ryan125hst
Established Member
I have recently started a thread about MCB-CCTV level crossings and have been discussing the level crossings and gate boxes near me on the ECML. As I have explored this further, it appears that there’s numerous gate boxes and former gate boxes that now exist only for emergency purposes along the line. I thought it would be interesting to start a thread that lists all of these boxes, details when the boxes open/closed, the technologies they use to control the crossings and even photographs if you have any.
To start with, here is what I know about my local area. Feel free to correct any inaccuracies and please do expand the list if you know more about a section of the line I have not included:
Rossington – MCB-CCTV – Controlled from Doncaster PSB on the main NX (eNtrance eXit) panel.
Ranskill – Former signal box – downgraded to gate box in the mid 70’s (exact date?). Controls Ranskill crossing locally with a pedestal and has an NX style panel for the control of Torworth, Sutton, Botany Bay and Grove Road crossings via CCTV.
Grove Road - Former signal box – downgraded to gate box in the mid 70’s. Ranskill took over control in the 90’s (exact date?) – Controls retained for emergency use.
Grassthorpe Lane – Manually Controlled Gates – Released from Carlton.
Carlton – New box built in the 70’s - Controls Egmanton, Calton, Cromwell Lane, Norwell Lane, Bathley Lane and Church Lane via CCTV, and releases Grassthorpe Lane gates. Also has a pedestal for the local control of Carlton crossing if needed – originally controlled locally maybe?
Bathley Lane – Former signal box – downgraded to gate box in the mid 70’s. Carlton took over control in the 1998 – Controls retained for emergency use?
Barnby Road - New box built in the 70’s - Claypole took over control in the 90’s (exact date?) – Controls retained for emergency use?
Claypole – New box built in the 70’s – Controls Barnby, Bullpit Lane, Balderton, Barnby Lane, Osterfen and Claypole crossings via CCTV. Also has a pedestal for the local control of Carlton crossing if needed – originally controlled locally maybe?
There’s a couple of things I find interesting about what I have written above. Firstly, it is the fact that Ranskill, Grove Road and Bathley Lane signal boxes were retained as gate boxes whereas Carlton, Claypole and Barnby Road were all new boxes built in the 70’s (I’m not sure of the exact dates, please let me know if you can confirm this), presumably in the location of an original signal box. Why did they choose to build some new boxes and yet retain others?
The other point is how they originally used more gate boxes than they do today, and then opted to close the likes of Grove Road, Bathley Lane and Barnby Road. What led British Rail to open so many gate boxes originally and why were they closed following privatisation? What’s even more strange is how Barnby Road was a new build but they still decided to close it. I believe the same is true for Holme and Tallington further south as well?
To start with, here is what I know about my local area. Feel free to correct any inaccuracies and please do expand the list if you know more about a section of the line I have not included:
Rossington – MCB-CCTV – Controlled from Doncaster PSB on the main NX (eNtrance eXit) panel.
Ranskill – Former signal box – downgraded to gate box in the mid 70’s (exact date?). Controls Ranskill crossing locally with a pedestal and has an NX style panel for the control of Torworth, Sutton, Botany Bay and Grove Road crossings via CCTV.
Grove Road - Former signal box – downgraded to gate box in the mid 70’s. Ranskill took over control in the 90’s (exact date?) – Controls retained for emergency use.
Grassthorpe Lane – Manually Controlled Gates – Released from Carlton.
Carlton – New box built in the 70’s - Controls Egmanton, Calton, Cromwell Lane, Norwell Lane, Bathley Lane and Church Lane via CCTV, and releases Grassthorpe Lane gates. Also has a pedestal for the local control of Carlton crossing if needed – originally controlled locally maybe?
Bathley Lane – Former signal box – downgraded to gate box in the mid 70’s. Carlton took over control in the 1998 – Controls retained for emergency use?
Barnby Road - New box built in the 70’s - Claypole took over control in the 90’s (exact date?) – Controls retained for emergency use?
Claypole – New box built in the 70’s – Controls Barnby, Bullpit Lane, Balderton, Barnby Lane, Osterfen and Claypole crossings via CCTV. Also has a pedestal for the local control of Carlton crossing if needed – originally controlled locally maybe?
There’s a couple of things I find interesting about what I have written above. Firstly, it is the fact that Ranskill, Grove Road and Bathley Lane signal boxes were retained as gate boxes whereas Carlton, Claypole and Barnby Road were all new boxes built in the 70’s (I’m not sure of the exact dates, please let me know if you can confirm this), presumably in the location of an original signal box. Why did they choose to build some new boxes and yet retain others?
The other point is how they originally used more gate boxes than they do today, and then opted to close the likes of Grove Road, Bathley Lane and Barnby Road. What led British Rail to open so many gate boxes originally and why were they closed following privatisation? What’s even more strange is how Barnby Road was a new build but they still decided to close it. I believe the same is true for Holme and Tallington further south as well?