Something a bit different ...
Astley signal box controls a level crossing on the busy line across Chat Moss.
One one side is a tarmaced public road (Rindle Road) leading from Higher Green, on the other a rather rutted lane which, I am told, is public access of sorts before leading to Astley Road which takes one into Irlam. It is signposted as a dead end because it would not be conducive to a healthy car to use it as a short cut from Astley to Irlam.
Now this is prime Manchester birdwatching territory; people generally park on Rindle Road and cross the level crossing on foot to scan the other side, normally only occasional local farm traffic use the road crossing. On one occasion (not very recently) there was a good bird found quite a way down the Irlam side and several birdwatchers started to drive across the level crossing which made the signalman irate and, according to one witness, he began to refuse to let birders cross the line in their cars.
What do you think - can a signalman reasonably refuse to let people across his crossing in such circumstances??
Astley signal box controls a level crossing on the busy line across Chat Moss.
One one side is a tarmaced public road (Rindle Road) leading from Higher Green, on the other a rather rutted lane which, I am told, is public access of sorts before leading to Astley Road which takes one into Irlam. It is signposted as a dead end because it would not be conducive to a healthy car to use it as a short cut from Astley to Irlam.
Now this is prime Manchester birdwatching territory; people generally park on Rindle Road and cross the level crossing on foot to scan the other side, normally only occasional local farm traffic use the road crossing. On one occasion (not very recently) there was a good bird found quite a way down the Irlam side and several birdwatchers started to drive across the level crossing which made the signalman irate and, according to one witness, he began to refuse to let birders cross the line in their cars.
What do you think - can a signalman reasonably refuse to let people across his crossing in such circumstances??