(On-request warning system) Penweathers (User-worked) Level Crossing, Cornwall

Official name: Paradise Level Crossing
Date filmed: 13/09/2022
Videos filmed at: 10:25 | 10:32
Route: Cornish Main Line
- Between Truro and Redruth Stations
Crossing type: User-Worked Crossing with Miniature Stop Lights (UWC-MSL)
Location: 50.254757, -5.091201
Video chapters:
Walk-up and showcase - 0:00
-
Activation 1 (Starts at 1:48)
Class 150 (Great Western Railway) - 2:23
Penzance ➡ Plymouth
-
Activation 2 (Starts at 2:58):
Class 43 HST 'Castle Set' (Great Western Railway) - 3:32
Bristol Temple Meads ➡ Penzance
A quiet user-worked level crossing with red/green lights and alarms located just outside of Truro. Officially called 'Paradise level crossing', the name seems rather accurate as it is a very pleasant, peaceful and reasonably scenic location, with Penwithers Viaduct located just east of it. This is a seemingly very lesser-used level crossing which leads to both only a few houses and a public footpath in the area, and there are good track-side views here!
The system here (a 'Value for Money system' installed by Schweizer Electronic) is oddly only activated on request to save electricity as this level crossing is relatively under-used. Users are instructed to push a button to activate the lights before they cross so that they can obey the signals given (though it's not so much a 'button' but a sensor that activates the modules when touched). This is demonstrated at the start of the video. After a few minutes (enough time to safely cross and close both gates behind you even if you're in a vehicle), the lights will go out again, and the system will operate as usual for the period during which the lights are turned on. It is still unclear what would happen if the lights weren't activated with a train approaching, but all users are specifically instructed to activate them when they want to cross.
Thanks for watching!

[@bayernbahn1549]

Great video! Interesting crossing but a nice way to save electricity and money.

[@ChangesOneTim]

Paradise Farm was originally the property with rights over it, hence the name. The farmhouse is nowadays one of (I think) three properties with rights. Paradise is also public but only as a footpath.

[@TheosTrainsWalesOfficial]

I’ve noticed something similar with these Bombardier-Schweizer EBI-Gate MWL-OC crossings. At Keadby Canal Towpath crossing, they have a similar system, but without MWL’s. It has a green plunger which you press to request, and if a train is coming, the alarms sound, and if there’s no train coming, the signaller in the adjacent signal box will unlock the gates, just like at the new downgraded Uttoxeter Pinfold Street crossing.

[@AshBehindtheCamera]

Excellent video a really unique Crossing

[@SouthEastLevelCrossings]

Thank you very much!

[@NWLevelCrossings]

Brilliant Crossing and Video!!😁👍🏻👍🏻

[@SouthEastLevelCrossings]

Thank you very much!

[@TheRealTrains806UK]

Nice👍👍👍👍👍

[@SouthEastLevelCrossings]

Thanks!

[@Trainguy336]

Amazing mate

[@SouthEastLevelCrossings]

Thanks 😁

[@phileldridge7888]

Quite popular with the local residents as the trains no longer sound their horns.

[@ElectraProductions225]

Thought these were all removed! Great video! 👍

[@SouthEastLevelCrossings]

Thank you! 😁 I did too, and was a tad surprised to see this method of operation still here.

[@ChangesOneTim]

No. You might be confusing overlay MSL with power operated gate opening (POGO). SFAIK any POGO crossing must have MWL/ OMSL, but not the other way round. OMSL and POGO are independent systems. NR did remove a number of POGOs after some serious incidents led to a rethink of POGO suitability criteria.

[@ElectraProductions225]

@@ChangesOneTim Was referring to the on request MSLs 👍. Had a few about which have since been replaced and can only think of 2 off the top of my head now. Interesting to hear about POGOs though...

[@ChangesOneTim]

@@ElectraProductions225 On request/ on demand are still around. Maybe the criteria have been tightened up but it's only ever been intended where daily use is low or it's not daily.

[@Trainguy336]

Yesss First