Is this level crossing unique?

[43055]

Like the title says is this crossing unique? It use to just be a manned gated crossing which the attendant would close/open the gates but in the last 6 months Network Rail have added the 'wig wag' lights as shown. These are controlled by the attendant which he or she turns on and off before closing the gates and after opening them.

 

[The Planner]

Where is it?

 

[bramling]

Like the title says is this crossing unique? It use to just be a manned gated crossing which the attendant would close/open the gates but in the last 6 months Network Rail have added the 'wig wag' lights as shown. These are controlled by the attendant which he or she turns on and off before closing the gates and after opening them.

View attachment 84776

The answer is no it’s not unique, as these are being added to various gated crossings. I believe it’s an outcome from the incident at East Farleigh where a crossing keeper was injured trying to close the gates on a busy road (that crossing at East Farleigh is a nightmare, the road being a rat-run and the crossing on an awkward spot).

Not sure if this is going to be universal or just in locations deemed risky.

IMO it’s a welcome change, as expecting keepers to close gates across busy roads is increasingly troublesome.

 

[MarkyT]

The answer is no it’s not unique, as these are being added to various gated crossings. I believe it’s an outcome from the incident at East Farleigh where a crossing keeper was injured trying to close the gates on a busy road (that crossing at East Farleigh is a nightmare, the road being a rat-run and the crossing on an awkward spot).

Not sure if this is going to be universal or just in locations deemed risky.

IMO it’s a welcome change, as expecting keepers to close gates across busy roads is increasingly troublesome.

Agreed it's a very welcome initiative to protect signallers and crossing keepers. NR were found liable for the East Farleigh incident and that will no doubt force their hand at other similar crossings.

 

[steamybrian]

The level crossing at Wye station may be similar. It has traditional hand operated gates operated by an attendant with warning lights. No doubt those with better local knowledge can correct me..!

 

[Ashley Hill]

Talking of unique crossings,is Rosarie Crossing in Scotland still an AOCR crossing?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

So where is the location in the OP's pic. ?

Looks single track and not wired.

 

[geoffk]

Not sure if this is going to be universal or just in locations deemed risky.

IMO it’s a welcome change, as expecting keepers to close gates across busy roads is increasingly troublesome.

Who pays?

 

[MarkyT]

Talking of unique crossings,is Rosarie Crossing in Scotland still an AOCR crossing?

According to the SA, it is, the last of its kind I think.

 

[Ianno87]

Ramsbottom on the East Lancs Railway is similar - although I think in that case they are regular traffic lights.

 

[High Dyke]

So where is the location in the OP's pic. ?

Looks single track and not wired.

Hilton crossing, on the North Staffs line (Derby - Stoke). The lights were installed after an incident where the crossing keeper suffered life-changing injuries; the gates having been struck by a motorist.

Mill Green near Spalding also had wig-wag lights fitted with the manually wound gates. These were replaced when the crossing was converted as part of the GN/GE re-signalling.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

Agreed it's a very welcome initiative to protect signallers and crossing keepers. NR were found liable for the East Farleigh incident and that will no doubt force their hand at other similar crossings.

Progress bit by bit. Good news imho

 

[MadMac]

Rosarie is, indeed, still the last AOCR on NR - I believe there was talk a few years back of a bridge replacement which turned out to be not as easy as it first seemed. In a similar vein to the original topic, Carmont has barriers controlled from the box but no lights.

 

[Llanigraham]

Who pays?

Network Rail.


Llanidloes Rd Crossing, between Moat Jane and Caersws had wigwags long before it became controlled by Machynlleth SCC, and for similar reasons.

 

[Ploughman]

I wonder how many years away will Rylstone(Grassington branch) crossing be converted?

 

[43055]

Where is it?

So where is the location in the OP's pic. ?

Looks single track and not wired.

Hilton crossing, on the North Staffs line (Derby - Stoke). The lights were installed after an incident where the crossing keeper suffered life-changing injuries; the gates having been struck by a motorist.

Mill Green near Spalding also had wig-wag lights fitted with the manually wound gates. These were replaced when the crossing was converted as part of the GN)GE resignalling.

It certainly is Hilton Crossing (although I always call it Eggington Crossing!).

The answer is no it’s not unique, as these are being added to various gated crossings. I believe it’s an outcome from the incident at East Farleigh where a crossing keeper was injured trying to close the gates on a busy road (that crossing at East Farleigh is a nightmare, the road being a rat-run and the crossing on an awkward spot).

Not sure if this is going to be universal or just in locations deemed risky.

IMO it’s a welcome change, as expecting keepers to close gates across busy roads is increasingly troublesome.

That's good to know and like you say a welcome change. Hilton Crossing is quite bad at times with busy traffic on a 40mph road which has a bridge one side over the former railway towards Etwall/Derby and a bend on the other. Like High Dyke says Hilton Crossing has had a accident injuring the keeper so it was probably an outcome from this as well?

 

[paul1609]

The level crossing at Wye station may be similar. It has traditional hand operated gates operated by an attendant with warning lights. No doubt those with better local knowledge can correct me..!

Yes the one at Wye is similar but this has been going on for some years. Littlehaven Level Crossing had manual gates operated by a wheel in the adjacent signal box but was fitted with wigwags in 2005. It has since been replaced by barriers operated from Three Bridges.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

So where is the location in the OP's pic. ?

Hilton crossing, on the North Staffs line (Derby - Stoke). The lights were installed after an incident where the crossing keeper suffered life-changing injuries; the gates having been struck by a motorist.

Thanks. Not ever been along that section of line.

Shame that someone first had to get badly hurt before LC safety improvements were implemented at this location.

 

[GB]

Could have done with this when I was a crossing keeper! Instead of putting my life in the hands of the local morons.

 

[edwin_m]

Does the addition of flashing red lights create a legal requirement for motorists to stop, which a hand signal from a crossing keeper wouldn't? If so it means there is more scope for prosecution if there is another such accident in future, and they could add cameras if there was a need for a campaign of enforcement. So this might help with performance as well as safety.

No cameras visible on the OP's picture as far as I can see, although there are some signs taped to the poles which could be saying something like "Do not cross when lights flashing - this means YOU" but only the last word is even vaguely discernable.

I note also, with reference to a recent discussion on the Portsmouth line, that there is a signal almost at the crossing. Presumably the keeper has a slot on that signal but if the crossing isn't closed a SPAD would go across it immediately.

 

[47271]

Rosarie is, indeed, still the last AOCR on NR - I believe there was talk a few years back of a bridge replacement which turned out to be not as easy as it first seemed. In a similar vein to the original topic, Carmont has barriers controlled from the box but no lights.

Carmont is slightly different in that road traffic is so undemanding that the barriers are kept shut unless a vehicle approaches, and even then it's only a tractor once every three hours. The signaller, who has a commanding view of the scene and is at no personal risk of collision, only opens the gates if they haven't already cleared a train.

 

[MadMac]

Carmont is slightly different in that road traffic is so undemanding that the barriers are kept shut unless a vehicle approaches, and even then it's only a tractor once every three hours. The signaller, who has a commanding view of the scene and is at no personal risk of collision, only opens the gates if they haven't already cleared a train.

Good point.

 

[TheEdge]

Does the addition of flashing red lights create a legal requirement for motorists to stop, which a hand signal from a crossing keeper wouldn't?

Yes, it is an offence to cross a stop line protected by a red wig-wag signals. Interestingly they are one of the few road signals that must be obeyed even by the emergency services on a blue light run.

 

[Flying Snail]

Could have done with this when I was a crossing keeper! Instead of putting my life in the hands of the local morons.

Considering how many morons ignore the wig-wags I am not sure how much more actual protection it will actually provide, rather than just mitigating NRs liability.

I wonder if NR will eventually start using rising bollards or the anti-attack raising barriers that are used in security installations, I can't find it now but am sure I've seen a vid of railway crossings protected by these somewhere in Europe.

Yes, it is an offence to cross a stop line protected by a red wig-wag signals. Interestingly they are one of the few road signals that must be obeyed even by the emergency services on a blue light run.

Dailymotion

www.dailymotion.com

from 42mns.

 

[Fat Gaz]

Yes, it is an offence to cross a stop line protected by a red wig-wag signals. Interestingly they are one of the few road signals that must be obeyed even by the emergency services on a blue light run.

True that!

"The following is a list of non-exemptions for emergency response drivers. Under no circumstances can emergency response drivers commit any of the following:
1. Dangerous driving.
2. Dangerous parking.
3. Careless driving.
4. Refusing to stop the vehicle if involved in a traffic collision.
5. Driving without a seat belt.
6. Failing to adhere to a red light at a fire station or level crossing.
7. Crossing a solid white line in the centre of a road unless it is safe to do so (e.g. overtaking a slow-moving vehicle).
8. Failure to adhere to a ‘one-way’ traffic sign.
9. Failure to adhere to a ‘no entry’ sign.
10. Failure to adhere to a ‘stop’ or ‘give way’ sign.
11. Failure to adhere to other instructional signs."

It used to make me smile when drivers were told that. You'd have thought it would have been obvious right?
I say used to, right up until I heard the first of many student drivers ask why.

 

[rower40]

I used the Eggington crossing a few months ago, and was gobsmacked by the motorists' ignorance of that item of law.
I was 10th or so in the queue; train went through, crossing keeper came out to open the gates, lots of cars went through as soon as the gates opened, but the red lights stayed on until he went back into his hut to turn them off.
And I got beeped by the car behind me for stopping at the line until the lights were switched off.

 

[High Dyke]

Thanks. Not ever been along that section of line.

Shame that someone first had to get badly hurt before LC safety improvements were implemented at this location.

Following the accident there, which pre-dates the serious incident at East Farleigh, Network Rail mandated that full orange PPE must be worn. Prior to that we only wore safety footwear and an HV vest. I'm not sure how they consider wearing orange HV trousers is going to make a difference to impatient motorists.

They are still many manned level crossings that don't have wig-wags, but carry an inherent risk to the crossing keeper/signaller. That said each level crossing is judged on its own merits.

 

[Ianno87]

True that!

"The following is a list of non-exemptions for emergency response drivers. Under no circumstances can emergency response drivers commit any of the following:
1. Dangerous driving.
2. Dangerous parking.
3. Careless driving.
4. Refusing to stop the vehicle if involved in a traffic collision.
5. Driving without a seat belt.
6. Failing to adhere to a red light at a fire station or level crossing.
7. Crossing a solid white line in the centre of a road unless it is safe to do so (e.g. overtaking a slow-moving vehicle).
8. Failure to adhere to a ‘one-way’ traffic sign.
9. Failure to adhere to a ‘no entry’ sign.
10. Failure to adhere to a ‘stop’ or ‘give way’ sign.
11. Failure to adhere to other instructional signs."

It used to make me smile when drivers were told that. You'd have thought it would have been obvious right?
I say used to, right up until I heard the first of many student drivers ask why.

Technically, that excludes Wig Wags applied at other locations - e.g. roads in close proximity to the ends of Airport runways (such as the roads at both ends of Cambridge Airport's main runway)

 

[Fat Gaz]

Technically, that excludes Wig Wags applied at other locations - e.g. roads in close proximity to the ends of Airport runways (such as the roads at both ends of Cambridge Airport's main runway)

I wouldn't suggest so.

I would suggest that my failure to include the words 'for example' in there is more likely.

 

[43055]

No cameras visible on the OP's picture as far as I can see, although there are some signs taped to the poles which could be saying something like "Do not cross when lights flashing - this means YOU" but only the last word is even vaguely discernable.

I believe the signs on the posts were to do with the wiring and have since been removed. If you zoom in you will see the one on the left has YN on and the one on the right has YO.

I used the Eggington crossing a few months ago, and was gobsmacked by the motorists' ignorance of that item of law.
I was 10th or so in the queue; train went through, crossing keeper came out to open the gates, lots of cars went through as soon as the gates opened, but the red lights stayed on until he went back into his hut to turn them off.
And I got beeped by the car behind me for stopping at the line until the lights were switched off.

Unfortunately it is a common occurrence. I went over on the way home last week and the audi that was first in line going the other way was itching to go. Fortunately the lights went of quite quickly so I was ok when I went over and about 5th in line.