There's jumping the barriers then this.

[Scardinus]

WATCH: Pickup truck destroys train barriers after pub row

A pickup truck was seen ploughing through train barriers at a level crossing in Spooner Row after a a row at a pub in Wymondham.

www.edp24.co.uk

A pickup was captured ploughing through a level crossing throwing debris into the air near Wymondham.

The vehicle smashed through the gates at speed outside Spooner Row station, sending debris flying through the air, before continuing without stopping.

A villager who heard the smash while in their garden used the crossing's emergency phone and managed to make sure the approaching train stopped in time...

 

[stonojnr]

I realise its a local paper and half their articles feel like written by AI thesedays, but I was surprised that someone in their garden who heard the crash, got to the emergency phone to call it in and they got to stop the train, which was travelling at line speed I presume, before it got anywhere near to the crossing in that time, there are Network Rail signs on the crossing warning of cctv, but maybe just for capturing people driving like this and not to be used by signallers.

 

[Lockwood]

Doesn't the signaller CCTV only work during the checking and lowering bit and then turn off?

It's remote observation for the task, rather than prevention and detection of crime?

 

[endofthetunnel]

Spooner Row is a MCB OD (Manyally Controlled Barriers - Obstacle Detection) crossing. The loss of barriers down detection when they were smashed off will have immediately reverted the protecting signal to danger, as would the Obstacle Detection system when it detected the van on the crossing moments later (if they already weren’t at danger!). The alarms in the signal box for the crossing would also be sounding.

The facts that the phonecall was made and the train stopped are not related.

 

[yorkie]

WATCH: Pickup truck destroys train barriers after pub row

A pickup truck was seen ploughing through train barriers at a level crossing in Spooner Row after a a row at a pub in Wymondham.

www.edp24.co.uk

Can you please amend your post, as per our forum rules? We tried contacting you earlier but didn't get a reply; I'll delete this message once you've edited your post, thanks

• If referring to an external text-based source, you should put a suitable section of the text in QUOTE tags and provide, as appropriate, details of the source and a relevant comment to promote discussion.
• If posting an image or video, please provide, as appropriate: a brief summary or description; details of the source; and a relevant comment to promote discussion.

 

[Belperpete]

Spooner Row is a MCB OD (Manyally Controlled Barriers - Obstacle Detection) crossing. The loss of barriers down detection when they were smashed off will have immediately reverted the protecting signal to danger, as would the Obstacle Detection system when it detected the van on the crossing moments later (if they already weren’t at danger!). The alarms in the signal box for the crossing would also be sounding.

The facts that the phonecall was made and the train stopped are not related.

Can the OD tell the difference between a van and a train? Thinking about the situation where both up and down trains are signalled over a crossing, you wouldn't want the first train passing over the crossing to be seen as an obstruction, reverting the signal for the second train.

 

[Railsigns]

Can the OD tell the difference between a van and a train? Thinking about the situation where both up and down trains are signalled over a crossing, you wouldn't want the first train passing over the crossing to be seen as an obstruction, reverting the signal for the second train.

The obstacle detector only checks that the crossing is clear when the exit barriers are being lowered, not continuously.

 

[Llanigraham]

Can the OD tell the difference between a van and a train? Thinking about the situation where both up and down trains are signalled over a crossing, you wouldn't want the first train passing over the crossing to be seen as an obstruction, reverting the signal for the second train.

Yes, as the Lidar system is only activated when the lowering system is activated. It is not permanently "active".

If the photo of the flying front bumper is correct it should have the front number plate attached to it.

 

[Belperpete]

The obstacle detector only checks that the crossing is clear when the exit barriers are being lowered, not continuously.

So the OD system wouldn't have replaced the signals when the van went through the barriers, as suggested by a previous poster? Only the loss of barrier detection.

 

[The Puddock]

So the OD system wouldn't have replaced the signals when the van went through the barriers, as suggested by a previous poster? Only the loss of barrier detection.

That's right, the obstacle detector system only operates during the barrier lowering sequence then turns off.

 

[exbrel]

Spooner Row is a MCB OD (Manyally Controlled Barriers - Obstacle Detection) crossing. The loss of barriers down detection when they were smashed off will have immediately reverted the protecting signal to danger, as would the Obstacle Detection system when it detected the van on the crossing moments later (if they already weren’t at danger!). The alarms in the signal box for the crossing would also be sounding.

The facts that the phonecall was made and the train stopped are not related.

but thankful that the call was made...

 

[CarrotPie]

but thankful that the call was made...

Why, if it didn't impact the end result?

 

[Dr Hoo]

Why, if it didn't impact the end result?

Surely we should all be ‘thankful’ for public vigilance around the railways, e.g. bridge strikes, trespass, vulnerable persons, vandalism, cable theft, insecure trees, etc., etc.?

 

[manmikey]

Why, if it didn't impact the end result?

The call to the signaller would have prompted the signaller to issue and an "emergency stop" via the GSMR radio to all trains in the area, all trains receiving the "emergency stop" alarm would make an immediate emergency stop, confirm they have stopped via a button on the GSMR radio and then not move untill further instructions are received from the signaller (Rule book stuff)

The call from the member of public is almost certainly the reason any approaching trains were halted, line speed at the that crossing is 90mph up and 75mph down (if not stopping at that station)

 

[Trainguy34]

Article transcript here if anyone wants it:

A pickup was captured ploughing through a level crossing throwing debris into the air near Wymondham.

Dashcam footage has captured the
The vehicle smashed through the gates at speed outside Spooner Row station, sending debris flying through the air, before continuing without stopping.

A villager who heard the smash while in their garden used the crossing's emergency phone and managed to make sure the approaching train stopped in time.

Police have launched an investigation and are searching for the driver of the truck, believed to be a Ford Ranger.

Officers say they believe he was involved in a row in the nearby Boars pub before driving off.

"When he got closer he sped up and I could tell he was committed to going straight through them."

Parts of the gate and truck were thrown long distances and scattered across a wide area, with a bumper left in a nearby tree.

The incident happened at about 7pm on Saturday.

Following the SOS call, the train - which was heading to Norwich - was stopped further up the line until the area was cleared.

The level crossing has since been repaired with no further disruption for road or rail users.

 

[Kilopylae]

Thank you @Trainguy34, I despise clicking on those websites.

 

[endofthetunnel]

That's right, the obstacle detector system only operates during the barrier lowering sequence then turns off.

Ah good point yes, thanks for the correction

 

[Ken H]

Why does CCTV turn off once the barriers are lowered. Surely someone crashing the barriers would be of interest to the signallers. or is it workload?

 

[Gloster]

Don’t forget that the paper wants the villager to feel that s/he is a hero from preventing dozens, nay, hundreds of people from being killed in a massive disaster. Don’t be finicky about details like accuracy, particularly in a local paper, just think of the sales and the clicks.

 

[norbitonflyer]

The call to the signaller would have prompted the signalling to issue and an "emergency stop" via the GSMR radio to all trains in the area, all trains receiving the "emergency stop" alarm would make an immediate emergency stop, confirm they have stopped via a button on the GSMR radio and then not move untill further instructions are received from the signaller (Rule book stuff)

The call from the member of public is almost certainly the reason any approaching trains were halted, line speed at the that crossing is 90mph up and 75mph down (if not stopping at that station)

The damage to the barriers would have done most of that anyway. Given the short time between the barriers lowering and the crash (less than two seconds between the right hand barrier reaching the lowered position and the truck hitting the first one) it is unlikely the signal protecting it would have been cleared - or, if it had been, that the train had passed it before going back to danger.

 

[The Puddock]

Why does CCTV turn off once the barriers are lowered. Surely someone crashing the barriers would be of interest to the signallers. or is it workload?

That's what the barrier down proving is for. If a vehicle displaces a barrier then the crossing failure alarm will sound and the signaller will then look at the CCTV to see what's happening. It's not necessary to have the CCTV picture displayed all the time and it would be a distraction if it were.

 

[TUC]

Don’t forget that the paper wants the villager to feel that s/he is a hero from preventing dozens, nay, hundreds of people from being killed in a massive disaster. Don’t be finicky about details like accuracy, particularly in a local paper, just think of the sales and the clicks.

It may well be that the system would have stopped the train anyway. It was still public spirited and the right thing to do for the resident to use the emergency phone, and we shouldn't be cynical and dismissive about it.

 

[Haywain]

It may well be that the system would have stopped the train anyway. It was still public spirited and the right thing to do for the resident to use the emergency phone, and we shouldn't be cynical and dismissive about it.

Absolutely. In any emergency situation it’s better that too many people make a call than no-one does.

 

[Efini92]

That's what the barrier down proving is for. If a vehicle displaces a barrier then the crossing failure alarm will sound and the signaller will then look at the CCTV to see what's happening. It's not necessary to have the CCTV picture displayed all the time and it would be a distraction if it were.

If the crossing is OD would there be CCTV?

 

[The Puddock]

If the crossing is OD would there be CCTV?

Not viewable in the signalbox, no.

 

[Efini92]

Not viewable in the signalbox, no.

Cheers, I didn’t think so.

 

[Meerkat]

Not viewable in the signalbox, no.

So if the OD won’t clear there is no way to see The problem until the MoM gets there?
That must delay getting the trains running again - don’t know whether you need police, recovery truck, or maintenance bod until then.

 

[The Puddock]

So if the OD won’t clear there is no way to see The problem until the MoM gets there?
That must delay getting the trains running again - don’t know whether you need police, recovery truck, or maintenance bod until then.

When OD crossings first appeared in the UK there was talk of some installations being equipped to feed the CCTV from the crossing (which is fitted for red road light enforcement) back to the signalbox so the signaller would be able to confirm the crossing was clear if the OD equipment gave an obstruction or failure alarm. However, I don't know if this was ever actually done at any installations. The handful of OD crossings I am familiar with don't have it so if the OD equipment isn't working correctly the 'local crossing clear' unit at the crossing has to be operated manually to allow the protecting signals to clear. As you say, trains have to be authorised to pass the protecting signals at danger until someone arrives on site to operate this control.

*Edit* - I've just had a quick look through the relevant NR company standard (NR/L2/SIG/11201/MoDX21) and there's no mention of it in there, so presumably it doesn't exist.

 

[Sleepy]

When OD crossings first appeared in the UK there was talk of some installations being equipped to feed the CCTV from the crossing (which is fitted for red road light enforcement) back to the signalbox so the signaller would be able to confirm the crossing was clear if the OD equipment gave an obstruction or failure alarm. However, I don't know if this was ever actually done at any installations. The handful of OD crossings I am familiar with don't have it so if the OD equipment isn't working correctly the 'local crossing clear' unit at the crossing has to be operated manually to allow the protecting signals to clear. As you say, trains have to be authorised to pass the protecting signals at danger until someone arrives on site to operate this control.

*Edit* - I've just had a quick look through the relevant NR company standard (NR/L2/SIG/11201/MoDX21) and there's no mention of it in there, so presumably it doesn't exist.

When OD equipment was first introduced on Norwich - Ely line they were too sensitive and caused lots of delays.

 

[endofthetunnel]

So if the OD won’t clear there is no way to see The problem until the MoM gets there?
That must delay getting the trains running again - don’t know whether you need police, recovery truck, or maintenance bod until then.

In much the same way as a failure of CCTV at a CCTV crossing, or a failure alarm at an AHBC, if a train gets there before a MOM, the first train is instructed to approach at caution and reports back the situation.