A late-afternoon at the longest level crossing in the UK - Helpston Level Crossing, Cambridgeshire

[@SouthWestCrossingsUK]

Great video!

[@SouthEastLevelCrossings]

Thanks!

[@NorthWestLevelCrossingsChannel]

Excellent video and Crossing 👍

[@SouthEastLevelCrossings]

Thank you!

[@TheosTrainsWalesOfficial]

That alarm only got fixed like a year ago, and it's already on its way out again...

[@K-o-R]

It's weird seeing the extra-long time between the first and second sets of gates lowering. Is it possible to be stuck in that "island" in the middle? There's crossings in Japan that have this sort of arrangement, and they have pavement markings, etc., to show "safe zone if gates are down".

[@SouthEastLevelCrossings]

That's an interesting concept, though it's not the practice here. The whole crossing needs to be clear.

[@K-o-R]

@@SouthEastLevelCrossings I went and looked at the video (look up "the worst railway crossing in Japan") and I'm misremembering. The large areas that would be safe from trains actually have orange and white hazard markings and massive "DO NOT STOP" text. It might be like that on foot crossings (certainly there's one on the Tyne & Wear Metro/Blythe line where it's two separate foot crossings with a perpendicular section that's fenced from the tracks on both sides in between). I'm surprised this whole crossing isn't yellow-hatched actually.

[@fetchstixRHD]

@@K-o-R: Box junctions have a maximum allowable length of 30m, if I recall correctly. The crossing seems to be about 70m long, using Google Maps' measure distance feature, and almost 90m if you include stop lines (so is definitely longer than the 30m), and it would be quite troublesome for most vehicles, but especially longer ones at the maximum* 18.75m length to then need to guarantee about 100m clear ahead of them... (incidentally, there are many other crossings which could be box junctioned, but aren't, without an apparent reason as to why they aren't. There are examples where it's clear why not, such as Eggesford, with a junction following immediately in one direction with a mandatory stop sign actually placed on the reverse of one of the crossing lights, but others seem to otherwise have nothing making it unreasonable to box junction them. I'd say all AHBs should definitely have box junction markings, as they aren't checked to be clear by anyone before trains can pass over it...) * above that length, you need police permission to be able to travel. This is the same length over which you'd count as a "large" vehicle for AHBs, meaning you'd need to phone for permission to cross, which should hopefully be something raised during that police permission...

[@railwayhonza]

Great video as always

[@SouthEastLevelCrossings]

Thanks again!

[@EastAngliaLevelCrossingsUK]

Oh there are 4 6 track crossings in the UK. Helpston, Maxey, Exeter Redcow. I thought Woodcroft had 5 tracks tbh

[@AdamR1985]

Nice video!

[@SouthEastLevelCrossings]

Thanks! 👍😁

[@freebrickproductions]

Great video! Looks like the gate mechs were recently replaced, I remember the previous ones were looking very worn-out. Kinda surprised one's already missing the tension cable despite how new they appear to be. Also seen some people driving around people waiting (and usually the lowered gate arms) at crossings, even though they're usually no passing zones with double yellow lines, in order to beat the train a couple times before.

[@SouthEastLevelCrossings]

Thank you! The barriers were replaced throughout 2020. This was the second time a tension chord has gone missing from one of them that I know of. I have seen impatience like that before (overtaking on double solid white lines - overtaking prohibited), and ironically caught something similar more recently too.

[@TheosTrainsWalesOfficial]

They were replaced during lockdown.

[@NWLevelCrossings]

Excellent Videos of this really nice long crossing!👍🏻👍🏻 Love coming here! Looks like 1 of the barriers is missing it’s cable!

[@SouthEastLevelCrossings]

Thank you very much! It's definitely one of my top favourites. Yes that barrier chord is missing. Ironically the second time in two visits here that there was one snapped off...

[@NWLevelCrossings]

@@SouthEastLevelCrossings Ok👍🏻

[@danilajev]

Amazing Video 🤩

[@SouthEastLevelCrossings]

Thanks 😁

[@yabbaguy]

Ever since Not Just Bikes on KZbin dropped a recent video about them, the dangerous entitlement of SUV drivers like in Lowering 8 is getting a bigger spotlight. This is my personal opinion, but the only reason I think most people need a vehicle that big is to haul their overinflated ego around.

[@SouthEastLevelCrossings]

100% agree there.

[@jackmctaggartfm8087]

Newer alarm sounds a bit skippy

[@TheosTrainsWalesOfficial]

Sounds like it's on its way out again...

[@JRAR24]

Is Helpston or Maxey longer?

[@SouthEastLevelCrossings]

Quite close but I think Helpston is a little longer.

[@among_usfan_oh_lol]

Nice and wow! I see misuse?

[@among_usfan_oh_lol]

Numbers on the LNER trains: 1.class 801 train: 108 (Same on the back of the train) 2. Numbers on the class 802 train: 204 (same on the back of the train 3:33) 3. Numbers on the class 801 train: 104 (same on the back of the train) 4.class 800 train: 102 (same on the back of the train) 5. Class 801 train: 201 (same on the back of the train) 6. 2 Class 801: 116 + 117 (same on the back of the train 9:13) 7. Class 91 and DVT class 82 train: 109 + 221 (same on the back of the train 10:09) 8. Class 800 train: 128 (same on the back of the train) 9. Class 800 train: 027 (same on the back of the train 14:12) 10. Class 801 train: 105 (same on the back of the train)

[@among_usfan_oh_lol]

Numbers on the GBRF and DB train: 1.class 66 train: 767 2. Numbers on the class 66: 170

[@among_usfan_oh_lol]

Numbers on the class 158 train: 799 (Same on the back of the train 4:13)

[@among_usfan_oh_lol]

Numbers on the class 802s train: 304+ 01(Same on the back of the train)

[@among_usfan_oh_lol]

Numbers on the class 170 train: 398