Unique hand-operated barriers at Broadwood Level Crossing, County Durham
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- Опубліковано 30 лип 2024
- Date filmed: Wednesday the 15th of May 2024
Video filmed at 11:07
Route: Weardale Railway
- Between Fosterley and Wolsingham Stations
Crossing type: Manually Controlled Barrier crossing (MCB)
Filming location: Fosterley, Bishop Auckland (DL13 2SQ)
For more information about the railway:
www.weardale-railway.org.uk/
A level crossing on the 16-mile-long Weardale Railway, a heritage railway in County Durham, which runs from a mainline connection at Bishop Auckland to Stanhope. The term 'Manually Controlled Barriers' is used very widely in the UK's railway terms, but this takes it quite literally! These are the only known hand-operated lifting barriers in use at any public level crossing in the UK. It's a location which is unsuitable to have regular manually-operated gates due to there being no space for any, and not just because the line is single-track. The crossing keeper here probably has a fairly slow day as typically only one train runs at a time, but it's a very important job, and they've got a very peaceful and pretty spot.
Upon the approach of a train, the crossing keeper will get a call via mobile from the line's control who instruct them to close the crossing, and once they've used a small control panel to activate the lights, they will lower these funny and skinny little barriers one by one. When they are satisfied all is in order and the crossing is clear, they will then prop up a green flag which is displayed to the train until it has passed, when they will then withdraw it and raise the barriers, again one by one, before turning off the lights when all are raised. Counterweights help massively with the job of raising the barriers, but it's not a particularly quick procedure either way given they're worked one by one typically. The road lights here are halogen bulb-type ones manufactured by PIKE systems, and there are four of them here which are tested daily, but there is no audible warning of the crossing in operation at all. The lights being tested caught me off-guard and made me think they were being activated for the train until they were turned off again in quick succession.
In this video, the crossing is seen being worked for the first of three departures that day between Stanhope and Wolsingham. It was the start of the day, hence the customary lights test, and this train would then return about half an hour later and run similar services departing at 1PM and 3PM as part of the railway's 'Purple' timetable. Although heritage railways naturally conjure up images of steam trains, this is not the case here as the service was being run by nothing other than a notorious Ex-Northern Pacer - a Leyland Bus very subtly modified for railway usage which was withdrawn from mainline operations completely in 2020, and they provoked very divided opinion. Nonetheless, I hope you enjoy the video! It may be in County Durham, but a level crossing this unusual feels like it's been taken straight out of North Wales!
Video guide:
Intro - 0:00
-
Lights test - 1:28
-
Lowering (1:41):
142 078 (Weardale Railway, Ex- Northern 'Pacer') - 4:18
Stanhope ➡ Wolsingham
-
Barriers raised - 4:36
-
End-of-video picture showcase - 5:42
Filmed on: Panasonic HC-VX1 in 4K 25fps
Thanks for watching! - Авто та транспорт
A fitting end with one of the rarest crossings ever in the UK. I feel like this will come in an End Of Year compilation, due to its uniqueness. Incredible Video here!
It is just so out of the ordinary. I love it. You know my end of year compilations too well ;) Thanks!
@@SouthEastLevelCrossings I've only been in the Transport Community for 8 months myself, I don't know many people really
I remember seeing this crossing before and i had forgotten the name of it until i seen it on your channel. Great content, keep up the good work!
Thanks, will do! It's hardly a forgettable crossing even if you've no clue of its name.
I've been waiting to see an update on this little crossing! Great video of that 142 'Pacer' too!
Thank you very much! Yes, it's un-changed.
That's a very nice crossing nice catch
Thank you! It is
Great video and crossing! Love the halogen lights there! Looks like the gate lights are halogen as well? Probably one of the last fully halogen gated crossings left in the UK if so.
Thank you! I didn't notice whether they were or not tbh
Nice one
Thank you!
That is very interesting! Excellent Video! 👍🏻👍🏻
It is indeed. Thanks!
A bit strange how the lights were turned off, and then turned back on, nethertheless, its a lovely crossing, glad to see a recent video if it!
Happy to provide! Loved the visit here. The daily test will be necessary for obvious reasons, though it was cool to see and catch
@@SouthEastLevelCrossings Its also nice to see how the wigwags have been replaced. The one to the right seen in this video used to have a strange chevron pattern around it.
Great Video...opposite of an MCB-OD which isn't manually controlled at all!
Indeed it is. Thanks!
Excellent video of a very unique crossing 👍
Many thanks!
Nice video! Odd crossing. Pacer :( i miss them
Thank you! It is a good thing they are preserved due to being iconic (in some ways at least)
Beautiful crossing! Stunning countryside never seen a manual barrier like this before, so that worker does this all day? Fab job. Does he have a shelter to sit in during bad weather?🤔😊👍
Thank you very much! I really loved this one. The crossing keeper needs to be there for all three round trips, so it will take up most of their day. I recall seeing that day's one return to their car as I left.