Snowdon Street Level Crossing (N)

Saturday August 29 2015 at 2.07. The 13.38 Pwllheli to Birmingham (18.49) train running 7 minutes late. This is the most northerly of two crossings on this Porthmadog street. It is also known as Traeth Mawr LC. The wait here for the train, 110 seconds, must be the longest at a half barrier crossing. In 2003, when this was an open crossing, a car driven by a 24 year old was hit by a train. On the right just before the crossing is his memorial stone. The road has now been blocked off so hardly any traffic uses it.

[@JTCrossingsUK]

That train passed over this crossing a lot quicker that what it did when I filmed it, it went over about 10 mph when I was here and the train in this vid did atleast 25 mph.

[@JPLCUK]

RIP Halagons☹😭

[@Nathan_A_RF]

It's because the train had to leave Porthmadog station and it activated the crossing beforehand

[@autisticadventuressteam83]

+Nathan A RF This crossing isn't activated before leaving the station, unlike the main high street crossing by the station which is manually initiated, this one is automatic and activates once the train is under way. The long wait is due to a temporary speed restriction between the station and Cae Pawb flat crossing (WHR) due to improvements required at Gelert's Farm crossing, which is close to Cae Pawb. The TSR was introduced a couple of months ago and has a tendency to affect WHR movements as we now regularly have to hold our trains while the 158 rumbles past at walking pace. The flat crossing is fully signalled and locally controlled for WHR moves, but the timings now clash more often than not. Once over Cae Pawb, the standard gauge accelerates almost back to line speed by the time it reaches Snowdon Street, however it's still a headache as it takes an age for the section to clear as the next block marker in the UP direction (towards Harlech) is a long way across the estuary. Cae Pawb is situated right at the Pwllheli end of the section and the electronic release for the flat crossing clears as soon as a DN movement passes on the Cambrian, as the axle counter is just beyond the diamond, on the DN side. But, enough about my 'office'.....
Pete, F&WHR Signalman & Crossing Keeper (and aspiring PW tech)

[@oliverkirkby7759]

Peter Procter hi Pete were you there the time the WHR signal for the cross over the main line was stuck on red and the train had to wait for 20min as I was stood in the open coach

[@autisticadventuressteam83]

There have been a few holdups over the years, usually due to a signalling fault. I probably was there as I operate the flat crossing more than anybody else. Unfortunately a wait of a few minutes has been quite regular on certain services the last couple of years due to NR timetable amendments that clashed with WHR times (compounded by the TSR on their line) and naturally NR have priority - though having a good working relationship with the NR Signallers they'll sometimes send me the electronic release to use the crossing when time is tight, as the regular guys trust my efficiency (all that could happen is I delay them slightly which would be undesirable, but so far not happened in all 5 years on my watch as I only request it if I'm confident I can complete the movement in time) - less regular operators either end of the phone tend to make for longer waits, but the even longer waits (over 10/15 mins) are usually due to a fault, which if serious enough can result in Degraded Working which means I have to hand-wind my catch points and hand-signal to complete my movement while NR have the release, but ONLY under strict verbal authority of the NR Signaller.
Thankfully we don't have to work Degraded very often as it can slow both lines' services down further, dependant on the nature of the fault in the first place (though it was the daily norm for several weeks in 2014 while the Cambrian was closed for repair following the horrendous winter storms, but only our trains were running of course). Perhaps the most interesting occasion was when a power fault at our end meant I couldn't return the electronic release to NR and had to verbally authorise the Signaller to instruct their driver to cross my line while I was in control of the crossing, which is the opposite of what happens when we request permission for degraded working from NR - think I'm the only WHR person to have done it both ways round. I start work again next month and we have revised timetables, so hopefully there'll be less waiting for WHR trains at the crossing, though I'm yet to study the times.

[@oliverkirkby7759]

Peter Procter ok thanks but the train I was on was the special with a Garrett, an England, K1 and we had to wait 45 mins

[@autisticadventuressteam83]

Don't recall that, but if K1 was involved it's a while ago as it's been out of use for three years. I don't remember a train with those locos but I've dealt with hundreds of trains there and at Harbour. The only wait I know I've had of that length was the first train of 2014 when there was an issue obtaining permission for degraded working, on the opening of the remodelled station (but the train was held at the station, not the crossing).

[@kovislevelcrossingtrafficlight]

Record a New Snowdon Street North Level Crossing on Friday 19th August 2022 Traeth Mawr

[@kovislevelcrossingtrafficlight]

Record a New Pont Coersor Level Crossing on Wednesday 17th August 2022