Building an AOCL Level Crossing

3309 Views 15 Replies 4 Participants Last post by John Webb, Jan 18, 2009

sambwoy

Discussion Starter · Nov 21, 2008

I am in the process of constructing warning lights for an automatic open crossing in OO Scale using Hornby parts and Evergreen plasticard. I was looking at a photo of Kempston Hardwick (Bedford-Cambridge line) crossing before it was converted to half barriers. Does anyone know what the signs with red diagonal stripes meant?

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John Webb

· #2 · Nov 21, 2008

Do you mean the signs that look like 'squashed Xs'? If so, then these signs are just part of the indications of a level crossing. There are two versions - the single X means there is only one track; one with the X and a V above means two or more tracks to be crossed.

If you can post a link to the picture you were looking at so it's possible to see exactly signs you mean, I or others can give you an exact answer.

Regards,
John Webb

sambwoy

Discussion Starter · #3 · Nov 24, 2008 (Edited by Moderator)

That helps, although I was actually referring to where there are panels either side of the crossing, usually the bottom-most sign on a post that supports the wig-wag lights. Each sign has diagonal red stripes going one way, whilst on the other set of lights the sign has the same stripes going the opposite way.

If any of this makes sense. On some crossings the signs have a sort of chicken-wire pattern.

This photo of Kempston Hardwick was taken in '85 with an all-over-blue DMU crossing it, featured in a 1991 issue of Railway World in a feature about the Oxford-Cambridge line (the remaining bit). Apparently the crossing is now half-barriers.

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John Webb

· #4 · Nov 24, 2008

There's a web-site somewhere called something like 'railsigns' - I'll try and find it as I think that may answer your query. I'll post here again if I do.

Regards,
John Webb

John Webb

· #5 · Nov 25, 2008

I found a photo of an open crossing but it has a 'dynamic' address and the this forum won't accept such a link.

I think they are just large warning signs to make clear to vehicle drivers they are approaching a potential hazard. Very oddly they don't get a mention, let alone a picture, in the Highway Code!

Regards,
John Webb

sambwoy

Discussion Starter · #6 · Nov 26, 2008

I have tried the railsigns website. Useful, but didn't have what I was looking for. All of the signs and signals described apply more to trains instead of road traffic.

John Webb

· #7 · Nov 27, 2008

What a shame! I thought they had level-crossing signs on it but my recollection was faulty, obviously. I don't know if there is a website for road signs - a 'Google' search might be worth trying? Or the Department of Transport or whatever it is called these days?

Regards,
John Webb

Doug

· #8 · Nov 27, 2008 (Edited by Moderator)

Do you mean something like this:

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sambwoy

Discussion Starter · #9 · Dec 26, 2008

No, not quite. I know those are countdown markers for roads. The signs I am thinking of appear on the post that would support the crossing lights. I have noticed that they vary in pattern. Some are chequered and some are diagonnal or maybe chevrons.

John Webb

· #10 · Dec 27, 2008

I had a quick look in the booklet on road signs (in a similar format to the Highway Code) available in bookshops and I cannot find a mention of these signs there either! I'll try another source......

Regards,
John Webb

John Webb

· #11 · Dec 27, 2008 (Edited by Moderator)

I've had a definative answer from one of the experts on the forum associated with John Hinson's website www.signalbox.org.

The details in full can be found at http://www.signalbox.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=9325 and include a link to a photograph of one of these crossings.

In summary these signs were 'outlawed' in 1999 onwards by changes to Traffic Sign legislation in 1994. So any model of an AOCL from 1999 onwards should not have these signs on it.

Regards,
John Webb

sambwoy

Discussion Starter · #12 · Jan 1, 2009 (Edited by Moderator)

Hey, thanks for that. Thanks for going to those great lengths to help me find an answer.

I referred to the forum and still cannot fully understand why they are now illegal, well, going by what one of the repliers said.

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John Webb

· #13 · Jan 1, 2009

My pleasure - I've been contributing to that forum for a while and it was easy to put up a post.

It would seem that the Highways people did not like these signs for some reason and compelled Railtrack to remove them - or RT agreed to remove them and it was put into legislation to cover other non-Railtrack situations on Heritage railways and the like.

Regards,
John Webb

sambwoy

Discussion Starter · #14 · Jan 18, 2009 (Edited by Moderator)

Who is it who makes the 'X's that appear on open crossings? I know Tiny Signs has them in their Road Signs set, but only one 'X' is provided.

Doddsy

· #15 · Jan 18, 2009

QUOTE (John Webb @ 24 Nov 2008, 22:31) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>There's a web-site somewhere called something like 'railsigns'

Hi

Is this the one you mean?

http://www.railsigns.co.uk/home.html

Cheers

Ian

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John Webb

· #16 · Jan 18, 2009

That's it!

Regards,
John

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