Examples of unique level crossings?

[TheRightTrack]

I have been looking at many types of interesting level crossings in the UK and a few have stood out as being 'unique'. What springs to mind is the national-heritage manually operated one at Sherringham. Does anyone have any examples of level crossings on the network with quirks?

 

[saismee]

Do they still have to be in operation? I would've suggested Halesworth, but I think I got that trivia from one of your videos!!
Edit: Manningtree is a little bit odd with its small bridge right next to the crossing. I think theres another one like this in East Anglia too.

 

[Omnidekkalover]

One in minfordd on the Ffestiniog railway with weirdly shaped lights if that counts

 

[AlterEgo]

Harlech has three half barriers owing to a joining road also being controlled. Believe that’s unique. https://maps.app.goo.gl/VZvSiHrKcN1751Yo6

One in minfordd on the Ffestiniog railway with weirdly shaped lights if that counts

Are these the two-red one-amber layout? These look more like traditional traffic lights! Good find. https://maps.app.goo.gl/aPJiNByzfwpJo6Hn9

 

[saismee]

Harlech has three half barriers owing to a joining road also being controlled. Believe that’s unique. https://maps.app.goo.gl/VZvSiHrKcN1751Yo6

Not entirely on-topic, but is that a KMH differential speed restriction board? I thought KMH was mostly limited to the south of England.
Edit: split to https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/cambrian-line-kmh-speeds.286410/

 

[AlterEgo]

Not entirely on-topic, but is that a KMH differential speed restriction board? I thought KMH was mostly limited to the south of England.

No; The bottom speed on the sign - the one with the bigger number - is for passenger trains/ECS/light engine etc trains; the upper speed is for all other trains, mostly freight.

 

[hexagon789]

Not entirely on-topic, but is that a KMH differential speed restriction board? I thought KMH was mostly limited to the south of England.

No; The bottom speed on the sign - the one with the bigger number - is for passenger trains/ECS/light engine etc trains; the upper speed is for all other trains, mostly freight.

Yes, as the Cambrian uses km/h

As speeds are normally displayed in-cab, I assume its one of the speed signs for degraded working.

 

[TheRightTrack]

Harlech has three half barriers owing to a joining road also being controlled. Believe that’s unique. https://maps.app.goo.gl/VZvSiHrKcN1751Yo6


Are these the two-red one-amber layout? These look more like traditional traffic lights! Good find. https://maps.app.goo.gl/aPJiNByzfwpJo6Hn9

The one at Harlech is absolutely brilliant! I will certainly be paying a visit in the summer when I am in Wales. Thank you very much!

 

[AlterEgo]

Yes, as the Cambrian uses km/h

As speeds are normally displayed in-cab, I assume it’s one of the speed signs for degraded working.

Of course!

Thanks. We were both right

 

[hexagon789]

Of course!

Thanks. We were both right

Km/h is of course still unusual in the UK on that railways that unless you remember exceptions like the Cambrian or Tyne & Wear Metro etc, it's so easy to forget and default to thinking it's mph.

 

[jammmmmsssssss]

Edit: Manningtree is a little bit odd with its small bridge right next to the crossing. I think theres another one like this in East Anglia too.

Great Chesterford?

 

[Omnidekkalover]

Could also have helpston with a signal box and sort of refuge thingee in between the Oakham to Peterborough line and the east coast mainline

 

[Sun Chariot]

I have been looking at many types of interesting level crossings in the UK and a few have stood out as being 'unique'. What springs to mind is the national-heritage manually operated one at Sherringham. Does anyone have any examples of level crossings on the network with quirks?

Oxford station had, until a few years ago, both level crossing and road underbridge immediately south of the platforms.
The crossing has since be taken out of use.

Lydd (Dungeness branch) had (perhaps still has?) both level crossing and road overbridge just north of the old station.

 

[High Dyke]

Great Chesterford?

Don't forget Stonea (between March and Ely). Low bridge for road traffic that wishes to avoid the manual gated crossing.

Some of the Cornish branch lines have open crossings (no lights or barriers) with Give Way signs for road traffic. Trains speeds are restricted over these types of crossing.

 

[jammmmmsssssss]

Don't forget Stonea (between March and Ely). Low bridge for road traffic that wishes to avoid the manual gated crossing.

And Littleport

 

[Sun Chariot]

Marchwood (along the former branch from Totton to Fawley Refinery) still has manually worked gates. The line is, I think, operated "one train on branch", for traffic to / from the MoD's storage sidings.
Here's a photo of it being closed (Post #1 of the linked thread)

Your photos of in-use semaphore brackets

During my whimsical West Coastway wanders, I have found a few bracket mounted semaphore signals still in use. I'd love to see your pictures of bracket mounted semaphores in use around the rail network. Examples: Bognor Regis, Littlehampton, Marchwood (former Fawley branch). One is a "pure SR"...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[Snow1964]

Could also have helpston with a signal box and sort of refuge thingee in between the Oakham to Peterborough line and the east coast mainline

Barnes has short length of road between 2 level crossings, the crossings are on two separate lines about 200m from where they merge to become 4 tracks.

 

[Omnidekkalover]

Not sure if the crossing at bulwell forest tram stop in Notts would count as it goes down for both Robin Hood line trains and Nottingham tram link trams

 

[Sun Chariot]

Barnes has short length of road between 2 level crossings,

Chichester has two level crossings 80 metres apart and just to the east of the station platforms. Stockbridge Road by the station and Basin Road 80 metres east of it.

Southampton's busy Canute Road is crossed by the line into Eastern Docks (and next to the erstwhile Terminus Station).
No barriers or gates - just the warning lights, yodel alarm and a hefty hoot from the locomotive.
Bizarrely, the far less busy Chapel Road, 1/4 mile to the north of Canute Road, has AHBs.

 

[Haywain]

And Littleport

And Ely.

 

[steamybrian]

Forge Farm Crossing is possibly unique in crossing both a National Rail line and a Heritage Railway (Spa Valley Railway)

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Are there still any using telescopic gates?

 

[Woolos 22]

Bishton box and level crossing owing to low bridge .video by Mike wilcock on you tube

 

[jammmmmsssssss]

And Ely.

The level crossing there closed years ago

 

[D365]

Not sure if the crossing at bulwell forest tram stop in Notts would count as it goes down for both Robin Hood line trains and Nottingham tram link trams

Certainly unusual in that it is a ”mixed mode” railway crossing.

 

[AlterEgo]

Are there still any using telescopic gates?

Weren’t they a factor in an incident at Redcar recently?

 

[brad465]

Strand road LC in Preston is a notable one I think as the railway curves through the road, rather than the classic perpendicular crossing. When I cycled LEJOG in 2021, the organisers sent us over this crossing, and at least one of the group came off (fortunately not seriously harmed), as a result of its unusual shape.

 

[edwin_m]

Not sure if the crossing at bulwell forest tram stop in Notts would count as it goes down for both Robin Hood line trains and Nottingham tram link trams

There are two near Navigation Road on Metrolink that do this as well.

And a bit further south at David Lane, the Nottingham tram is still alongside the railway but the barriers only go down for trains, trams being protected only by traffic signals.

 

[cool110]

Strand road LC in Preston is a notable one I think as the railway curves through the road, rather than the classic perpendicular crossing.

Go further down the line and you have the opposite at swing bridge, where the road turns onto the railway.

 

[MadMac]

Carmont: Manned barrier with no lights. (Edit: Same arrangement at Arbroath)
Logans Road: CCTV, no “wig-wags” but integrates with the traffic signals at the adjacent road junction.
Rosarie: Only remaining AOCR on NR?
Holywood: Last wheel-operated gates on NR in Scotland.
There’s one near Ballinluig that’s a “rural barrier” but is electrically, rather than hydraulically, operated due to one of the regular users being an elderly couple who couldn’t operate a hydraulic installation.