncliner]

1973 onwards as it’s a BIA HP Herald

Having done a little searching: yes, G-AVPN was with British Island Airways from September 1973 to January 1980 (https://www.planespotters.net/airframe/handley-page-herald-g-avpn-channel-express/r6k7pk). That fits with my trip (on that aircraft or another in the same fleet) which was in Spring 1979