The Level Crossing You Have To Power Yourself

[@stevebrule6046]

Waiting for the train and timing that sentence must have been a pain to do

Steve Brule You can literraly see a smile on his face when the word "this" lines up perfectly with the train.

[@danlastname9002]

There's a website called 'Real Time Trains' -- they allow you to see exactly when a train will pass a specific point down to about 15 seconds.

[@shawnpitman876]

@@danlastname9002 fantastic tool for terrorists. why would you ever have something like that?

[@danlastname9002]

@@shawnpitman876 If it's pre-meditated, it'd be planned for an EXACT moment. By that logic, shouldn't the LED screens at stations be removed too? Or, for buses and coaches, shouldn't their trackers be removed, so you can't tell where a bus will be at any given point in time?

[@anothermediocreuser6422]

*prain to do

[@liamwright1105]

By the time you get the barriers up another train is bloody here 😂

[@BergfelderVideos780]

I'm sure that mechanism will be blocked from opening long enough before a train passes through

[@skthejanner]

6 trains per hour is the traffic rate (cite abcrailwayguide.uk), so on average you've got 10 minutes.

[@heal0152]

Oh

[@LegosheepIsAwesome]

It's 2 per hour and I don't believe high speed trains use that route any more.

[@pieswick]

Most trains use that but some go via ebbsfleet and rochester.

[@Michaelbrown1995]

I think several people are missing the point, so it's probably important to state that the barriers are already lowered as you approach in your car. You raise them by hand, and lower them again when you get to the other side. If you don't lower them, they gradually lower on their own - however this is a slow process.

[@onevastanus]

That's what he said. Read it again if it's still difficult.

[@shawnpitman876]

@Fester Blats reading comprehension, go back to grade 1 and learn some.

[@Tore233]

Thanks, now the crossing makes sense!

[@LuluClimbs]

@@shawnpitman876 No need to get unfriendly. Maybe the user isn't a native English speaker.

[@OneMouseGaming]

@Anifco67 Its just like the concept of gates on farmland. If you have to open it , close it behind you.

[@kalebbruwer]

This is a new level of budget cuts...

[@haveitboi999]

its not because of budget cuts its because its a side road that gets used only a couple of times a week

[@welshpete12]

They are getting rid of these as quickly as possible .

[@優さん-n7m]

Spent so much money in dropping bombs in other countries that Britain does not have enough to keep its old pensioners warm and not enough to make automated level crossings.

[@SLACKLINEDUDE]

No this is much safer if you are pumping it you will no if a train is crossing or not for the most part.

[@xaiano794]

not at all, these are installed on low use crossings that would otherwise be removed for safety reasons. Personally I think it would be foolish to spend tens of millions installing main road crossing equipment on roads that get 2 or 3 cars a day, but clearly you are a lot richer than I and don't see it that way.

[@gootywooty]

Its used to keep animals out at the same time, this is a farm after all so making it so only humans can open the gates is a much safer way. The gates close automatically over a short period of time as it utilises a bleed valve. Think of it as those taps where you have to push down to get the water going but after some time it automatically closes.

[@justayoutuber1906]

ah! that makes sense - so they are normally closed.

[@ahulsbos]

If you ever get to Germany, you should seek out an "Anrufschranke", where you have to call up the signalman down the line to open the barriers for you. Don't forget to call again when you are on the other side!

[@wufongtanwufong5579]

Why not just stay on the line?

[@MrSixStringy]

These also exist in the UK

[@mfree80286]

@@wufongtanwufong5579 Because the cord won't reach.

[@awsomevideoperson]

Do people not know how to look both ways?

[@TheFrogInYourClosetWatchingYou]

@@Beat_Seek why?

[@Vouk73]

Great Britain - Where people can still be trusted not to kill themselves in stupid ways. (Mostly)

[@jamesgrimwood1285]

And if there is the opportunity for stupid deaths, you can guarantee there'll be a CCTV camera watching. ... so that the footage can be used on late night TV for entertainment ;-)

[@james123212]

its unlikely there would be a CCTV camera watching user worked crossings as there normally on small tracks in the countryside, crossings that are monitored by CCTV are normally the electronic type that are operated by a signal box miles away or a regional signalling centre, interesting fact about crossings operated from a Regional operating centre is that once the signaler has made sure the crossing is clear and lowered the barrier as soon as he sets the protecting signal to clear the CCTV feed to his monitor turns off so if a person or vehicle goes onto the crossing and gets hit after the barriers are lowered and signal set to proceed the signaler can't have any legal action taken against him/her.

[@Dosedmonkey]

Vouk73 sadly that's changing slowly.... the impatient generation has arrived...

[@Orc-icide]

Flip side, Great Britiain - Where engineers are so stupid that they think people WON'T kill themselves.. We all know its going to happen.

[@jamesgrimwood1285]

I like to think it's natures way of thinning out the truly stupid. I.e the people who can't be told "don't touch electricity, it's dangerous", they just have to poke a fork in a socket to find out for themselves.

[@Matt463634]

'4: Cross quickly' Stands on tracks.

[@railpwn1268]

Sign: Cross quickly Tom: No, I don't think I will.

[@global001]

Love how quintessentially British & polite your program title is. I hate it when people assume you don't already know something on social media. Finally someone who's got it right.

[@skthejanner]

Half the comments here wouldn't have been made had Tom mentioned that almost all of these unmanned/unpowered crossings are built over private roads, on stately manor homes or on massive farms. No danger of an 80 year old man with a dodgy back coming across one whilst driving his Fiat Panda.

[@JohnMcLusky]

I looked this up on Google Maps (www.google.co.uk/maps/place/51%C2%B016'28.9%22N+1%C2%B003'33.8%22E/@51.2745034,1.0554187,17z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d51.2747!4d1.0594?hl=en) and the only thing this road leads to is a farm. TIL!

[@TheUglyGnome]

+John McLusky And there is already existing tunnel going below the railroad track on this road... but unfortunately this branch ends few meters away from the nearest public road. So of course it's better to keep the complicated and potentially dangerous railway crossing instead of building few meters of road. British logic.

[@TheUglyGnome]

+SkTheJanner Yes. I used Satellite view. That's how I found the tunnel and road up to few meters away from Priest Ave. Missed the connection to Mill Lane, though. Good catch. But I don't buy your explanation on saving time. If you look closely, route to the nearest main road (A2050) from the farm is shorter via Mill Ln. And if you add the time needed to operate gates at the crossing, there's no way it will be faster. Only explanation I can think of is that the end of Mill Ln is private road. There's a gate there after all. You can see this clearly in Street View. So my original point may still be valid. Why not build few meters of road to connect to Priest Ave. And please. Don't confuse statistics with safety. Everyone should have learned this from Concorde. In one moment statistically safest airliner in the World. Few minutes later statistically least safe airliner.

[@skthejanner]

TheUglyGnome You can use 3D mode on a computer to see that a road up to Priest Avenue would be uncomfortably steep, as you'd have to make it down the hill and then underneath the railway bridge. This is why the road up to Mill Lane zigzags, an articulated lorry or a tractor would not manage the hill else. The crossing still doesn't become redundant because of the amount of fields north and south of the railway tracks that it serves, as well as what appears to be a small stationary caravan park. And for the safety/statistics comment you could say the same about any level crossing, if someone parks their car on the track or the lights/barriers fail, then anything could happen. But, if operated and maintained properly, then nothing will. There's a surprisingly large number of videos on KZbin of people just using level crossings, including this one, so have a watch of how it works in the real world, not the nice smoothly edited world that is Tom's video.

[@buddyclem7328]

SkTheJanner Jeremy Clarkson, is that you?

[@Borjigin.]

As a Canadian, I basically have no idea what I just witnessed.

[@JoCE2305]

In Maine most of the time we say screw the barricade and just put the lights and a bell

[@shawnpitman876]

@@JoCE2305 In Maine you guys also do copious amounts of opioids. Which goes to show, you guys aren't all that smart.

[@JoCE2305]

@@shawnpitman876 Nah. It's just because we know how to drive. Also, the only place you find "copious amounts of opioids" is Arrostook county. The rest of the state just has weed everywhere but that's legal now. Not that it's good but it's legal.

[@shawnpitman876]

@@JoCE2305 nah, its cause you're just a bunch of drug addicts what would rather spend their money on another hit of heroin.

[@JoCE2305]

@@shawnpitman876 Really? I've never used drugs. Most of my friends have never used drugs. There are nut cases all over the world. If you wanna see drugs, go to some big ass city. The only think your gonna find in most of Maine is weed and that's only a small amount of people.

[@ultimatenoob8261]

There was a question on my driving theory test about these gates and I had no idea wtf it was on about. I've asked so many people over the last few years for the answer and no one has a clue, so thank you for finally ending my torment Tom haha.

[@lalski08]

I've used this crossing a thousand times over the years. They are entirely manual, and you need to lower them yourself. Fortunately, the road is only used by a farm at the end of it (some 200 yards) and where the road ends...

[@FinHDGaming]

By the time I'd've done that, another train would've gone past

[@noah321]

*I'd've*

[@bremCZ]

By the time I'd done that... "had have" is nonsense.

[@orangew3988]

I'd've is short for 'I would have' not 'I had have'. Don't know why you're all misunderstanding.

[@theonlyenekoeneko]

English is fascinating

[@naverilllang]

@@bremCZ you seriously don't know what "I'd" means?

[@tengelgeer]

Uhm, why are the barriers not electronically operated with the light??? It's not that much harder...

[@madhuragrawal5685]

+tengelgeer A motor requires significantly more energy than a light

[@arfski]

+tengelgeer The road is only for the one farm house, hardly worth the expense of a fully automated crossing...

[@tengelgeer]

+Madhur Agrawal It doesn't require a lot of power at all. Just make the barriers balanced like they all are here in the Netherlands (and they probably are already because otherwise it would be real hard). And the maintenance of a electric system is probably a lot cheaper then a mechanical these days... Or only just install blinking lights. I think that's even saver because the barrier being up here means nothing at all...

[@tengelgeer]

+arfski But nowadays the maintenance of a electrical system is probably a whole less then a mechanical... And all the infrastructure is already there (power and sensors on the track). But okay, maybe use them as long as they don't break is okay. But like I said, the fact the barrier being up mean nothing to whether it's save or not I think just blinking lights is saver...

[@madhuragrawal5685]

arfski mmm.

[@NathanLoveridge]

I just love how he times everything so well

[@I_Don_t_want_a_handle]

There's a pedestrian crossing near us on the GWR, on a nice bit of straight where the trains woosh past. There are no lights or barrier, just a stile and warning sign. Adds to the fun of the wander back from the pub ...

[@alwaysoutnumbered]

There used to be a power station in castle donnington derby/Leicester that used to operate their barriers like this. I was allowed as a kid to pump it, probably because my dad couldn’t be bothered to get out the car. I used to love doing it, and by rights there was another easier way to go but it’s these little things from childhood that stay in your mind ☺️. I wonder if it is still there.

[@CaptSlog]

That crossing went several years ago when the by-pass was built. I used to go down that road just to operate the barrier or let my sons do it. Although the road was near the power station, the road itself was an ordinary country lane running from Donnington to Cavendish Bridge, Shardlow. I think it was called Back Lane. The line runs to Burton On Trent.

[@41Extremo]

I live in Canterbury, I didn't realise they were that uncommon

[@Jordan-qs9vp]

As an American (Ohio), I never knew these existed until I watched this video.

[@computethisinfo]

I live in south east england and I didnt know these existed at all (yes I knew the crossing exist but not the DIY crossing)

[@wesleyestep1188]

Jordan Stevenson I second that, my fellow Ohioan.

[@nellyluckett880]

where abouts is it? I've travelled on that train almost daily for years and didnt realise it was there....

[@ala0284]

I knew there were a few open level crossings around the south east, there’s one near me, but I never would’ve thought that this exists, especially not on the high speed line

[@PinkThorn242]

Also, the Class 395 Javelins can't do 140 down that stretch anyway since it's a Third-Rail line, which limits the speed (the record being about 110). They only do 140 on HS1, where the electrical traction current comes from overhead wires and the signalling is set up to allow it (Virgin Pendolinos could theoretically do 140 on the West Coast Mainline, as they're design-capable of going that fast, but those speeds are only allowed on lines with in-cab signalling like HS1).

[@torinstorkey]

This error has been bugging me.

[@mrsmith1097]

I don't get it... how do the crossings go down again after you've crossed? Do they expect people to put it down again themselves? In that case who would bother? It may as well just have the lights. Where I grew up many crossings only had lights and some only had a sign.

[@katymc1988]

Watch until the end

[@IonoTheFanatics]

+tmnsoon the crossings can be made to do it automatically when the system is signaled about an incoming train if need be and bringing the barrier down... though not always the case depending on implementation, it really didn't cost the system much of an energy from itself other than what you put into it by pumping the lever, in another word... the barrier's rest state is actually when it is down. you as the driver had to go down to pump it and bring the barrier up... since you need to pass, but to bring the barrier down this is done automatically by the system, imagine a garage door that slides upward if you like, if you want to open it... you had to LIFT the door up... but once it is up... bringing it down is easy.. just let gravity do the job (or in better system... let a weight pulley system that you charged by lifting the door up do it)

[@mattkaythetimelord]

+tmnsoon I agree, there is one where I live that has lights and no barrier. If I stopped and saw that red light, why would I waste my time with the barrier when i could just wait for the green light and drive across.

[@defvii]

Rural crossings in Australia just have flashing lights afaik. Not even red/green, you have to look yourself. But then again, we don't have any high speed trains and we have a very big country.

[@mattkaythetimelord]

Oh so you have to LOWER it so it stays down all the time? I thought you had to lower it if a train was coming, no wonder it made no sense to me.

[@johnnyboy3949]

I miss these kind of tom videos. Informative, well done, a good script and he doesn't have to fly half way around the world for it.

[@tangerinealarm]

Wow. This is a simple, practical solution. Seeing the title of the video I thought it'd just be a pedestrian crossing, not a complete road crossing.

[@paulmorris2825]

@Some characters aren't allowed That well-known non problem of cars being on the railway line as a train comes through

[@andywood8082]

I can only imagine a little old granny lady trying to operate that.

[@ByAlexey]

Little old granny better grab a taxi than driving .... more safety for everyone

[@Kaslidaughterofchaos]

That’s why if I lived near a area with a rail crossing that’s user operated I would do it for people. Not only do I get to help my community I also get to see trains! It’s a win win.

[@KizzaMcc]

Hey Tom, I'm from Australia and last year I lived in York. I was so amazed to see in Nether Poppleton a level crossing where the conductor had to walk down to the gates and manually open and close them. Also, here is Australia because our country is so vast many rail crossings in the outback / remote parts of Australia have no barrier at all. Just a flashing light.

[@ethanlamoureux5306]

Here in America many crossings have nothing but a sign. Sometimes they put a yield sign up along with the crossbuck, other times a stop sign. But often it’s just a crossbuck, usually on infrequently used lines where train speed is low.

[@maxnaz47]

In many of our sugar cane growing regions, a lot of crossings have nothing but a sign.

[@jacksainthill8974]

You wrote. _Things you might not know._ Your unassuming approach is a true delight, thank you. I hate the _[N] things you don't know about..._ video titles which assume that one's ignorance is a given. (Your content is always brilliant, anyway!) Cheers.

[@jacksainthill8974]

***** I have to assume that you've somehow misunderstood.

[@sepez]

*you're

[@rosieisla8286]

He wasn't even correcting you, he was (Wrongly, I think) correcting Jack.

[@jacksainthill8974]

Rosie Isla So he wasn't and he was? One of you and I is confused.

[@rosieisla8286]

Jack Sainthill Richard was correcting you. I think he's wrong. 'You have misunderstood' means you didn't get something. 'You are misunderstood' means people don't understand *YOU*. So his correction is wrong. Ethan, however, was telling Richard not to correct him, while Richard wasn't doing that - Richard was correcting you (Jack).

[@Ambo100]

Before I clicked on this video I was think of the exact same crossing (Whitehall Road, Canterbury). I have used it once before, whilst it was fun being in control of the barriers I can imagine it would also be quite tiring for the people who need to use it regularly.

[@trainsgochoochoo]

I didn't know manual crossings were that uncommon, we've still got old 80's manual gates that swing out to the road on the London-Ipswitch line. Not many people still use it since it's only a five min drive to a bridge, but it's still there and still works.

[@siddheshsharma22945]

On Network Rail , there also exists another kind of User Worked Level Crossing ( UWC) which is called Telephone Equipped UWC or TEL for short . These are *usually* deployed in case of Absolute Block Section Signalled Areas . In this case the user wanting to open the barriers for road movement needs to call the Station Controller/Master (of the stations on either sides) active in the area if the gates can be opened for road traffic . If the Line Clear has not been granted by the Station Master / Controller , the Masters would not allow the gate to be opened . If there is no train to be expected , the Master would allow the vehicle user to use Level Crossing . The timing of Gate Opening is noted and no train is admitted in the Block section ( in either direction ) . Only and only when the confirmation call from the user arrives that the gate is closed and is clear for train traffic , the master notes the timings down and now train could be allowed in Block Section . To prevent mishap , ( I guess these days ) the Block Instrument is interlocked with Gate Opening / Closing . If the Gate is open for Road traffic , the Block Instrument is locked on to Line Closed state . Until and unless the gate closes , Line Clear cannot be granted .

[@turbostar7077]

You'd normally call the signal person as they can actually stop the trains

[@layersofpoliticaljokes5337]

Says "all thats stopping me from getting hit from a train are the *gates* " stands on the track where a 140mph *OR* 50mph train could come through and hit him

[@jurjenbos228]

If you ever come to the Netherlands, you should make a video about the user operated ferries here. They transport a few bikes and pedestrians and can be operated by a single person.

[@andymarr5857]

Would be interesting to see how this integrates with the signalling systems for the trains, telling them if the barriers are down or not

[@modelsteamers671]

The barriers aren't interlocked with the signalling but the road traffic lights are operated by track circuits.

[@over00lordunknown12]

I like this older format of videos, just a quick intro, showing what the video is about, and a quick outro, as opposed to now where it’s a longer outro, and the content of the video talks more about the history behind what ever the video is about.

[@fetchstixRHD]

Personally I’d prefer this video at least to be in the newer format, with Network Rail speaking a bit about these types of crossings. With quite a few accidents happening on them, there’s a surprising lack of focus on user worked crossings...

[@steve24822]

I know this crossing well. I used to go here just to use the crossing. It looks like it has been modernised a bit since I was last there?

[@southcalder]

There is Bodsbury Crossing between Elvanfoot and Beattock on the West Coast Main Line that is the same. Technically it is just a farm access, and use by anyone other than railway staff, the property owner, or anyone with business at the farm is prohibited. Same dual hydraulic pumping mechanism with a release lever and red/green lights. It gets abused fairly regularly, usually by delivery drivers that don’t want to raise and lower it twice. But if a train passes and the barriers are raised it will be reported by the driver to the signaller, who will in turn call out the BTP, a Mobile Operations Manager and sometimes the local signalling technicians to ascertain if there is a problem preventing its lawful use. These types of crossing are not interlocked with the signalling beyond the operation of the red/green lights and the onus is very much on the user to make sure they cross on a green light. A train will not get a red signal if the barrier is raised. Misuse if detected will always result in a loss of drivers licence and potentially a prison sentence depending on the severity. As someone formerly part of the local signalling team (my profile picture is actually just a couple of miles up the line at Abington, taken during an engineering shutdown) I’ve seen some camera footage of misuse and know what happened to the vehicle driver involved.

[@steevf]

If someone leaves without lowering the barriers, is there a mechanism that will do it automatically?

[@maxximumb]

The one I saw as a kid did close itself. Over time the pressure in the pump bleeds off and the gates close themselves.

[@eIucidate]

steevf I would have answered by saying it's a stupid question, as automation defeats the purpose. Maxx B's answer has set me straight.

[@maxximumb]

This style of crossing was built prior to electronic automation. In some parts of the UK, they leave things that aren't broke. Which is why we have wonderful examples of old engineering. It's a shame that in the pursuit of the almighty £ and it's dim witted cousin Health & Safety, still functioning, elegant engineering is ripped out and replaced with electric motors.

[@ilivetoflyX]

It is pump and pressure activated, leave it up and the pressure seaps out and it lowers slowly.

[@charliecahill7252]

steevf yes there is,

[@nobbb890ggg]

That was something I really did not know thanks Tom !

[@samueljames5432]

This Crossing design has a lot to do with livestock

[@Bahnfanatiker]

In germany we have somethingh in a way similar called "Anrufschranke". On such crossings is a kind of phone where you can be connected to the signal box and the dispatcher will open the gates when it is save

[@thenewpatticakes4214]

Its especially dangerous because express trains are not required to sound the horn at crossings

[@EnterprisingRailFilms]

We have one like that in Northern Ireland, but all you do is push a button to open it, then warning lights tell you to close it again, you cross over to the other side then push the close button! No levers! Enjoyed the vid! :)

[@prosincr]

What will the elderly do?

[@prosincr]

***** another manual one? It's poor design/planning

[@leifvejby8023]

We'll huff and puff!

[@KurtRichterCISSP]

"If it's true" ?!?! Our Tom would never lie to us!

[@leoja4578]

These level crossings only serve tiny properties, there would be a tiny chance of an elderly person crossing.

[@TheBushdoctor68]

+Leo Tapp When you say 'tiny properties', do you mean private properties? Otherwise you just stated that some small villages do not have elderly people..... I assumed this was a public crossing, and especially in rural areas there's usually a high amount of elderly people..

[@nt9207]

Welcome back everyone, good to see you after all these years

[@GRBtutorials]

0:54 *pauses video*. *opens unit converter*. 140 mph ≃ 225 km/h, 40 mph ≃ 60 km/h and 50 mph ≃ 80 km/h. You’re welcome.

[@xremming]

Subscribing to your channel might have been the best decision I have made for a year. Frequent videos, that are short, good, funny and awesome!

[@DeltaLiam]

I live Near Canterbury and didn't even know this existed.

[@AlKnighty]

Same

[@sharonsewell2308]

I live in near Dover but more in the countryside and there is one of these there aswell. However i think it is kind of different

[@TheMoonRover]

I live in Lancashire and there's one of these just over the Yorkshire border on the main line towards Leeds and York.

[@victort.4798]

Tfw the train aligns perfectly with the words "this is a user operated level crossing"

[@BeardyGit89]

"Nothing too unusual about this except" the fact that it's really unusual...

[@KasabianFan44]

If the barriers don't go down automatically, isn't it a little too dangerous to use this crossing?

[@ReeceJamesTM]

no because of the green & red signal

[@KasabianFan44]

***** But that doesn't physically stop drivers from using the crossing.

[@ReeceJamesTM]

***** then thats breaking the law! if they die or get injured it's their fault for taking the risk.

[@KasabianFan44]

***** Then the barrier might as well not exist.

[@Minecraftzt176]

***** I live in austria and there are many railway crossings without any barriers. Somtimes they have light signals but somtimes there is nothing which could say you that a train is coming. Then you have to look carefully and hope, that it's not foggy...

[@KarlBlackOfDublin]

So Tom Scott done a video on this level crossing, before Geoff Marshall went there in 2017.

[@LennyJRP]

That looks so fun to just play with all day.

[@JoelGalilee]

The level crossing on my road is completely manual. The operator sits in a small hut all day and gets out two times an hour to push open the level crossings (which unlike many modern electrical ones cover all of the road) so a train can stop/go through. They used to all be like this but now there aren't many left.

[@jamesgrimwood1285]

There's one of those near where my Grandma lives. The gates either cover the road to keep cars out, or cover the tracks to stop idiot car drivers doing stupid things.

[@ReeceJamesTM]

there was one near me which was what you said accept they are gates and they were only operated during the day so cars had to take an alternative ought. also there are gates that pedestrians can go through any time

[@JJRicks]

Hello to another Joel out there in the world...

[@Schrankenposten19]

In Germany, there is also a "self-service" railroad crossing in the Hannover / Braunschweig area. Analogous to the English, we have so-called "call barriers" which are always closed and only open after a button at the transition itself. :-)

[@Tom_Hadler]

Pointless. It has a green or red light indicating if it's safe.....So just wait at the lights. Then slowly set off when it goes green. The barrier is superfluous if you have to operate it yourself.

[@gregistopal]

Tom Hadler yep

[@thestargateking]

Tom Hadler I think the barrier is just a legal requirement based on where the trains are and the speed of them and stuff like that, so they half arsed put that in and be like, yeah that'll do

[@TheBushdoctor68]

+dan b that would explain a lot. yeap.

[@grahamlive]

Tom Hadler - Good point. In Northern Scotland there are lots of level crossings with lights only.

[@GamingMattStyle]

The crossing barriers are always down except when crossing - the opposite of a normal electrical crossing. If you don't lower the barriers yourself, the pressure leakage and gravity will eventually close them shut. Whenever a new motorist arrives (given the small rural road, most likely very infrequently), the barrier will be closed - forcing them to stop and evaluate whether it's safe to cross. Someone flying at 60 down a winding country road is more likely to stop for a physical obstacle than a light, especially if the crossing is concealed from view due to bends in the road.

[@megatronacepticon]

When SCS come to update the England map in Euro Truck Simulator 2 they should put at least one of these in where you have to stop the truck and press enter to raise them.

[@AdamLeuer]

What are the elderly, disabled, etc. expected to do, if they can't operate it?

[@connormuir9589]

+Adam Leuer Just wait for the train to go past.

[@licensedblockhead]

+Connor Muir what

[@JaffaCaik]

+MaximumLemons The barrier doesn't automatically go down. So when they see the red light, just don't cross until it turns green.

[@AdamLeuer]

robert mcghie thanks for the info!

[@AndrooUK]

You might even be able to do it, just not as quickly as Tom does it for the video. You could do smaller lever pumps. But yes, it would probably not be the easiest thing to operate. Statistically it would be insignificant. Ah well, the farm people had better just hope they don't get two crippled/weak arms each.

[@dannywheeler6497]

There's one in Wye that the operator has to manually open and close the gates. It is also on a line that javelins operate on.

[@BronyumHexofloride]

im allways getting stuck at the crossing on the bus... it gets really annoying

[@Compiton1986]

The speed on that line is 70mph, and it is easy for the trains to be doing that at the crossing

[@Sexbedhair]

Dude I live here and it's the bomb - It was my childhood getting to work the lever and take it down again was so much fun! Best part of the walk.

[@L_U-K_E]

Damn those barriers getting a free “Pump” from everybody ✊💨💨💨

[@kylehill3643]

^^^^^ how many times people pumped that barrier.

[@Rapidsnap1984]

There's one of these crossings on the West Coast Main Line near Beattock where trains cross it at over 100mph.

[@philipshrimpton8780]

When there's a user operated crossing round here they just have a gate on either side. Less effort than a hand pump and just as effective.

[@willdatsun]

I remember Ramsgate.. before that big scandal. You will always be Rams to me.

[@bigglessy]

Near canterbury? Holy crap, I need to go see this!

[@NJ-wb1cz]

You already did see this

[@geoffreycoan]

There’s one of these user operated level crossings on the East Coast main line near Biggleswade. It’s on a dead end road that leads to a couple of houses on the opposite side of the line. I encountered it whilst trying to find a shortcut home, that wasn’t ! You have to pump hard to get the crossing barriers to stay up - I didn’t pump enough 💪 and the barriers came down whilst I was half way over 😩. Panic pumping to get the barriers up again and get off the railway; all the time being watched by a bemused resident who’d come out to watch

[@NigelThornbery]

The instructions on the sign says fully raise BOTH barriers. Do you have to crank both sides individually to get them to go up or does it move both up when you pump?

[@andrewalsid1500]

itscold it moves both up when you pump one side

[@onevastanus]

No, you pump one up, then drive onto the tracks. Then you stop blocking the track while you go and raise the other one. It's designed that way to cause accidents of course. No one ever considered raising both at the same time; we're not American yet.

[@Liggliluff]

@@onevastanus _> "No, you pump one up, then drive onto the tracks. Then you stop blocking the track while you go and raise the other one."_ Or, here's a _crazy_ idea ... you raise one, _walk_ over, and raise the other, _walk_ back and watch for trains, drive across, then lower it again. Since that actually lowers both.

[@daz3387]

The safe way to use any level crossing is to follow the instructions exactly. There are a wide variety out there, so don't make assumptions that a train won't come if the barriers are up, etc as many commenters have. On this crossing, and others like it, there is no interlock, if the train is coming then it's coming despite the barriers or you. Interlocked versions have all sorts of knock on effects to the signalling system so are mainly on busy public roads (and then there would be just as many comments about inconvenience as the red lights are necessarily on for much longer as if you want the train to stop then it has to be far enough away to do so). These crossings are designed so that if the light goes red once you've just started crossing then you have enough time to walk straight across - not dawdle Tom!

[@HliarusProd]

That is why French high-speed railroads don't intersect with anything ! Always goes over or under an obstacle

[@KasabianFan44]

So does the Brighton Main Line.

[@ComandanteJ]

+omegaPe The same in Spain or any modern high speed line, really.

[@fdsdh1]

+omegaPe it doesn't go Highspeed until Ashford I think which is a few more stops down the line. Even when it gets Ashford though the stations on the high speed line are quite close together so it never really gets a good run whilst travelling in Britain. You only really get 'continental' style uninterupted high speed if you go on Eurostar.

[@leoja4578]

+omegaPe They do though. There are level crossings on the TGV line.

[@HliarusProd]

+Leo Tapp On a TGV Line There might be, but not on a LGV. If you have an example, I would be pleased to know where

[@aaravsgaming337]

Time to add this to the Tom Scott introducting places series.

[@DeviousMalcontent2]

Can't I just download an app to do it for me?

[@petercdowney]

In fact, it would be dangerous to allow trains to operate at speeds of more than 100 mph (160 km/h) over a half-barrier or open level crossing, or at speeds of more than 125 mph (200 km/h) over any level crossing.

[@diablo0073]

Why isn't there an interlock? If the light is red, you just CANNOT raise the gate/barrier. A mechanical interlock, maybe.

[@diablo0073]

***** Fair point.

[@ethanlamoureux5306]

@Rainbow Hyphen Notice there are no red flashing lights or audible signal either. My guess is that there is no electrical power available at the crossing. The red and green lights are powered by the railroad signaling system, which only has power enough to operate those small signal lights, but not enough for things like gates or other signals. But it’s still fair to ask why not put a simple lock on the mechanism which would unlock when the light is green. That shouldn’t take much more power than just the light itself.

[@6sicSIX]

Because that would rely on the gate already being lowered. And what if there's an accident and you can't lift the gate

[@mickys8065]

@@6sicSIX if there's an accident during a red light the train would be present and the operator would alert the signal house which would automatically disable the red light

[@maxnaz47]

Here in Australia in the sugar cane fields, rail crossings are everywhere with nothing but a sign on either side, no barrier or flashing lights of any kind...

[@davefrancisjarrett3563]

I used to use that exact Crossing on a daily basis once upon a time when I lived lived on the Housing estate situated above the Rail line in the background ( the Dover to Victoria line.)

[@EddyProca]

If you arrive at the crossing and the light turns red, why would you get out to lower the barrier manually to then have to pump to raise it? Wouldn't most people just wait in the car for the light to turn green and leave the barrier up?

[@EddyProca]

What happens if nobody is crossing and therefore nobody takes down the barrier?

[@Binary10100]

Eddy Proca The barrier is probably down if no one is there.

[@jakejrobinson]

Eddy Proca The barrier has a hydraulic timing lock inside, if you don't manually lower the gates, them a valve opens after a set time and will lower the barriers automatically.

[@Dracolith1]

BungleVision3D So what stops the timing lock from trapping a vehicle inbetween the two barriers?

[@DamonDerekDave]

Dracolith1 The driver of the vehicle who decides to put his foot down when the barriers come down either side of him.

[@ben.taylor]

East Road is a user-worked crossing exactly like this. It's on the East Coast Mainline, four tracks wide and the speed limit over the crossing is 125mph on the fast lines. 80mph on the slows.

[@kjamison5951]

If they had more of these near places that people use to cross the track, there might not be as many deaths. Some scary videos of people thinking they can outrun a train.

[@Zyo117]

At least there's one person down here in the comments with some sense...I'm with you on that one mate.

[@louielouiepks]

Its Station 8 on the running workout trail. People must coordinate their workouts with the local train schedule obtained only at the train Station.

[@cosmicjenny4508]

I'M AWARE JUST HOW DODGY THIS LOOKS Classic Tom!

[@GtmNayan]

*Casually walks onto a high speed train track.*

[@TechLaboratories]

This seems like a lawsuit waiting to happen....

[@Sam-gf6ue]

@Games With Nic that's a lawsuit waiting to happen then

[@bartman8876]

Like the videos you put out. Your like the Uncle Johns Bathroom Reader . Short stories that are to the point and interesting.

[@gsonz172]

As a child I would stand there all day and open and close the barriers xD

[@SiskinOnUTube]

I have a childhood memory that makes me feel all gooey about level crossings. I'd love to have the old red lamp as a bedside night light.

[@TilmanBaumann]

I suppose the Barrier lowers automatically with approaching trains.

[@TilmanBaumann]

I did and it makes no sense. If no car is waiting (and the driver lowers the barrier) no train can pass. That makes absolutely no sense! I'm pretty certain that the barrier lowers automatically but needs to be raised manually.

[@TilmanBaumann]

Come on. That is ancient train safety technology. Of course the train has to stop if the barrier is up. Otherwise it's as good as a level crossing.

[@Michaelbrown1995]

Tilman Baumann The train does not stop. The barriers gradually lower over time if they're not properly lowered by the person who used it. Trains, however, pass whether the gates are raised or lowered. It is up to the car's driver to check for the green light as to whether or not it is safe to cross. I can't quite understand how that concept is confusing you.

[@TilmanBaumann]

OK if the gates lower slowly then there is a safety plus. I thought they would just stay open forever if the previous driver did not close them. I still wonder why they don't just pull some mechnaical pin that dropes the gate which is connected to the signals which are obviously there. Whatever I was able to read about manual gates (which isn't much) seems to be exactly that. First driver has to rise the gate (because there is no electricity) and when a train approaches the (mechanical) signalling system releases the gates which lower by gravity. After the train passed drivers can crank it up again. (Seen mentionings of this in India) The state of the gates could be coupled to the 'green' signal for the trains. But hey, perhaps this is even more archaic. As I said, if the gates lower over time there is some safety advantage because drivers always have to stop first. What confused me is that the video seems to suggest that you also have to manually LOWER the gate. And that would just be insane. Except if it where coupled with the signals.

[@JP05CPSN]

Tilman Baumann ***** "I still wonder why they don't just pull some mechnaical pin that dropes the gate which is connected to the signals which are obviously there." so the light is green... you get half way across and the light goes red. (the light goes red early a good while before the train passes for obvious reasons) you can still get of the track. You propose that You get to the gate the light is green. You stop, get out your car, pump the gate up (which takes sometime when you don't do it as variously as shown in the video) get back in your car start the engine, check the light is still green... (it is) you get halfway over the crossing the light goes red and now you are suck in your car on the tracks... great idea! I have no idea why no one has ever thought of this, "why they don't just pull some mechnaical pin that dropes the gate which is connected to the signals which are obviously there." trapping everyone already on the crossing!

[@MotoCrazy66]

I love this guy, he cracks me up.

[@zusurs]

What...the...hell? If there is functioning traffic light, why not just install electric barrier in that place? It seems incredibly stupid and pointless.

[@DezzarTac]

+Rainbow Hyphen I would've just said that it's a state sponsored method of fighting off obesity by forcing people to exercise...that works too.

[@kuyaleinad4195]

It was probably built before electric motors became cheap enough. That’s normally the case with British rail: if it ain’t broken, it’s not getting replaced until it becomes priority. The whole rail line in my town was still using mechanical victorian style signalling until recently as not a lot of people use the rail line :/

[@RichardB1983]

There's one on a public road just west of Alsager in Cheshire that forms part of the Cheshire Cycleway route. It's on the mainline between Stoke-on-Trent and Crewe - two busy stations. You don't have to pump the gates open - you have to manually open both of them before you cross and they're like gates you'd see at a farmer's field entrance. I've never seen anything to low-tech on a public road. A train approached after I'd opened both gates - so the gates were wide open as it passed. It does have the mini red/green lights though.

[@KingGurke98]

...and that is stupidly dangerous and totally unnecessary by todays possibilities.

[@kierachell.]

I know, we should get over trains and cars by now. Where's teleportation?!

[@MrSquishedsquashed]

How is it anymore dangerous than any other level crossing?

[@Mustardear]

Potentially stupidly dangerous. I wonder how often accidents happen at these types of crossings.

[@fernando1990619b]

Mustardear Maybe people over there is not stupid.

[@Huntracony]

it may actually be safer since you have to be more aware than usual.

[@OnkelJajusBahn]

I never thought that such thing would exict, thanks for showing it.

[@ynot6473]

barry scott's son? shouts the same!

[@QqJcrsStbt]

I used to cross the Paddington-Penzance mainline in a couple of places on my horse at bridle crossings. Sat in the saddle, pick up phone. Talk to Truro signal box. Tell them 'I'm up Jolly's bottom waiting to cross on a horse'. They say wait however long or cross now. Pick up the phone on the other side to say the line is clear. Years ago in pissing rain I forgot to call in the all's clear at Wheal Boys. Have not heard a train since :)

[@asherjackson4504]

Why does the UK use miles when they're metric

[@AndorianBlues]

+Asher McCarthy Because we're not completely metric. Imperial measurements are still used in road signs and in selling beer, cider and milk. In everyday usage people also exclusively use imperial measurements for human height and weight.

[@atkinsm0607]

+Asher McCarthy And if you are old enough. I as well as many others had only been taught the Imperial system.

[@siuoleht]

+GreenwireGaming however people born after 1985 will have learned metric units (myself included)

[@asherjackson4504]

So on roads the speed is in Mph?

[@siuoleht]

+Asher McCarthy yes

[@doubleT84]

In Germany, in the Extertal, is a piece of railroad track that you can drive on a pedal powered cart with crossings that have barriers for the rails.

[@Ralyx0]

This is the first time I've heard of a "level" crossing. Why is it called a "level"? I'd just call that a train crossing.

[@megarockman]

+Ralyx0 Level with the road, I'd imagine. As opposed to a crossing above on a bridge or below in a tunnel.

[@bcubed72]

+Rainbow Hyphen Well, "grade separated crossing" is a contradiction in terms, because if the two rights-of-way are displaced vertically, they don't cross. "Crossing" implies heavily that the two ROWs occupy the same physical space.

[@eisaatana96]

You must be American

[@Ralyx0]

Jake Kennedy Why yes, I am. :D

[@eisaatana96]

Ralyx0 You can always tell an American. Their stupidity and simplemindedness gives them away.

[@JulesSchattenberg]

In the Netherlands every little stupid sand path has it's fully automatic level crossing with lights, bells and beams.

[@ThomasGiles]

Well that's just weird. ;P

[@vx0tic-959]

I love the little traffic light

[@PhilipPetrunak]

Well that is insanely dangerous.

[@james123212]

all user worked crossings are perfectly safe as long as they're used correctly.

[@KuK137]

No, it's insanely dangerous because it's stupid, needlessly complicated, and adds several needless possible avenues of failure. Simple blinking light would be far safer. Also, did your parents dropped you on your head too many times you now have safety phobia judging by your helmet comment?

[@Dosedmonkey]

Phil Dog No its not. Its simple and effective engineering.

[@Dosedmonkey]

BrotherGreed Well said.

[@kingjames4886]

how is that dangerous? more stupid...

[@elicharlton6397]

I go on that train line every weekend but the one just up the hill where the trees are. The one you are at is from Canterbury west heading toward st Pancras