(Two Faulty Alarms) Winchelsea Level Crossing, East Sussex

Winchelsea Level Crossing, Winchelsea, East Sussex
Date filmed: 07/07/2020
Route: Marshlink Line
- Winchelsea Station
Location: Winchelsea Lane, Winchelsea
Trains:
Lowering 1 (Starts at 0:11): Class 171 (Southern) - 0:45
Lowering 2 (Starts at 1:45): Class 171 (Southern) - Arrives at 2:16 - Departs at 3:14
A half barrier level crossing located next to Winchelsea Station in a remote location on the Marshlink Line connecting Hastings with Ashford International. This level crossing is an Automatic Open Crossing plus Barriers (AOCL+B) level crossing, most notably characterised by how the alarms cut-out a few seconds before the barriers raise (though the noise from the passing diesel units completely drowns out the alarm cut-out in both videos). Red/white LED indicators signal to approaching train drivers whether or not the level crossing is working as it should whilst halogen white lights illuminate the track over the crossing during activation, and there is a slow line speed around the level crossing in case of a level crossing failure, and the alarms stop sounding at the same time the halogen white lights extinguish. The SPX half barriers currently at this level crossing were installed in mid 2014 to improve safety, as this level crossing previously had no barriers. One of the half barriers is also located in front of one of the entrance-side wigwags, another feature notable on numerous level crossings of this type.
The two alarms at this level crossing are quiet, and most notably in both videos, both are faulty, since one with a new-ish-looking sounder 'warbles' slightly, with the other old-looking alarm sounding water-damaged as it only produces a single distorted tone, out of the two it should produce, rather rapidly. The station is served every two hours in each direction, with one of the two trains that pass within an hour stopping at the station regardless of the direction it is headed in, and both trains in an hour come close together as they are timetabled to meet in the two-track passing section of Rye station a few miles east of here. Hastings-bound trains can be seen approaching before the level crossing activates.
The second of two lowerings featured in this video is a long one, since four-car trains were being used on the line to improve capacity at the time of filming, and these cannot fit in the station as demonstrated by the Hastings-bound stopping service over-hanging the level crossing.
Thanks for watching!

[@HenrysAdventures]

Interesting video! Lovely little railway station!

[@SouthEastLevelCrossings]

Thanks!

[@UKLevelCrossingsTrains]

Nice one! These alarms sound like the old Hagside, when I was little I thought they sounded very much like ducks, lol.

[@SouthEastLevelCrossings]

Thank you! Yeah one alarm especially sounds a bit like a rubber duck to be fair 😂

[@OttoFeher]

Nice 👍👍

[@SouthEastLevelCrossings]

Thank you! 👍

[@trainsdu4940]

Not surprising to see the train stopped on a level crossing. This line was only used by 2 carriages 171. These alarms are really weird lol.

[@EofETrainsandLCs]

The second alarm sounds like music

[@NELincsTrainspotting]

Great video

[@SouthEastLevelCrossings]

Many thanks!

[@jackmctaggart6861]

Wow just wow 2 faulty alarms one water damaged alarm I think and one Fast dodgy faulty alarm

[@jackmctaggart6861]

Wait no sorry I mean one skipping alarm

[@UKLevelCrossingsChannel]

Nice 👍 Still faulty then lol

[@SouthEastLevelCrossings]

Thanks! Yep, no change!

[@jackmctaggart6861]

Great video anyway

[@SouthEastLevelCrossings]

👍

[@ElectraProductions225]

I blame Jamie for this because he still hasn't uploaded a video with me this month. Great video

[@UKLevelCrossingsChannel]

British Transport Hub I blame your lawyers lol

[@SouthEastLevelCrossings]

Thanks! Lol

[@ElectraProductions225]

@@UKLevelCrossingsChannel I blame Aylesford

[@SgtChip]

Pretty cool, but yet another station that needs a platform extension.

[@SouthEastLevelCrossings]

The introduction of four car trains on this line is only temporary, due to a need to increase capacity to be able to socially distance on the train. It's only a small rural station too, so it wouldn't really need to have its platform extended. Thanks anyway

[@SgtChip]

@@SouthEastLevelCrossings Oh, I wasn't seeing that coming. Anyways, pretty nice work out there!

[@glenncooney3959]

Winchelsea can only contain a three coach train. In comparison to other Marshlink stations Three Oaks and Doleham can only accommodate one coach, Appledore can only accommodate two coaches and (like Winchelsea) Rye can only accommodate three coaches.

[@SouthEastLevelCrossings]

Ah, thanks for the information. 👍

[@Poke-wizard]

Great vid and I'm first to comment

[@SouthEastLevelCrossings]

Thanks!

[@nathansrailwayphotography8125]

Great video

[@SouthEastLevelCrossings]

👍👍