Level crossing, barriers up but wig-wag lights still going.

[a_c_skinner]

Portslade this afternoon. Brighton bound train went through, barriers went up, one flash of the amber light and red wig-wags kept going. Surprisingly no one chanced the crossing (which of course I'd never dream of doing even if it meant parking up and phoning). We turned round so don't know the end of the story. Would anyone know in the signalling centre? Should they time out and would that be safe? Would someone be told and reset them remotely?

 

[Trainfan344]

Usually means another train is coming

 

[Soulfulmartin]

With the barriers up?!!

 

[skyhigh]

Usually means another train is coming

You wouldn't expect the barriers to raise and the lights to keep flashing if there's another train approaching.

Would anyone know in the signalling centre?

From a quick look it's a Manually Controlled crossing with CCTV so they should be fully aware something was awry if the barriers should have been down.

 

[a_c_skinner]

fully aware something was awry if the barriers should have been down.

From watching for a while it seemed that the barriers were up correctly and the lights were still on and shouldn't have been. We watched for longer than you usually wait for the second train even allowing for the minimum "open" time.

 

[TSG]

They should know in the box as the road light indication and the CCTV picture should be on. It won't time out. They need to press the raise button and the barriers need to be detected up (which may have been the issue) to get the lights off.

 

[Hapana]

I have seen this at Furze Platt. Given that it is a single track branch line, all the drivers just piled over the crossing as soon as the barriers went up. I assume that the signaller would not have been aware of this failure

 

[Ashley Hill]

Chances are one of the barriers has either drooped or not fully raised so not made or lost raised detection so wig-wags would/remain lit.

 

[matchmaker]

I have seen this at Furze Platt. Given that it is a single track branch line, all the drivers just piled over the crossing as soon as the barriers went up. I assume that the signaller would not have been aware of this failure

Not a good idea. Nobody is allowed to pass flashing red lights.

 

[40129]

Chances are one of the barriers has either drooped or not fully raised so not made or lost raised detection so wig-wags would/remain lit.

In my experience, wigwags tend to extinguish before the barriers are fully raised, although the steady red lights on top of the barriers remain lit until the barriers are fully ib the raised (vertical) position. Examples include: Herlescott, Wem, Leaton, Baschurch, Lower Radway Green, Alsager, Narborough, Onibury

 

[headshot119]

In my experience, wigwags tend to extinguish before the barriers are fully raised, although the steady red lights on top of the barriers remain lit until the barriers are fully ib the raised (vertical) position. Examples include: Herlescott, Wem, Leaton, Baschurch, Lower Radway Green, Alsager, Narborough, Onibury

The Wigwags will extinguish when the barriers raise to a certain point (IIRC once they've raised 60 degrees). From the OPs description it seems like when the barriers have gone fully up, either one barrier hasn't detected as raised, or one has slightly dropped again which has set the road light sequence off again (Hence the brief flash of the amber).

The signalbox will be aware of the fault via the indications they receive.

 

[alxndr]

The Wigwags will extinguish when the barriers raise to a certain point (IIRC once they've raised 60 degrees). From the OPs description it seems like when the barriers have gone fully up, either one barrier hasn't detected as raised, or one has slightly dropped again which has set the road light sequence off again (Hence the brief flash of the amber).

The signalbox will be aware of the fault via the indications they receive.

Taking parallel to the road to be 0° and vertical to be 90°, the wigwags should go off at 42°.

If the barriers are intended to be in the raised position but drop below 83° the motor should automatically kick in and power them back up. If this doesn't happen and the barrier falls below 81° then the flashing red roadlights will come on. Often this will be because the circuit controller bands haven't been set quite right and aren't providing that overlap to ensure that the motor can power them back up before the lights come on if they start to droop. If not all the barriers made it all the way up past 81° then the wigwags will never turn off and the signaller won't receive an indication that the barriers are raised and the whole lowering sequence will start again.

If you ever think a barrier isn't working correctly it's always safer to report it. It's better to know about a problem twice than not at all.

 

[Annetts key]

I agree, this sounds like a fault. Although faults with the barrier circuit controllers are the prime suspect, it may not be the barrier circuit controller, but a problem elsewhere.

The signaller/crossing keeper can tell from the indications if it is a manual/controlled crossing. But if they are busy with something else, they may not notice straight away. And a road user will not know the specifics of the level crossing system, so it’s best to report any observed failures or indeed anything that does not appear right. It’s better to report it and then someone investigate, rather than let people get used to ignoring the red wig-wag lights. Which may result in, or contribute to an accident.