Are there still level crossings on the East Coast Main Line?

[2030720310]

After an argument between friends last night, I'm wondering if there are any level crossings on the ECML??
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Possibly Connigton??

 

[Signalfixer123]

Yes, there are plenty of level crosings on the ECML.

A variety of MB's, CCTV's MSL's and even a set of Keylocked mechanical gates.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

Travelling north, the first is about 40 miles out where linespeed is 125mph, where there's 3 at Arlesey, 1 at Biggleswade and 2 at Sandy.
Then there's 2 between St Neots & Huntingdon (plus 2 footpath LCs) , followed by 4 on the 125mph lines north of Huntingdon (a footpath at Abbots Rippon, LC at Connington North and 2 at Holme), then none for the 10 miles to Peterborough.
After Peterborough there's 7 LCs on the 125mph lines, the first is Woodcroft followed by 6 more before the 10 mile clear run up Stoke Bank.
None through Grantham between Stoke Tunnel and Peascliff Tunnel.
North of Grantham, where linespeed is back up to 125, there are 3 footpath LCs then Claypole, Osterfern, and 4 on the approach to Newark. 100mph over Newark flat (rail) crossing, then back to 125 and 7 more LCs plus 3 footpath LCs before Askham Tunnel. Another LC plus a footpath on the approach to Retford. 5 more plus a footpath before Bawtry. One more at Rossington.
Then north of Donny, there's 3 and a footpath between Marshgate junction and Shaftholme junction. 9 more before Templehurst junct. 1 at Colton North junct and another at Copmanthorpe on the way into York.
On the 125mph lines between York and Darlington there's 4 (1 is a footpath n of Skelton, 2 are agric. tracks, just north of Thirsk and last is 2 miles before Northallerton).
North of Darlo there's just one at Tursdale Junction and none at all between Durham & Newcastle.
North of Newcastle, there's an LCs plus 2 footpaths at Killingworth and another one a little further out. There's 2 on the approach to Morpeth and 1 just to the north of Morpeth Stn. between the 2 junctions.
Between Morpeth and Berwick there are a staggering 25 LCs plus another 15 footpath crossings!
None from there 'till Dunbar after which there's 3 before Prestonpans and that's your lot all the way to Edinburgh!
(This list includes locked bridleways and private crossings).
Or did you just want a yes/no answer?

 

[Waddon]

Heres one on Google Maps

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&s...9577,-0.342609&spn=0.001563,0.004801&t=k&z=18

 

[mrcheek]

and dont forget Newark Crossing, the only level crossing in England where 2 sets of mainline tracks cross each other on the level!

 

[2030720310]

Wow, thanks for all these detailed responses and the time put into them!! Cheers...

 

[HaxbyFur]

Yeah there were two manually operated footpath ones at Copmanthorpe on a 125mph stretch, at the ECML and Leeds Lines point

 

[route:oxford]

Travelling north, the first is about 40 miles out where there's 3 at Arlesey, 1 at Biggleswade, 2 at Sandy, 2 between St Neots & Huntingdon (plus 2 footpath LCs) , 4 on the 125mph lines north of Huntindon (incl Connington North), then none for the 10 miles to Peterborough.
After Peterborough there's 7 LCs on the 125mph lines, the first is Woodcroft followed by 6 more before Stoke Bank.
None through Grantham between Stoke Tunnel and Peascliff Tunnel.
North of Grantham, where linespeed is back up to 125, there are 3 footpath LCs then Claypole, Osterfern, and 4 on the approach to Newark. 100mph over Newark flat (rail) crossing, then back to 125 and 7 more LCs plus 3 footpath LCs before Askham Tunnel. Another plus a footpath on the approach to Retford. 5 more plus a footpath before Bawtry. One more at Rossington.
Then north of Donny, there's 3 and a footpath between Marshgate junction and Shaftholme junction. 9 more before Templehurst junct. 1 at Colton North junct and another at Copmanthorpe on the way into York.
North of York there's 4 on the 125mph lines to Darlington.
North of Darlo there's just one at Tursdale Junction but none at all between Durham & Newcastle.
There's an LCs plus 2 footpaths at Killingworth and another further out, then 2 on the approach to Morpeth and 1 just to the north of Morpeth Stn.
Between Morpeth and Berwick there are a staggering 25 LCs plus another 15 footpath crossings!
None from there 'till Dunbar after which there's 3 before Prestonpans and that's your lot all the way to Edinburgh!
(This list includes locked bridleways and private crossings).
Or did you just want a yes/no answer?

The East Coast Main Line continues all the way to Aberdeen. Have they all been removed North of Edinburgh in recent years?

 

[Darandio]

North of Darlo there's just one at Tursdale Junction

Being seriously pedantic it is actually at Hett, but I will let you off.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

The East Coast Main Line continues all the way to Aberdeen. Have they all been removed North of Edinburgh in recent years?

No!
I would just love to write down my recollections and route map readings of the full ECML (tho' I must admit my personal knowledge is strongest on the route Kings Cross - Edin - Forth Bridge or Falkirk - Stirling - Perth - Inverness). I expected to be picked up on the slightest error or omission so far, and thought I was already being too detailled in my response to the OP!
Do you want more?

 

[royaloak]

Perhaps route: oxford would like to carry it on from Edinburgh to Aberdeen for you!

 

[DaveNewcastle]

Perhaps route: oxford would like to carry it on from Edinburgh to Aberdeen for you!

That's the best response I've had on this forum. Ever!
Cheers!!!

 

[royaloak]

My pleasure, it never ceases to amaze me how everyone is a critic (including me), but cannot themselves get anywhere near the answer!

 

[route:oxford]

Perhaps route: oxford would like to carry it on from Edinburgh to Aberdeen for you!

Ok, was being a bit picky...

 

[David Dunning]

There are two foot crossings on the ECML at Tollerton and Alne (north of York) that give you the unusal experience of walking across a 125mph railway on the rails . There are no crossing boards , no phone , no R/G lights , just a set of steps over the fence . Safer than trying to cross the nearby A19 but everyone I have shown this crossing to is amazed that it can be allowed to remain open in this day and age.

 

[asylumxl]

I'd assume there's a nearby whistleboard though? I'd hope so... Scary.

 

[David Dunning]

No there's no whistle , they never do . It is straight level track tho , 14 miles dead straight

 

[bnm]

Heres some pics and brief descrption of operaton of the keylocked crossing near Berwick.

http://www.signalbox.org/branches/ih/spittal.htm

 

[RochdalePioneers]

There are two foot crossings on the ECML at Tollerton and Alne (north of York) that give you the unusal experience of walking across a 125mph railway on the rails . There are no crossing boards , no phone , no R/G lights , just a set of steps over the fence . Safer than trying to cross the nearby A19 but everyone I have shown this crossing to is amazed that it can be allowed to remain open in this day and age.

Would that be the two footpaths shown here? I've been looking for somewhere to watch trains on the ECML, may have to give the a try. Anyone ever been across them? Which one has a better view along the line?

 

[rail-britain]

I've visited the one at Tallington a few times, but there isn't really any good vantage position

I therefore tend to visit Claypole and spend more time there

 

[transportphoto]

Don't forget that there have been arguments over if people are trespassing when they are using a crossing for uses other than crossing e.g. spending a while on the side of the track taking photos etc...

 

[rail-britain]

It wouldn't be trespass as you are completing a walk across the crossing
However that is similar to crossing a level crossing, and should be completed without loitering on the crossing

Several years I remember there was a court case where a regular person was stopping on level crossing delaying trains
The car kept stalling as it entered the level crossing
However the police were present one day and observed that the driver intentionally stopped, then pushed the car over the crossing VERY slowly

Strange that walking routes on the ECML do not have W boards
It sounds more like they were removed by accident, but the drivers should know where they are, as well as the crossings

 

[GB]

Whistle boards are only placed on approach to crossings that have a significant sighting issues for the user. If the crossing is on straight track and there is good view of approaching trains either side of the crossing then there is no need for a whistle board and there is no need for the driver to sound his horn unless he sees someone on or near the crossing.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

The only one on the WCML is in bewteen Quintinshill and Carstairs cant remeber where though. Think they are still rife on the EC. AMny are footpaths though

 

[CarterUSM]

The only one on the WCML is in bewteen Quintinshill and Carstairs cant remeber where though. Think they are still rife on the EC. AMny are footpaths though

There is a busy level crossing at Logans road just beyond Motherwell station, Glasgow bound.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

There is a busy level crossing at Logans road just beyond Motherwell station, Glasgow bound.

Oh yeah. I was going on the assumption that Euston-Carstairs only is the True WCML.

 

[rail-britain]

There is a busy level crossing at Logans road just beyond Motherwell station, Glasgow bound.

MattE2010 is probably referring to walking paths across mainlines
There are no "level crossings" between Quintinshill and Carstairs
However there are several controlled crossings, such as the one just to the north of Beattock Loop
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Oh yeah. I was going on the assumption that Euston-Carstairs only is the True WCML

I was under the impression that the WCML was Glasgow Central - Euston, in the same was as the ECML is Edinburgh - Kings Cross

However there are sub-branches that muddy that
In effect the WCML could be Fort William - Euston and the ECML Inverness - Kings Cross

 

[CarterUSM]

Oh yeah. I was going on the assumption that Euston-Carstairs only is the True WCML.

It's a good shout. What is carstairs to Edinburgh though? East coast or West coast, if I remember correctly, carstairs to mid-calder is down and mid-calder to Edinburgh is up!!! I'll re-check my sectional appendix though. Whatever the case, you have AHB barriers at kirknewton and kingsknowe not to mention a UWC between kirknewton and curriehill, blacklaw I think it is called, whistleboards also.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

MattE2010 is probably referring to walking paths across mainlines
There are no "level crossings" between Quintinshill and Carstairs
However there are several controlled crossings, such as the one just to the north of Beattock Loop
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I was under the impression that the WCML was Glasgow Central - Euston, in the same was as the ECML is Edinburgh - Kings Cross

However there are sub-branches that muddy that
In effect the WCML could be Fort William - Euston and the ECML Inverness - Kings Cross

I was referring to any footpath/road/etc that crosses the WCML in the same way that a level crossing would... Found one in between Carlisle and the Border, and one North of Beattock like you say, as far as carstairs. I'll check in Quail No. 1 re: Carstairs-Glasgow C.

There's two: one between Carluke and the jn for Lanark, and Logans Rd at Motherwell. Sorted.

 

[asylumxl]

Whistle boards are only placed on approach to crossings that have a significant sighting issues for the user. If the crossing is on straight track and there is good view of approaching trains either side of the crossing then there is no need for a whistle board and there is no need for the driver to sound his horn unless he sees someone on or near the crossing.

That'S all well and good assuming they have good vision. I'm unsure if I'd be able to see a train coming 6 miles away.