AFTER THE WSR WATCHET CROSSING DISCUSSION

Following the rather incomplete end to the discussions in the railway coach, there is still much more to be sorted out between all parties. At least they know who needs to be consulted and with whom agreement must be reached! As we wait for this to eventually produce a solution just relax and watch the steam train that we all love perform as it leaves the crossing behind! it is interesting to see that the loco leaves behind no polution in the cold air, just steam and a lot of hot air!

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• WEST SOMERSET RAILWAY
• WATCHET

[ADMIRALSCORNER]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.