Foot crossings

metromuppet · Post by **metromuppet** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 4:16 pm

Over the past few months, I have been looking at many different railway pictures, and have taken note of quite a few foot crossings! I was wondering if people could provide information on them, and the ones i use for taking line side pictures I will also provide information on if anyone requires it.

Balcome crossing- situated just south of the station, with 319s, 377s, voyagers and mpv, as well as any special workings. Very busy mainline with 90mph speeds. To get to it, travel by train to Balcome station, and then walk south down the slight hill and follow the road for a 5 minute walk. On the left hand side, you will see an opening up a path/road- walk up and follow the public footpath, you will walk past a house, but not to worry, its legal! time from balcome station: 7 mins

High vis jackets recommended.
A car is also handy if one is available, just follow signs from Haywards Heath just of the A23, and when you drive past Balcome station, turn round and follow the directions as above!

Southese crossing: On the A275 to Newhaven from lewes/london- you will need a car to reach it. Follow the road towards Newhaven and as you come down level along side the track, pull over in the lay-by next to the first set of houses you come to. Walk across the road to the public footpath sighn and walk down that about 50 yards and your there. Just 377s, 4 an hour off peak, up to 6-7 an hour in peak.

Bishapstone crossing: Again, only by car. Head to Seaford from Newhaven, keep an eye on the right hand side where there is a turning available into a car park when in the national speed limit. Once parked up you will see the train track, follow the path there. Single line track, so trains pass on average every 10 mins approx. Busy with people crossing the track to the beach with the dogs or for a stroll. Just 377s.

Hampden Park: Situated Brighton side before the Brighton and Hastings lines join up, but still a very busy line with 377s and 171s. From Hampden Park station, exit the Brighton/London side of the station and walk to the row of shops. After walking past the shops, take the first road to the right, and follow the road. After 5 minutes, you will be along side the railway line. After a further 5 minutes the pavement with curve away from the track. At this point, walk onto the grass bank and then walk down it to the crossing. It will take 15 minutes from Hampden Park station to walk. Driving is the same, head towards Eastbourne and take the signs to Hampden Park. Park on a side street near the crossing, not on the curve- as busses usually come round rather fast and i have seen them hit a few car mirrors! Sometimes a few people use the crossing to walk into the field with their dogs. Make sure they donâ€™t get hit by a train- the amount of times I have had to stop people is stupid! High-vis recommended.

So what foot crossings have you been to and whatâ€™s there?

Post by **martinhodgson** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 4:29 pm

Morecambe Station Junction - on the Heysham line is a small crossing which takes the Lancaster Cycleway across the line. The cycle path itself is the former Morecambe-Scale Hall-Lancaster Green Ayre-Wennington line, following the trackbed almost all the way to Wennington. Sees two daily passenger trains in each direction, to and from Heysham port, as well as a weekly DRS flask train to Heysham power station.

There are also two on the curve between Bare Lane and Morecambe North Junction (Hest Bank). Both accessed via public footpath, although I think one may be closed now due to a housing development. The line sees one passenger train to Grange every night, plus a weekly flask train. There may also be an ECS working across them in the early morning.

buffy500 · Post by **buffy500** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 4:58 pm

Theres one just past Salisbury Station, I'm suprised its there because to me it does not look to have very good sighting times, but I don't know the line speed so it might be fine.

250787 · Post by **250787** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 5:46 pm

Water Orton - Two footcrossings. Lots of freight, Turbostars, Pendolino drags at weekends. Some photos here http://railways.mjspencer.com/site/thum ... ?album=152 Not sure of line speed but its not really fast

Cheers

Matt

danielw2599 · Post by **danielw2599** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 5:50 pm

Just out of interest (and I dont want to start an argument) why is a high-vis reccomended? as you shouldnt be anyware that requires one.

Whitemoor · Post by **Whitemoor** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 6:00 pm

think its to do with the drivers, if they see someone standing at a foot crossing with a hi-vis they can be assured they are either a trackworker or a enthusiast, i doubt a thug would ware a hi-vis, as they would want to be concealed as much as possiable

danielw2599 · Post by **danielw2599** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 6:07 pm

Just because you may be an enthusiast doesnt entitle you to ware high vis clothing and be within railway boundries.

allypally · Post by **allypally** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 6:42 pm

There's nothing to stop you wearing hi vis clothing within rail boundaries regardless of whether you are an employee - how do you think cyclists and postmen, to name a few, get around!

danielw2599 · Post by **danielw2599** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 7:13 pm

Im talking about wearing High Viz to take pictures within the boundries (which is the impression I got from the first post), not to cross the line.

skipperdipper · Post by **skipperdipper** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 7:39 pm

Park lane/Carr Lane foot crossing in Meols is an old road crossing, but its been converted so that cars can't cross. Its on the section of line between Meols-Moreton, and trains generally pass here at 60mph. Just Merseyrail stock crossing over. The crossing is built out of disused sleepers (in better conditions than the ones under the rails, buried in ballast

).

Rob

ianmacmillan · Post by **ianmacmillan** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 8:56 pm

There were quite a few foor crossings on the WCML but there are banned on 125 MPH lines.

Where a right of way exists they have been replaced by footbridges which are great for photography.

Nearest one to me is at Braidwood.

delticcity · Post by **delticcity** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 9:30 pm

There is one near me on the ECML between Shipton by Beninbrough and Tollerton, very much a four track 125mph stretch but with good visibility in clear conditions. I recall a story about my uncle when he was a lad back in the late forties, crossing the line there on a motorbike in thick fog. He stopped his engine to listen out for approaching trains and heard total silence. He had just got to the gate at the other side when an express hurtled past going flat out. It must have been no more than 20 seconds from total silence to near death! He says he'll never forget the noise or the draught til the day he dies. And he still rides a bike occasionally but not the same one and not over the ECML. Cheers, Dave.

Whitemoor · Post by **Whitemoor** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 6:14 am

ianmacmillan wrote:There were quite a few foor crossings on the WCML but there are banned on 125 MPH lines.

Where a right of way exists they have been replaced by footbridges which are great for photography.

Nearest one to me is at Braidwood.

thats wrong for a start, trains can do 125mph at Tallington on the ECML and there are no less than 4 foot crossings across the mainline on 2 miles, and that strech is actualy cleared for 140mph, but H&S restricts it

metromuppet · Post by **metromuppet** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 8:47 am

danielw2599 wrote:Im talking about wearing High Viz to take pictures within the boundries (which is the impression I got from the first post), not to cross the line.

Wearing a high Vis means drivers can maybe see you better- if your trackside (on the public footpath) and using the fence to rest the camara on or what ever if your taking a picture, then he will not be able to see you very well- and may think your a tresspasser/thug ect. Also, there are drivers about, who do not honk at W boards. If you are not wearing a High-vis and standing at the crossing on a curve, and a EMU comes round the bend, its beans on toast so to speak. If your wearing a high vis, he will have that extra chance

The bottom line is safty. You could just wear a yellow high-vis, and look like a plonker

cardiffcroupier · Post by **cardiffcroupier** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 9:13 am

metromuppet wrote: You could just wear a yellow high-vis, and look like a plonker

Whaaaa You mean like the Platform Staff, managers, etc who now have to wear yellow.....

actually come to think of it some of them ARE plonkers

ALSO, rumours were starting to surface that SWT traincrews are going to be switched over to yello hi-vis. personally I can't see why or if it wold work!