I have incorporated the relevent part of my friends video of the electrically operated gates, in my recent update on the subject. See the video titled WATCHETS PEDESTRIAN LEVEL CROSSING ON THE WSR.
A friend has just been visiting the North Yorkshire Moors Railway near Pickering. His video shows that at a place called New Bridge there is a pedestrian rail crossing with pedestrian operated electric gates. There are two push buttons. One says "open/ close" the other says "stop."
In spite of all the publicity regarding gates being legally necessary, as declared by the rail regulators, at the Goviers Lane crossing, the West Somerset Railway still has another pedestrian crossing near Minehead station with neither gates nor lights! And no efforts appear to be being made to do anything about them!
I am wondering if anyone can remember seeing gates at the crossing before the recent ones. I am also wondering if this means warning lights still are a legal requirement at the crossing as there was no sign that the WSR intended to fit any at the recent Chicane demonstration.
The local paper today published the Coroners report on the death of Jim kelly who fell off his invalid scooter at the crossing gate and later died in Hospital .It quotes the Rail Regulators as saying,"In 1975 the railway had been told to install gates and warning lights at the crossing. Some time in the past, the gates had been removed without the approval of the inspectorate leaving only the lights"
I wonder if there is anyone "in the know" brave enough to give us an idea as to when work would start on levelling out the area by the crossing on which a chicane could be built?
As a little light relief. the local paper has just carried the story that the whole crossing is to be replaced by a third railway in Watchet in the form of a funicular running the whole length of Goviers lane and across the tracks with several stations en route! It was published on April Fools day!
A local resident said to me recently "I used to really enjoy listening to the sounds of the trains passing by. Not any more, as it means there will be a burst of slamming gates after each train".
A two part video of what took part at Watchet on 16 March 2011 when the proposed replacement for the gated pedestrian crossing was tried out in practice is now available to watch.. See the video titled WSR'S SUGGESTED NEW LEVEL CROSSING FOR WATCHET.
This sounds as if it will be an important event not to be missed, with representatives present of all parties involved with the situation both legally and practically. The site has been physically changed over the years and not always benefically. A photo from the1960s shows that back then, there was a straight and level lead up path from the car park with a very gentle gradient.
I understand there will be a practical demonstration of how a chicane would function in the car park adjacent to the Goviers lane level crossing at Watchet from 2 pm on 16 March 2011.
I wonder if at the forthcoming open meeting at Watchet, citizens will be given the opportunity to accept or reject what is to be offered before more money is spent by the railway at the crossing. The forthcoming replacement footbridge at the station due in November, is completely ignoring those with invalid scooters when an alternative ramped and flat design could well have been built in the area so that all users would benefit
Warning lights were at the crossing to advise those hard of hearing and poor eyesight that it was safe to cross.. Many people relied on them and felt unsafe if they were out of order. When they were taken away and replaced by gates, those disadvantaged people were much worse off as well as also those with invalid scooters. Local people did not appreciate being called trouble makers because they did not like what had been done by the railway. i do hope we are not to get a repeat performance!
Perhaps it is worth meNtioning again for those considering a chicane that it would not stop a similar incident to the one I managed to capture in the video titled A DOG CHALLENGES A STEAM TRAIN. This by no means a rare event locally. Not all dog owners keep their dogs on leads in the area.
It is sad to have to report this, which would mean the WSR has rejected the almost cash free offer of a fully automated, safe, elecrtically operated pair of gates fully signalled audibly and visually. What a missed opportunity!
Information is currently circulating that there be a public meeting in Watchet sometime in March where information will be given by the WSR on a proposed chicane entrance for the level crossing of the railway. I have no more details than that..
I have heard that since the gates have no longer officially been tied open (When there were no trains sheduled to run) unofficial tying open has again taken place!
Is really too late for the idea of a bridge at Goviers lne to be thought about?. Several have said "Do you really need a replacement bridge at the station? It has been officially out of use for over a year now and the station looks much better without it." Urban Splash still have their large placard on the East Quay adverting the new Development which they have pulled back from. A model they produced shows a bridge there. How about getting them to build that now to show continued good intent?
If sometimes we think the WSR is out of touch, how about this comment I heard at the crossing a few days ago! The Railway has its own POLICE force, you know, why don't they control the gates?
It seems already common knowledge in the area, so i cant see how it would affect the situaion adversely if I say that the WSR's plans so far appear to be very low tech. I doubt if what I have heard would be the solution for the present problems for the 4 main groups. 1 Those in invalid scooters, 2 those who are hard of hearing, 3 those with poor eyesight, 4 loose animals, sometimes even on their own. All these groups have problems which we were hopeful the WSR would understand and address.
@ADMIRALSCORNER And please dont forget the safest crossing is one that stops people from crossing when a train is coming. It is rather disheartening to come across some very recent WSR paperwork cirulating still describing those who are experiencing real problems at the crossing as trouble makers. I would have hoped for a more enlightened attitude by this time. I make no appology for exposing this as the railway should know much better than this!.
I have been made aware of significant meetings soon to occur on the sublect of the level crossing and would urge anyone with any advice or comments to make to please do so now before it is too late to influence anything that may follow. Sorry this sounds vauge but its all the info I have been given!
A significant peice of news from a friend says that the national rail network is stopping the disabled using a gated crossing. See comment from HOWARTH004 on 11 Feb 11 on my video titled GOODBYE WATCHET FOOTBRIDGE Part 5
I heard yesterday that when the Watchet Footbridge is taken down next week it will be used as a pattern for the replacement due next Winter so it wont be any use to anyone in wheel chairs or pushing prams.Thats another opportunity wasted! For around the same money a replacement for everyone to use could have been produced .Is it really too late to do this?
Recently someone in the USA said they had a lot to say on the subject but preferred to send it to me personally. If anyone else feels the same, please be assured any relevent info will be passed on.
Williton Station is soon to have a restored footbridge fitted. it will not be as well used as Watchets was, as it is only used to get from one platform to another. It only really needs be used when a train is about to leave towards BL when the level crossing is temporarily closed. It will serve as a great place to take photos from however! To help future photographers it would be good if Watchet's replacement bridge walls could be 1 foot lower than previously..
There is plenty of time for a really useful disabled freindly bridge to be designed and built for fitting next winter. I do hope use is made of the opportunity to give Watchet a suitable bridge which it needs and deserves.
I have been advised by a reliable source within the railway that positive progress on the crossing is expected this week. The railway wants to keep quiet just what this is to be, so lets wait and see if anything is anounced!
@ADMIRALSCORNER Well, the news release in this weeks local paper simply said the WSR was actively reviewing the situation at the gates. The local paper also stated that the replacement footbridge when it arrives will not be disabled friendly. It seems those in power are still not listening to what local people are and have been saying! There was a private letter publihed suggesting the footbridge should be completely flat using the area by the road bridge. I do hope this is seriously considered.
On a related subject, the local paper broke the story yesterday that the council has decided that the unsafe footbridge will be demolished before the middle of February. It will be hopefully replaced by a new one next Winter when next the trains stop running. I hope those making decisions on a new bridge will consider a replacement with a ramp entrance to the hill and another over the top of the old bus shelter. There is room to do this and without steps everyone could then use it.
Someone passed on another suggestion on how to make the gates quieter when they slam shut. I will record it here as many still feel reluctant to do so themselves!. Remove the metal u arm that hits the post. Fit an old used car tyre on the track side of the fixed fence so that juts out for the gate to hit This could be done in such a way as to not look too unpleasant and would be efective and very cheap to do.
Another suggestion for making them quierter when they close, is to remove the u shaped arm that hits the post causing the noise and then fitting a full height 6 inch wide thick rubber strip on the edge of the gate.. Let the rubber strip fit the post along its whole height rather than the melal arm hitting the padded metal post in one place...
@ADMIRALSCORNER I was talking to someone from another station recently and the question was why doesnt the railway at least try out some of the suggestions put forward on your videos to improve the situation at the gates? I never get any feedback from the railway HQ as to what it is thinking so I am afraid I cant answer that question. I would have thought the idea of the rubber edge to the gate rather than metal to metal contact would have completely solved half of the present complaints.
Something significant has happened at the crossing today. Both gates have been officially chained open with a notice headed by the WSR and ORR saying they will continue to be left in this condition until 18 February 2011 after which date normal operation will resume.
Normal scheduled passenger trains are due back on 19 February 2011.
I wonder if the WSR has gone back to the manufacturers of the gates and asked them their advice on making them quieter? These are used in all sorts of locations, not just at rail crossings. I have heard of no attempts to reduce the noise they continue to make. None of the possible answers suggested in the several videos have been tried in situ. How about a pin in the hinge stopping the gate actually reaching the stop when it closes?
A source within the railway told me today that one of the top people involved on the railway's side in the discussions on this train was asked what he thought of the video demonstrating the Silversteam crossing gates in operation. The rely was "Oh. I have not seen that". It doesnt fill you with confidence! To think that the manufactueres have virtually offered to supply it cost free to the WSR and this person has not even bothered to look at the video of the system in operation!
@AS. The sooner the railway makes the changes the better for everyone concerned. I must say I would have less apprehension crossing this track than I would most roads in the UK so believe the convenience of the many users along with full access for those with additional needs should be the priority. A move to open crossings seems to be spreading. I have even read of experiments where traffic lights were removed to ease congestion in city centres! So this seems like the new direction for travel.
@railspeak I really do hope things are moving forward behind the scenes. It could so easily be "Well, we have got over all the protests now, perhaps things will quieten down from now on and be forgotten". It is indeed interesting to realise that it was less dangerous using the crossing as it was without the gates, than crossing a normal road. Putting gates there is rather like the historic situation where a concrete bollard was errected to stop boats from crossing there and calling it safer!,
Someone asked me yesterday what is happening? Also just how busy does the crossing get? It has gone very quiet and i dont expect anything will be announced before the new year, if then? As regards how busy the crossing can be, have a look at the video WATCHET CARNIVAL 2010 Part 6
I can't help but join in again! How can gates that anyone can open at any time be considered safe? Anyone, that is, except for those on their own with all sorts of handicaps, and for those people, they are a menace!.
@crostil Now you really are clutching at straws. You don't know much about disabled people, do you. And even less about wheelchairs! So much for your waffling about the DDA. You claim to represent "several disabled people in the town" (do they know that?) but by no means "all". Do you now accept a much reduced set of people are the only ones finding the gates difficult? Maybe you need to go away and do some proper research on mobility issues for disabled people.
@crostil I'm sorry that you cannot accept that a wheelchair user does not find "unjustifiably disadvantage" progress at the crossing. It must be particularly annoying for you to have someone challenge you. Too bad. I remain strongly supportive of the installation of gates on the basis of safety for all.
@crostil You wrote "I am campaigning form change that is obvious." What is not obvious is why you are campaigning and who you represent. Also, you duck the question about whether you are a wheelchair/scooter user, so perhaps you are hiding behind disabled people to hide your own agenda? As for "fighting a rear guard solo action" as you put it, I am merely pointing out that wheelchair users, inc my son, all over the country use similar gates every day without problems.
@crostil Re your last point - because I believe the gates are necessary; and that the gates are no real obstacle to the majority. You are welcome to your views. We don't know much about you or even if you are a wheelchair/scooter user, so why should you and your bullish attitude get all the say? As for your other assumptions, as before, you are quite, quite wrong. But I doubt you'd ever admit being wrong!
Things have become rather quiet on the surface recently! A little bird has told me that negostiaions regarding getting volunteers involved with months of gate duty have not gone well. Another has told me things are progressing behind the scenes for other ways of getting a temporarily "gates open" period.
Interesting developments at Wareham. The ungated crossing, fitted with red/green warning lights, has proved so dangerous, with people crossing against the red light and in front of moving trains, now has gates fitted. When a train is due, the gates are closed by an attendant housed in a nearby and new hut. This arrangement operate 6am to 1am with gates left open overnight. The county council paid for the gates, the hut and the attendant. ORR have urged CC, NetRail and locals to resolve things.
@WestSomersetWizard Thanks for keeping an eye on the situation there.That is significant news. I joked in the video about having a man in a box by the crossing.all day. Now it looks as if that is the policy they have decided upon. Interesting too that the County Council there have paid not only for the gates themselves but the salary of the gate keeper.
@AC A closer look at Wareham reveals the DCC lease the crossing until 2013 only. By then I think the plan is to build a (foot)bridge and close the crossing. The circumstances are different at Govier's Lane. Interesting story to follow though!
@WestSomersetWizard It has previously been memtioned that the safest level crossing is a closed crossing! The trend does seem to be towards closing them.A ramp bridge has none of the potential problems of a level crossing.. I hope, if there is a possibility now,from a combination of finances from various different sources, all concerned will consider it.
The local newspaper this week quotes the local council that a positive decision on finding the money for repairing or replacing the old Watchet footbridge is expected soon. Now that all concerns interested in crossing the tracks at Watchet are talking together, how about replacing the footbridge with one that has ramps on both approaches or putting a similar new one at Goviers Lane?.
To think all the time gate volunteers are being expected to come out in all weathers for months to carry out gate locking and unlocking just a few miles down the track there is a pedestrian rail crossing which still isnt being required to have gates at all!
As mentioned in the comments on part 5, Volunteers need to be very careful blame for the situation dosnt transfer to them rather than the railway HQ. Agreements with volunteers are being sorted out now. Be careful what you agree to!
Soon after the gates were installed volunteers at Watchet station became under fire being blamed for them and we lost some useful people who didnt appreciate being treated that way when they were unpaid and just serving teas etc in the shop. Fortunately I believe the message has become understood locally now we did not cause the problem Now, do we want to be back in the firing line again if a volunteer does not turn up to man a crossing gate?
Again on that subject, in case those at railway HQ are still unaware, this whole story on video has been relaid on other internet sites, besides youtube, and comments come in about the situation and how the WSR is dealing with it, from many different countries around the world besides the UK
@ADMIRALSCORNER The videos are also being seen by people who take the opposite view - that the protesters are wrong and ill-advised; the gates are just the same as elsewhere where wheelchair users and mobility scooter users seem to have no problems; and the WSR has done nothing wrong. Wide exposure of the videos does not always mean people will agree with the protesters.
@WestSomersetWizard Can anyone still believe those in wheelchairs on their own are having no trouble with the gates in spite of all the demonstations to the contrary? People of course have a right to their own point of view.. I still hear people saying thse gates are here to protect you. That amazes me too after all the evideince to the contrary.
@ADMIRALSCORNER To be brutally frank, most if not all of the wheelchair/scooter users were protesters and thus possibly already biased. It's surprising how difficult you can make it seem when you want to! Apart from Watchet, it seems the rest of the wheelchair/scooter world just get on with it. Unless you know otherwise of course!
@WestSomersetWizard Come on wheelchair owners defend yourself! Things look like being pushed back into you being called trouble makers again! support those who are trying to defend your rights!
@ADMIRALSCORNER But I am a wheelchair "owner", Mike. How come some can use the gates OK? How about getting some videos of non-protesting wheelchair or scooter users?
@WestSomersetWizard I am also surprised that Watchet appears to be the only rail pedestrian crossing where people using invalid scooters etc are protesting. The problem must be repeated in many other places Perhaps other groups have protested elsewhere but were just ignored. Does anyone have any info on this?. Does anyone know of a similar crossing where conditions already exist which are Wheel Chair Friendly?
@AS We'll be setting off for a wander soon. We will encounter two gated footpath crossings and cross safely. It is usual to find other wheelchair and scooter users (and people with pushchairs and bikes) making the same crossings, again without fuss or danger. It's all about technique. And it's all about understanding the safety that a gate provides to help prevent people from unknowlingly stepping onto the track. A bit of personal inconvenience is offset by a safer place for others and self.
Sorry for the wobbly ending! It was minus 6 degrees centigrade at the time and I had been standing around in the cold for some time.. It was interesting to find another camera man taking video having heard of the controversy the gates have generated.
Someone behind me in the coach, when then the discussions were going on, said quietly, but didnt ask outloud, Why has the railway spent all this money on electric ramps (which I didnt get a chance to see being demonstrated ) to get into and out of the train only to abandom wheel chair users at the crossing?.
The whole principle of getting volunteers to man gates rather than qualified employees of the railway, and therefore being virtual signalmen with all their training sounds dodgy legally to me.
@WestSomersetWizard Train drivers, Signal men Track maintenace, Building maintenace most of these jobs are done by volunteers on the WSR but perhaps we should find a new title for those being expected to come out at all hours in all weathers for months, to lock open gates that anyone can just waik through at any time anyway.
@ADMIRALSCORNER Going back to your first comment about using volunteers sounding "dodgy legally" - what evidence do you have to back up that statement?
@WestSomersetWizard Knowing how regulations and legal issues are such a large importance in the lives of rail regulators it will be very interesting to see what emerges from the agreements they eventually come to with all concerned. Nobody else can have the final say in such matters.
@WestSomersetWizard As I understand the situation. if a train approaches the crossing and manages to notice that the gates are not closed against pedestrians it has to stop. That sounds like taking the legal side close to being signalmen Of course if that is not the case then we have a different situation.
@ADMIRALSCORNER As I understand it, in the example you give, the train does not have to stop. But the driver is instructed to report the situation. I am confident that a driver, upon seeing the gates open, would in any case proceed at caution. Only if the gates are damaged (and unable to be operated correctly) would trains be required to stop. This is a standard safety procedure at all crossings. Gate-shutters are not the same as handsignalmen and Govier's does not require the latter.
Just watching this departure made me think about your question Mike, when a train is in the platform and about to leave, both the train crews, passengers and local residents can clearly see if it's safe to cross. However when a train approaches from the East, the it's a far more serious situation with little or no warning to all concerned. If a Westbound train halted briefly to the East of the crossing, the driver could be certain that it was safe to proceed....Excellent coverage Mike...Bob
@robmasterman That is the main danger area because it is only a matter of seconds after a whistle is heard, even at the 10 MPH speed limit, before a train runs over the crossing. That can be seen happening in the Demo videos.
@ADMIRALSCORNER This seem to be a difficult message to get through, but the whole point of slowing to 10mph and whistling is to give the Driver time to stop the train IF there was someone on the crossing. And if there was someone on the crossing, to suggest the train would just "keep going" is wrong and scaremongering. If the crossing is clear (and dare I say it, everyone is afely behind gates) then the train will continue at 10mph over the crossing. I hope that helps understanding.
@WestSomersetWizard Trying to stop a heavy train in a set distance is a very imprecice art and results vary a lot.. There is a lot of weight there and how quickly a driver reacts, how much steam may be obscuring the view, how much steam pressure is available to work the range of brakes, what condition they are in throughout the whole train, how wet the rails are, how many coaches are adding their weight behind the locomotive all serves to vary the stopping distance..
@ADMIRALSCORNER And that's precisely why the WSR uses fully competent drivers, each of which is fully aware of the weight of their train, of the "road" ahead, of sighting issues, of the condition of the rails, and the braking system on the train. That's why the speed limit is as low as 10mph. I would, to help shoot down the ridiculous scare stories, like the limit reduced to 5mph, although I don't think that is technically necessary.
@WestSomersetWizard So you would be quite happy to be an engine driver approaching arund the blind bend from Williton discovering the situation where two invalid scooters are across the tracks struggling through the gates one after the other. You can see in the video where is one having trouble blocks the progress by the second.
@robmasterman That has also been suggested as a way around the present difficulty in getting volunteers to control the gates. I don't understand why that couldnt be done right now with the gates removed until the long term solution is agreed upon.
@ADMIRALSCORNER That way there would be no need for extra people to be involved in any way and the railway could run what trains it wanted to at any time without having to confirm a volunteer had actually turned up at the gates. Perhaps with the addition of a height barrier which may then help match regulations, provded it could be quickly intalled
I have incorporated the relevent part of my friends video of the electrically operated gates, in my recent update on the subject. See the video titled WATCHETS PEDESTRIAN LEVEL CROSSING ON THE WSR.
ADMIRALSCORNER 11 months ago
A friend has just been visiting the North Yorkshire Moors Railway near Pickering. His video shows that at a place called New Bridge there is a pedestrian rail crossing with pedestrian operated electric gates. There are two push buttons. One says "open/ close" the other says "stop."
ADMIRALSCORNER 11 months ago
In spite of all the publicity regarding gates being legally necessary, as declared by the rail regulators, at the Goviers Lane crossing, the West Somerset Railway still has another pedestrian crossing near Minehead station with neither gates nor lights! And no efforts appear to be being made to do anything about them!
ADMIRALSCORNER 11 months ago
I am wondering if anyone can remember seeing gates at the crossing before the recent ones. I am also wondering if this means warning lights still are a legal requirement at the crossing as there was no sign that the WSR intended to fit any at the recent Chicane demonstration.
ADMIRALSCORNER 11 months ago
The local paper today published the Coroners report on the death of Jim kelly who fell off his invalid scooter at the crossing gate and later died in Hospital .It quotes the Rail Regulators as saying,"In 1975 the railway had been told to install gates and warning lights at the crossing. Some time in the past, the gates had been removed without the approval of the inspectorate leaving only the lights"
ADMIRALSCORNER 11 months ago
I wonder if there is anyone "in the know" brave enough to give us an idea as to when work would start on levelling out the area by the crossing on which a chicane could be built?
ADMIRALSCORNER 11 months ago
As a little light relief. the local paper has just carried the story that the whole crossing is to be replaced by a third railway in Watchet in the form of a funicular running the whole length of Goviers lane and across the tracks with several stations en route! It was published on April Fools day!
ADMIRALSCORNER 11 months ago
A local resident said to me recently "I used to really enjoy listening to the sounds of the trains passing by. Not any more, as it means there will be a burst of slamming gates after each train".
ADMIRALSCORNER 11 months ago
A two part video of what took part at Watchet on 16 March 2011 when the proposed replacement for the gated pedestrian crossing was tried out in practice is now available to watch.. See the video titled WSR'S SUGGESTED NEW LEVEL CROSSING FOR WATCHET.
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
This sounds as if it will be an important event not to be missed, with representatives present of all parties involved with the situation both legally and practically. The site has been physically changed over the years and not always benefically. A photo from the1960s shows that back then, there was a straight and level lead up path from the car park with a very gentle gradient.
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
I understand there will be a practical demonstration of how a chicane would function in the car park adjacent to the Goviers lane level crossing at Watchet from 2 pm on 16 March 2011.
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
I wonder if at the forthcoming open meeting at Watchet, citizens will be given the opportunity to accept or reject what is to be offered before more money is spent by the railway at the crossing. The forthcoming replacement footbridge at the station due in November, is completely ignoring those with invalid scooters when an alternative ramped and flat design could well have been built in the area so that all users would benefit
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
Warning lights were at the crossing to advise those hard of hearing and poor eyesight that it was safe to cross.. Many people relied on them and felt unsafe if they were out of order. When they were taken away and replaced by gates, those disadvantaged people were much worse off as well as also those with invalid scooters. Local people did not appreciate being called trouble makers because they did not like what had been done by the railway. i do hope we are not to get a repeat performance!
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
Perhaps it is worth meNtioning again for those considering a chicane that it would not stop a similar incident to the one I managed to capture in the video titled A DOG CHALLENGES A STEAM TRAIN. This by no means a rare event locally. Not all dog owners keep their dogs on leads in the area.
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
It is sad to have to report this, which would mean the WSR has rejected the almost cash free offer of a fully automated, safe, elecrtically operated pair of gates fully signalled audibly and visually. What a missed opportunity!
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
Information is currently circulating that there be a public meeting in Watchet sometime in March where information will be given by the WSR on a proposed chicane entrance for the level crossing of the railway. I have no more details than that..
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
I have heard that since the gates have no longer officially been tied open (When there were no trains sheduled to run) unofficial tying open has again taken place!
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
Is really too late for the idea of a bridge at Goviers lne to be thought about?. Several have said "Do you really need a replacement bridge at the station? It has been officially out of use for over a year now and the station looks much better without it." Urban Splash still have their large placard on the East Quay adverting the new Development which they have pulled back from. A model they produced shows a bridge there. How about getting them to build that now to show continued good intent?
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
If sometimes we think the WSR is out of touch, how about this comment I heard at the crossing a few days ago! The Railway has its own POLICE force, you know, why don't they control the gates?
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
It seems already common knowledge in the area, so i cant see how it would affect the situaion adversely if I say that the WSR's plans so far appear to be very low tech. I doubt if what I have heard would be the solution for the present problems for the 4 main groups. 1 Those in invalid scooters, 2 those who are hard of hearing, 3 those with poor eyesight, 4 loose animals, sometimes even on their own. All these groups have problems which we were hopeful the WSR would understand and address.
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
@ADMIRALSCORNER And please dont forget the safest crossing is one that stops people from crossing when a train is coming. It is rather disheartening to come across some very recent WSR paperwork cirulating still describing those who are experiencing real problems at the crossing as trouble makers. I would have hoped for a more enlightened attitude by this time. I make no appology for exposing this as the railway should know much better than this!.
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
I have been made aware of significant meetings soon to occur on the sublect of the level crossing and would urge anyone with any advice or comments to make to please do so now before it is too late to influence anything that may follow. Sorry this sounds vauge but its all the info I have been given!
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
A significant peice of news from a friend says that the national rail network is stopping the disabled using a gated crossing. See comment from HOWARTH004 on 11 Feb 11 on my video titled GOODBYE WATCHET FOOTBRIDGE Part 5
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
I heard yesterday that when the Watchet Footbridge is taken down next week it will be used as a pattern for the replacement due next Winter so it wont be any use to anyone in wheel chairs or pushing prams.Thats another opportunity wasted! For around the same money a replacement for everyone to use could have been produced .Is it really too late to do this?
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
Recently someone in the USA said they had a lot to say on the subject but preferred to send it to me personally. If anyone else feels the same, please be assured any relevent info will be passed on.
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
Williton Station is soon to have a restored footbridge fitted. it will not be as well used as Watchets was, as it is only used to get from one platform to another. It only really needs be used when a train is about to leave towards BL when the level crossing is temporarily closed. It will serve as a great place to take photos from however! To help future photographers it would be good if Watchet's replacement bridge walls could be 1 foot lower than previously..
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
There is plenty of time for a really useful disabled freindly bridge to be designed and built for fitting next winter. I do hope use is made of the opportunity to give Watchet a suitable bridge which it needs and deserves.
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
It is presently unclear whether the exisiting footbridge is to be removed for scrap or retained at a distant location for future restoration.
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
I have been advised by a reliable source within the railway that positive progress on the crossing is expected this week. The railway wants to keep quiet just what this is to be, so lets wait and see if anything is anounced!
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
@ADMIRALSCORNER Well, the news release in this weeks local paper simply said the WSR was actively reviewing the situation at the gates. The local paper also stated that the replacement footbridge when it arrives will not be disabled friendly. It seems those in power are still not listening to what local people are and have been saying! There was a private letter publihed suggesting the footbridge should be completely flat using the area by the road bridge. I do hope this is seriously considered.
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
On a related subject, the local paper broke the story yesterday that the council has decided that the unsafe footbridge will be demolished before the middle of February. It will be hopefully replaced by a new one next Winter when next the trains stop running. I hope those making decisions on a new bridge will consider a replacement with a ramp entrance to the hill and another over the top of the old bus shelter. There is room to do this and without steps everyone could then use it.
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
Someone passed on another suggestion on how to make the gates quieter when they slam shut. I will record it here as many still feel reluctant to do so themselves!. Remove the metal u arm that hits the post. Fit an old used car tyre on the track side of the fixed fence so that juts out for the gate to hit This could be done in such a way as to not look too unpleasant and would be efective and very cheap to do.
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
Another suggestion for making them quierter when they close, is to remove the u shaped arm that hits the post causing the noise and then fitting a full height 6 inch wide thick rubber strip on the edge of the gate.. Let the rubber strip fit the post along its whole height rather than the melal arm hitting the padded metal post in one place...
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
@ADMIRALSCORNER I was talking to someone from another station recently and the question was why doesnt the railway at least try out some of the suggestions put forward on your videos to improve the situation at the gates? I never get any feedback from the railway HQ as to what it is thinking so I am afraid I cant answer that question. I would have thought the idea of the rubber edge to the gate rather than metal to metal contact would have completely solved half of the present complaints.
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
Something significant has happened at the crossing today. Both gates have been officially chained open with a notice headed by the WSR and ORR saying they will continue to be left in this condition until 18 February 2011 after which date normal operation will resume.
Normal scheduled passenger trains are due back on 19 February 2011.
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
I wonder if the WSR has gone back to the manufacturers of the gates and asked them their advice on making them quieter? These are used in all sorts of locations, not just at rail crossings. I have heard of no attempts to reduce the noise they continue to make. None of the possible answers suggested in the several videos have been tried in situ. How about a pin in the hinge stopping the gate actually reaching the stop when it closes?
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
A source within the railway told me today that one of the top people involved on the railway's side in the discussions on this train was asked what he thought of the video demonstrating the Silversteam crossing gates in operation. The rely was "Oh. I have not seen that". It doesnt fill you with confidence! To think that the manufactueres have virtually offered to supply it cost free to the WSR and this person has not even bothered to look at the video of the system in operation!
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
@ADMIRALSCORNER A month has now passed since the meeting on the train and what progress has been achieved?
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
@AS. The sooner the railway makes the changes the better for everyone concerned. I must say I would have less apprehension crossing this track than I would most roads in the UK so believe the convenience of the many users along with full access for those with additional needs should be the priority. A move to open crossings seems to be spreading. I have even read of experiments where traffic lights were removed to ease congestion in city centres! So this seems like the new direction for travel.
railspeak 1 year ago
@railspeak I really do hope things are moving forward behind the scenes. It could so easily be "Well, we have got over all the protests now, perhaps things will quieten down from now on and be forgotten". It is indeed interesting to realise that it was less dangerous using the crossing as it was without the gates, than crossing a normal road. Putting gates there is rather like the historic situation where a concrete bollard was errected to stop boats from crossing there and calling it safer!,
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
Someone asked me yesterday what is happening? Also just how busy does the crossing get? It has gone very quiet and i dont expect anything will be announced before the new year, if then? As regards how busy the crossing can be, have a look at the video WATCHET CARNIVAL 2010 Part 6
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
I can't help but join in again! How can gates that anyone can open at any time be considered safe? Anyone, that is, except for those on their own with all sorts of handicaps, and for those people, they are a menace!.
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
@crostil Now you really are clutching at straws. You don't know much about disabled people, do you. And even less about wheelchairs! So much for your waffling about the DDA. You claim to represent "several disabled people in the town" (do they know that?) but by no means "all". Do you now accept a much reduced set of people are the only ones finding the gates difficult? Maybe you need to go away and do some proper research on mobility issues for disabled people.
WestSomersetWizard 1 year ago
@crostil I'm sorry that you cannot accept that a wheelchair user does not find "unjustifiably disadvantage" progress at the crossing. It must be particularly annoying for you to have someone challenge you. Too bad. I remain strongly supportive of the installation of gates on the basis of safety for all.
WestSomersetWizard 1 year ago
@crostil You wrote "I am campaigning form change that is obvious." What is not obvious is why you are campaigning and who you represent. Also, you duck the question about whether you are a wheelchair/scooter user, so perhaps you are hiding behind disabled people to hide your own agenda? As for "fighting a rear guard solo action" as you put it, I am merely pointing out that wheelchair users, inc my son, all over the country use similar gates every day without problems.
WestSomersetWizard 1 year ago
@crostil Re your last point - because I believe the gates are necessary; and that the gates are no real obstacle to the majority. You are welcome to your views. We don't know much about you or even if you are a wheelchair/scooter user, so why should you and your bullish attitude get all the say? As for your other assumptions, as before, you are quite, quite wrong. But I doubt you'd ever admit being wrong!
WestSomersetWizard 1 year ago
Things have become rather quiet on the surface recently! A little bird has told me that negostiaions regarding getting volunteers involved with months of gate duty have not gone well. Another has told me things are progressing behind the scenes for other ways of getting a temporarily "gates open" period.
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
Interesting developments at Wareham. The ungated crossing, fitted with red/green warning lights, has proved so dangerous, with people crossing against the red light and in front of moving trains, now has gates fitted. When a train is due, the gates are closed by an attendant housed in a nearby and new hut. This arrangement operate 6am to 1am with gates left open overnight. The county council paid for the gates, the hut and the attendant. ORR have urged CC, NetRail and locals to resolve things.
WestSomersetWizard 1 year ago
@WestSomersetWizard Thanks for keeping an eye on the situation there.That is significant news. I joked in the video about having a man in a box by the crossing.all day. Now it looks as if that is the policy they have decided upon. Interesting too that the County Council there have paid not only for the gates themselves but the salary of the gate keeper.
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
@AC A closer look at Wareham reveals the DCC lease the crossing until 2013 only. By then I think the plan is to build a (foot)bridge and close the crossing. The circumstances are different at Govier's Lane. Interesting story to follow though!
WestSomersetWizard 1 year ago
@WestSomersetWizard It has previously been memtioned that the safest level crossing is a closed crossing! The trend does seem to be towards closing them.A ramp bridge has none of the potential problems of a level crossing.. I hope, if there is a possibility now,from a combination of finances from various different sources, all concerned will consider it.
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
The local newspaper this week quotes the local council that a positive decision on finding the money for repairing or replacing the old Watchet footbridge is expected soon. Now that all concerns interested in crossing the tracks at Watchet are talking together, how about replacing the footbridge with one that has ramps on both approaches or putting a similar new one at Goviers Lane?.
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
@AS Your latter suggestion would seem to be the only way to satisfy people. Probably.
WestSomersetWizard 1 year ago
To think all the time gate volunteers are being expected to come out in all weathers for months to carry out gate locking and unlocking just a few miles down the track there is a pedestrian rail crossing which still isnt being required to have gates at all!
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
As mentioned in the comments on part 5, Volunteers need to be very careful blame for the situation dosnt transfer to them rather than the railway HQ. Agreements with volunteers are being sorted out now. Be careful what you agree to!
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
Soon after the gates were installed volunteers at Watchet station became under fire being blamed for them and we lost some useful people who didnt appreciate being treated that way when they were unpaid and just serving teas etc in the shop. Fortunately I believe the message has become understood locally now we did not cause the problem Now, do we want to be back in the firing line again if a volunteer does not turn up to man a crossing gate?
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
Again on that subject, in case those at railway HQ are still unaware, this whole story on video has been relaid on other internet sites, besides youtube, and comments come in about the situation and how the WSR is dealing with it, from many different countries around the world besides the UK
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
@ADMIRALSCORNER The videos are also being seen by people who take the opposite view - that the protesters are wrong and ill-advised; the gates are just the same as elsewhere where wheelchair users and mobility scooter users seem to have no problems; and the WSR has done nothing wrong. Wide exposure of the videos does not always mean people will agree with the protesters.
WestSomersetWizard 1 year ago
@WestSomersetWizard Can anyone still believe those in wheelchairs on their own are having no trouble with the gates in spite of all the demonstations to the contrary? People of course have a right to their own point of view.. I still hear people saying thse gates are here to protect you. That amazes me too after all the evideince to the contrary.
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
@ADMIRALSCORNER To be brutally frank, most if not all of the wheelchair/scooter users were protesters and thus possibly already biased. It's surprising how difficult you can make it seem when you want to! Apart from Watchet, it seems the rest of the wheelchair/scooter world just get on with it. Unless you know otherwise of course!
WestSomersetWizard 1 year ago
@WestSomersetWizard Come on wheelchair owners defend yourself! Things look like being pushed back into you being called trouble makers again! support those who are trying to defend your rights!
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
@ADMIRALSCORNER But I am a wheelchair "owner", Mike. How come some can use the gates OK? How about getting some videos of non-protesting wheelchair or scooter users?
WestSomersetWizard 1 year ago
@WestSomersetWizard Can you produce an invalid scooter owner who is quite happy with the situation at Goviers Lane crossing?
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
@AS No. But I can produce a wheelchair user that is happy.
WestSomersetWizard 1 year ago
@WestSomersetWizard I am also surprised that Watchet appears to be the only rail pedestrian crossing where people using invalid scooters etc are protesting. The problem must be repeated in many other places Perhaps other groups have protested elsewhere but were just ignored. Does anyone have any info on this?. Does anyone know of a similar crossing where conditions already exist which are Wheel Chair Friendly?
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
@AS We'll be setting off for a wander soon. We will encounter two gated footpath crossings and cross safely. It is usual to find other wheelchair and scooter users (and people with pushchairs and bikes) making the same crossings, again without fuss or danger. It's all about technique. And it's all about understanding the safety that a gate provides to help prevent people from unknowlingly stepping onto the track. A bit of personal inconvenience is offset by a safer place for others and self.
WestSomersetWizard 1 year ago
Sorry for the wobbly ending! It was minus 6 degrees centigrade at the time and I had been standing around in the cold for some time.. It was interesting to find another camera man taking video having heard of the controversy the gates have generated.
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
Someone behind me in the coach, when then the discussions were going on, said quietly, but didnt ask outloud, Why has the railway spent all this money on electric ramps (which I didnt get a chance to see being demonstrated ) to get into and out of the train only to abandom wheel chair users at the crossing?.
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
The whole principle of getting volunteers to man gates rather than qualified employees of the railway, and therefore being virtual signalmen with all their training sounds dodgy legally to me.
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
@ADMIRALSCORNER Many Signalmen are volunteers too. I think you are confusing trained with untrained.
WestSomersetWizard 1 year ago
@WestSomersetWizard Train drivers, Signal men Track maintenace, Building maintenace most of these jobs are done by volunteers on the WSR but perhaps we should find a new title for those being expected to come out at all hours in all weathers for months, to lock open gates that anyone can just waik through at any time anyway.
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
@ADMIRALSCORNER Going back to your first comment about using volunteers sounding "dodgy legally" - what evidence do you have to back up that statement?
WestSomersetWizard 1 year ago
@WestSomersetWizard The rail regulators are best people to answer that one!
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
@ADMIRALSCORNER So you have no evidence to suggest the use of volunteers is "dodgy legally". So why the comment in the first place?
WestSomersetWizard 1 year ago
@WestSomersetWizard Knowing how regulations and legal issues are such a large importance in the lives of rail regulators it will be very interesting to see what emerges from the agreements they eventually come to with all concerned. Nobody else can have the final say in such matters.
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
@WestSomersetWizard As I understand the situation. if a train approaches the crossing and manages to notice that the gates are not closed against pedestrians it has to stop. That sounds like taking the legal side close to being signalmen Of course if that is not the case then we have a different situation.
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
@ADMIRALSCORNER As I understand it, in the example you give, the train does not have to stop. But the driver is instructed to report the situation. I am confident that a driver, upon seeing the gates open, would in any case proceed at caution. Only if the gates are damaged (and unable to be operated correctly) would trains be required to stop. This is a standard safety procedure at all crossings. Gate-shutters are not the same as handsignalmen and Govier's does not require the latter.
WestSomersetWizard 1 year ago
Just watching this departure made me think about your question Mike, when a train is in the platform and about to leave, both the train crews, passengers and local residents can clearly see if it's safe to cross. However when a train approaches from the East, the it's a far more serious situation with little or no warning to all concerned. If a Westbound train halted briefly to the East of the crossing, the driver could be certain that it was safe to proceed....Excellent coverage Mike...Bob
robmasterman 1 year ago
@robmasterman That is the main danger area because it is only a matter of seconds after a whistle is heard, even at the 10 MPH speed limit, before a train runs over the crossing. That can be seen happening in the Demo videos.
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
@ADMIRALSCORNER This seem to be a difficult message to get through, but the whole point of slowing to 10mph and whistling is to give the Driver time to stop the train IF there was someone on the crossing. And if there was someone on the crossing, to suggest the train would just "keep going" is wrong and scaremongering. If the crossing is clear (and dare I say it, everyone is afely behind gates) then the train will continue at 10mph over the crossing. I hope that helps understanding.
WestSomersetWizard 1 year ago
@WestSomersetWizard Trying to stop a heavy train in a set distance is a very imprecice art and results vary a lot.. There is a lot of weight there and how quickly a driver reacts, how much steam may be obscuring the view, how much steam pressure is available to work the range of brakes, what condition they are in throughout the whole train, how wet the rails are, how many coaches are adding their weight behind the locomotive all serves to vary the stopping distance..
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
@ADMIRALSCORNER And that's precisely why the WSR uses fully competent drivers, each of which is fully aware of the weight of their train, of the "road" ahead, of sighting issues, of the condition of the rails, and the braking system on the train. That's why the speed limit is as low as 10mph. I would, to help shoot down the ridiculous scare stories, like the limit reduced to 5mph, although I don't think that is technically necessary.
WestSomersetWizard 1 year ago
@WestSomersetWizard So you would be quite happy to be an engine driver approaching arund the blind bend from Williton discovering the situation where two invalid scooters are across the tracks struggling through the gates one after the other. You can see in the video where is one having trouble blocks the progress by the second.
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
@AS Yes.
WestSomersetWizard 1 year ago
@robmasterman That has also been suggested as a way around the present difficulty in getting volunteers to control the gates. I don't understand why that couldnt be done right now with the gates removed until the long term solution is agreed upon.
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
@ADMIRALSCORNER That way there would be no need for extra people to be involved in any way and the railway could run what trains it wanted to at any time without having to confirm a volunteer had actually turned up at the gates. Perhaps with the addition of a height barrier which may then help match regulations, provded it could be quickly intalled
ADMIRALSCORNER 1 year ago
and a lot of hot air! Lost for words, nice bit of footage of the train Mike
howarth004 1 year ago