the train operator knows the barriers have timed out the white/red lights signal the barriers are down/up if the barriers time out (or fail) the driver will alert the dispatcher and (usually) be told to stop at the crossing sound the horn twice and continue at low speed.
There’s a crossing in my area that does the opposite. It won’t open 😂 was waiting for 25 minutes in my car. I got out and spoke to an another driver who said he’d been there for almost 40 minutes! I went looking for the signal phone to get hold of the signalman. Turns out it was a class 08 doing shunting work down the line that kept triggering it. The signalman remote opened it for us as there was no actual train due to pass through for another 2 hours. Always pays to call the signal box
Oh this brings back memories, Not the malfunctioning level crossing but the location. Ironically for 1 week for 2 years each year i stayed in the cottage by the level crossing what could be seen end on the to the crossing.’ Oh the sound of that alarm & 158’s rumbling across .
@@JPLCUK Oh yes .. I notice something has been built next to the cottage ( What’s been built is in painted grey / white colour) Where that’s been built that used to be a Coal Yard . I have got to get back on the Cambrian Coast Line for a full length trip , Many changes have happened since i was last on it early Millennium time such as at Dovey Junction.
Someone cheaping out on the system side of things, level crossings are absolute blocks and cannot be resolved until the train has activated the exit treadle and the crossing cannot free up once the train has activated the absolute block by activating the entry treadle (electronic nowadays but the basic premise is still the same as the old rail treadles squashed by the train, today's ones I do believe count the axles where the old ones used to wait until no more pressure on the treadle would indicate to signalman that last axle set has passed entry and exit points)
I remember my fathers signalbox at Snodland, it had a mild bell attached to the treadles and rang every time an axle crossed, he would know say a 4 car EMU would 16 bells and he could open the gates and then write in his book such and such service passed with no faults, freights were treated the same, 8 for the loco then looking at his work order which would show the consist he would count the bells and the brake van being a heavy load on its own would make a deeper ding ding almost like a Routemaster bell.
Traditional mechanical treadles with hydraulic oil dampening (wheel detection devices) are still in widespread use on the mainland U.K. railway network. The false activation of the crossing may have been due to a number of reasons, depending on the design of that particular system. Possibles include track circuit problem, worn or defective treadle, trespassers messing with a ‘strike in’ treadle, a train wheel rolling back while a train was very near a ‘strike in’ treadle or ‘strike in’ track circuit even though the train was not going to be intentionally going over the crossing. And obviously a failure of the control circuitry is less likely but still possible.
Oh, and with this type of level crossing, there is no signaller closely monitoring the crossing. Axle counters replace track circuits (and do count the axles) and there have been some electronic treadles. But in neither case is this information provided to the signaller. The axle counter will simply have an occupied indication to the signaller (if provided).
ok I have a question, given that the level crossing is activated from a point that is some distance from the crossing, how does it not get activated by a train that has passed the level crossing and has got to the point which would activate the crossing from the other direction.
Barmouth is one of few crossings, when train must stop and driver press button to activate barriers. Another one is in Porthmaddog (same line) I cannot believe in 21st century at route supplied in ETCS-2 (no semaphores just in-cab displays) this simple, but annoying solution still exists. For example ETCS-2 with cab display still is NOT implemented in most of UK mainlines ;)
It's dangerous how the UK still uses timers to raise the crossing. In the US instead the impedance of the track circuit is monitored. As the train is approaching, the impedance keeps changing. If it stops changing, then that means the train has stopped, and after a few seconds the barriers raise and the lights extinguish. If the train stopped too close to the crossing to lower it by moving the train, the driver can manually lower the crossing by inputting a code on his DTMF keypad.
On this one is small semaphore, indicating fault. So if not white light - means: barriers are faulty. Because slow line speed (80km/h - this line is one of few in UK, which uses metric system!) is easy to spot a problem.
This is a type of automatic level crossing. They sometimes fail due to various reasons. Once it has self detected that it has activated and no train has gone through to complete the sequence, a timer cancels the “road closed state”. Hence the barriers raising and the red road lights extinguishing. However, unless manually reset, with some designs, the crossing will stay in the timed-out state and will ignore trains. Until the original sequence has been completed. At which point it will reset and work normally for the next train.
The train was approaching slowly and made lots of noise with the horn, presumably the driver was aware in advance (maybe there's a signal that goes red earlier if the barriers are up) and had to take extra safety precautions.
@itskdog normally the driver usually presses a plunger and and that would trigger the crossing but it didn't work normally when the crossing is operated the driver gets a white light but obviously he didn't
@@itskdog - just before the crossing, there is a special signal. It flashes white if the crossing is working correctly, otherwise it flashes red. Hundreds of yards on approach there will be a sign with a large cross on it to remind the driver that there is this type of level crossing ahead. There is also a speed restriction on the approach to and over over this type of crossing.
In what way? The driver has to slow right down to check the crossing is clear regardless. If this causes the train to incur delay, that’s better than an incident...
When the barriers are down long, Something cancels the timer for the LC and after sometime it might go up in to something called *Time Out Mode* (my opinion) and will ignore trains. After a while it might go to *Reseted* and *Working* mode. Which means the level crossing is finally reseted and it will work for the next train
@@JPLCUK if I remember the rule book correctly, a train can’t cross a non active crossing without a NR employee or uniformed police officer directing traffic. Maybe things have changed 🤷🏻♂️
@@stephenkettle7733- That’s inaccurate. It depends on local instructions. At some level crossings train drivers are permitted to proceed after checking that the crossing is clear.
@@dasy2k1- I very much doubt that level crossing control system has “another train coming” circuitry for driving the Yodalarm siren. These types of level crossing control systems are used for low traffic railway lines.
Having worked on the railway for nearly 50 years here in the UK. Some of these misinformed comments make me smile ! LOL
i thought you said "hawk" in havk fsh
the train operator knows the barriers have timed out the white/red lights signal the barriers are down/up if the barriers time out (or fail) the driver will alert the dispatcher and (usually) be told to stop at the crossing sound the horn twice and continue at low speed.
There’s a crossing in my area that does the opposite. It won’t open 😂 was waiting for 25 minutes in my car. I got out and spoke to an another driver who said he’d been there for almost 40 minutes! I went looking for the signal phone to get hold of the signalman. Turns out it was a class 08 doing shunting work down the line that kept triggering it. The signalman remote opened it for us as there was no actual train due to pass through for another 2 hours. Always pays to call the signal box
Oh this brings back memories, Not the malfunctioning level crossing but the location.
Ironically for 1 week for 2 years each year i stayed in the cottage by the level crossing what could be seen end on the to the crossing.’
Oh the sound of that alarm & 158’s rumbling across .
@chrisrichmond403 it's quite a nice area. Harlech is its nice and quiet
@@JPLCUK Oh yes ..
I notice something has been built next to the cottage ( What’s been built is in painted grey / white colour)
Where that’s been built that used to be a Coal Yard .
I have got to get back on the Cambrian Coast Line for a full length trip , Many changes have happened since i was last on it early Millennium time such as at Dovey Junction.
Someone cheaping out on the system side of things, level crossings are absolute blocks and cannot be resolved until the train has activated the exit treadle and the crossing cannot free up once the train has activated the absolute block by activating the entry treadle (electronic nowadays but the basic premise is still the same as the old rail treadles squashed by the train, today's ones I do believe count the axles where the old ones used to wait until no more pressure on the treadle would indicate to signalman that last axle set has passed entry and exit points)
I remember my fathers signalbox at Snodland, it had a mild bell attached to the treadles and rang every time an axle crossed, he would know say a 4 car EMU would 16 bells and he could open the gates and then write in his book such and such service passed with no faults, freights were treated the same, 8 for the loco then looking at his work order which would show the consist he would count the bells and the brake van being a heavy load on its own would make a deeper ding ding almost like a Routemaster bell.
Traditional mechanical treadles with hydraulic oil dampening (wheel detection devices) are still in widespread use on the mainland U.K. railway network. The false activation of the crossing may have been due to a number of reasons, depending on the design of that particular system. Possibles include track circuit problem, worn or defective treadle, trespassers messing with a ‘strike in’ treadle, a train wheel rolling back while a train was very near a ‘strike in’ treadle or ‘strike in’ track circuit even though the train was not going to be intentionally going over the crossing. And obviously a failure of the control circuitry is less likely but still possible.
Oh, and with this type of level crossing, there is no signaller closely monitoring the crossing. Axle counters replace track circuits (and do count the axles) and there have been some electronic treadles. But in neither case is this information provided to the signaller. The axle counter will simply have an occupied indication to the signaller (if provided).
ok I have a question, given that the level crossing is activated from a point that is some distance from the crossing, how does it not get activated by a train that has passed the level crossing and has got to the point which would activate the crossing from the other direction.
@jakewynn because the treadles know which way the train Is going
Barmouth and Harlech. The most f*cked up crossings in Wales. Great video.
Fr though
Barmouth is one of few crossings, when train must stop and driver press button to activate barriers.
Another one is in Porthmaddog (same line)
I cannot believe in 21st century at route supplied in ETCS-2 (no semaphores just in-cab displays) this simple, but annoying solution still exists.
For example ETCS-2 with cab display still is NOT implemented in most of UK mainlines ;)
It's dangerous how the UK still uses timers to raise the crossing.
In the US instead the impedance of the track circuit is monitored. As the train is approaching, the impedance keeps changing. If it stops changing, then that means the train has stopped, and after a few seconds the barriers raise and the lights extinguish.
If the train stopped too close to the crossing to lower it by moving the train, the driver can manually lower the crossing by inputting a code on his DTMF keypad.
This is why my train was delayed from Telford a couple weeks ago 😬😬
strange how did the train went through when the barriers are up
Oof!! Class 158 passing while barriers are up and time out.
that is not true
Nice video! I think it would be about time to make this a full barrier probably
The barriers wouldn't really be long enough, I think.
Unless if they put barriers on all 3 ways.
I don't think they can I don't think they can get the barriers that long
@@JPLCUK unless they do it similarly to Coleraine
@UKLevelCrossingAndRailways I highly doubt it its got houses in the crossing
@@JPLCUK I'm sure there's a Manual Gate crossing, somewhere else in Wales, with houses next to the track
why is there a random 2 car stop marker?
Shunting maybe?
very good work on the driver for noticing it and taking caution. hope you reported the crossing though as it seemed intermittent from your video
that is the standard time going over this crossing
On this one is small semaphore, indicating fault. So if not white light - means: barriers are faulty.
Because slow line speed (80km/h - this line is one of few in UK, which uses metric system!) is easy to spot a problem.
@@stanley3647 Not necessarily. A flashing red light simply means that the barriers are up. It flashes red even when there's no train around.
Thanks class 158 with the 14 tones
That needs to be reported.
Because a level crossing malfunctioning like that can be serious.
@joemercedeschannel196 it was fine after the train went over and the driver should have reported it to the signaler
8:42 is it just me or is that slower than last time?
It's a weird alarm it always changes
@@JPLCUK How strange. No idea why though
The potentiometers are faulty
@@JPLCUK Ahhh. Makes sense
I think the poo poo valve jammed the giggling pin😮…
Nice one, but weird how the train passed while the barriers were up?
the crossing failed to lower
This is a type of automatic level crossing. They sometimes fail due to various reasons. Once it has self detected that it has activated and no train has gone through to complete the sequence, a timer cancels the “road closed state”. Hence the barriers raising and the red road lights extinguishing. However, unless manually reset, with some designs, the crossing will stay in the timed-out state and will ignore trains. Until the original sequence has been completed. At which point it will reset and work normally for the next train.
The train was approaching slowly and made lots of noise with the horn, presumably the driver was aware in advance (maybe there's a signal that goes red earlier if the barriers are up) and had to take extra safety precautions.
@itskdog normally the driver usually presses a plunger and and that would trigger the crossing but it didn't work normally when the crossing is operated the driver gets a white light but obviously he didn't
@@itskdog - just before the crossing, there is a special signal. It flashes white if the crossing is working correctly, otherwise it flashes red. Hundreds of yards on approach there will be a sign with a large cross on it to remind the driver that there is this type of level crossing ahead. There is also a speed restriction on the approach to and over over this type of crossing.
Great video 👍
Thanks
Oh dear! Good job it wasn't an Inter City.
In what way? The driver has to slow right down to check the crossing is clear regardless. If this causes the train to incur delay, that’s better than an incident...
"Intercity" trains don't operate on the Cambrian line.
what was the problem with the first one?
Welcome to Harlech, Home of the fucked up crossing!
😂😂😂😂
@@BRLCATUK inaccurate as it's not Barmouth South
Men of Harlech fix your crossing!
😂😂😂😂😂😂
1:26 the police need a word with the Transit driver - jumping a red light
Far more going on with the arrests of people for Facebook comments.
@@Y.D.D1 and the relevance to this video is ......?
Harlec Moria more like Harlech broken
i subbed
Omg How Did It Happen. It Failed To Lower
I think since it timed out, it wouldn't let them activate it again so they just went through with the barriers up
When the barriers are down long, Something cancels the timer for the LC and after sometime it might go up in to something called *Time Out Mode* (my opinion) and will ignore trains. After a while it might go to *Reseted* and *Working* mode. Which means the level crossing is finally reseted and it will work for the next train
Why didn't you put down your camera and pick up the yellow telephone?
@johnm2012 because it's pointless when the driver of the trains going to report it
Nice on-... wait...
AGAIN!?
Thanks. Yes, it timed out, then It wouldn't want to work lol
This is a serious wrong side failure. Did you report to NR?
I didn't report it because the driver should have told the signaler
@@JPLCUK if I remember the rule book correctly, a train can’t cross a non active crossing without a NR employee or uniformed police officer directing traffic. Maybe things have changed 🤷🏻♂️
@@stephenkettle7733- That’s inaccurate. It depends on local instructions. At some level crossings train drivers are permitted to proceed after checking that the crossing is clear.
@@Mark1024MAK everyday is a school day
@@stephenkettle7733 - no problem. I spent over 35 years maintaining similar level crossings.
Why can’t 158 use local control
Because they didn't really have much time they were over an hour late
@@JPLCUK yes but safety comes first, speed comes second.
@@TheReduxGB I don't think the drivers yse local control tho
Not all automatic crossings have a local control that drivers can use.
2.42k subs is alot
i thought you were southeastlevelcrossings&trainschannel
Doubt it’s you, but I’ve been told by someone, you carry a long stick round with you. It’s not you is it?
No
Very Strange what happened there. Great Video! That Crossing didn’t lower at the right time!
Thanks
The rapid tone implies the crossing went into another train comming mode which shouldn't normally happen with a single line
@@dasy2k1- I very much doubt that level crossing control system has “another train coming” circuitry for driving the Yodalarm siren. These types of level crossing control systems are used for low traffic railway lines.
@@Mark1024MAK As JP said in another comment - the alarm keeps changing every time, because the potentiometers are faulty.
@@NewBuildmini - the Yodalarm sounder most likely is faulty. The type I have fitted use DIP / DIL switches to set the correct tones.