Re: Another tragic accident

Clive D. W. Feather wrote:
In article <2t99p1d8u7i6is27iqq57ps8ne4k16se85@xxxxxxx>, David Hansen <SENDdavidNOhSPAM@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> writes

But these gates and lights (AIUI) are  being operated by hand by a man
on the spot. Why would anyone get trapped?


I doubt very much if the warning lights are operated by humans. They
are undoubtedly operated by the signalling system.



Before people get too confused ...

There are two crossings at Elsenham, side by side, a MWG and a MWL.

The MWG is the road crossing and consists of two gates that close alternately across the road and the railway. Based on my knowledge of other similar crossings, when they're across the road and bolted into the post, a key can be removed. When both keys are inserted into a lever in the gate hut, that lever can be pulled (this locks the keys into the lever). Pulling the lever releases a "slot" on signals CA19 and CA22. Once pulled, the lever can only be restored when both those signals are red. The gates and lever are worked by a crossing keeper, while the signaller at Cambridge works those signals normally.

The MWL has pedestrian gates with no locks. There are red and green lights on each side of the road. The green light illuminates if a certain set of track circuits are all clear, and the red if any of them are occupied (possibly only when the MWG lever is pulled). I don't know for certain, but I would expect these to be tracks 3414, 3415, and 3511 (a total of about 1000 metres) on the Down and 3522, 3523, 3524, and 3525 (a total of about 1200 metres) on the Up. [3414 is the berth track circuit of CA19; 3525 is the berth for CA22]. This will give pedestrians 30 to 40 seconds warning (the line speed limit is 70mph according to my Sectional Appendix).

Thanks for that excellent explanation. I wonder how different was the situation BEFORE the latest WARM changes?

Jim Chisholm

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Another tragic accident
    ... When both keys are inserted into a lever in the gate hut, that lever can be pulled. ... the lever can only be restored when both those signals are red. ... The gates and lever are worked by a crossing keeper, while the signaller at Cambridge works those signals normally. ... The green light illuminates if a certain set of track circuits are all clear, and the red if any of them are occupied (possibly only when the MWG lever is pulled). ...
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  • Re: tHE gUARDIAN: Welcome to Frinton. Just dont you dare touch our level crossing
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    (uk.railway)
  • Re: Top Gear - Level Crossings
    ... signalman) interlocked with the signals such that the train would not get ... Even if a crossing with manual gates was not interlocked with the block ... tell him when there was a train on the line, together with distant signals ...
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  • Re: Fixed stop signal?
    ... with the signals so that the home signal could not be pulled "Off" ... it still didn't stop gates getting rammed by trains on very ... With frequent fish trains, the crossing operator up ...
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  • Re: Fixed stop signal?
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    (uk.rec.models.rail)
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