THE SIGNAL BOX

BRANCH LINES

SURVIVING LEVEL CROSSINGS
with gates worked by wheel or motor
plus other unusual types

Compiled by John Hinson and Bob Wright
based mainly on information provided by David Allen

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Of the traditional gated crossings that survive today, the majority are hand-worked:

Fiskerton Station
Fiskerton Station 30/6/11. Photo: John Hinson

A handful (listed below) of gates wheel-operated from the signal box survive; some have been supplemented with modern-style flashing warning lights for the benefit of the modern-motorist:

Littlehaven Crossing
Littlehaven Crossing, 8/5/11. Photo: John Hinson

Fiskerton Junction is one that retains its original charm:

Fiskerton Junction, 30/6/11 Movie: John Hinson
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Gate wheel

Gates worked by wheel

Signal Box Quail SB Ref Remarks
HOLYWOOD 1/2c Sc4/15 Stevens-style wheel
HAYDON BRIDGE 2/46e NE20/19 McKenzie & Holland wheel
KIRKHAM ABBEY 2/18c NE12/04  
WEAVERTHORPE 2/18d NE12/17  
CANNING STREET NORTH 4/39a LM126/25 Box is out of use, but retained (and maintained, occasionally!) in case of future use. LNWR ship's wheel.
FISKERTON JUNCTION 2/25a LM55/07 Two gate crossing with cattle grid on opposite side. Table wheel
SLEAFORD WEST 2/25c E17/02 Two of the original four large gates remain with opposite side unprotected. Box scheduled for closure with crossing converted to barriers. Table wheel
MILL GREEN 2/26c E59/23 Scheduled for replacement with barriers June 2011. Table wheel
SCOPWICK 2/27a E60/11 Table wheel
BLANKNEY 2/27a E60/13 Twin sympathetic gates. Table wheel
SAXILBY 2/27b E60/27 Twin sympathetic gates. Table wheel
STOW PARK 2/27b E60/30 Twin sympathetic gates. Table wheel
ROXTON SIDINGS 2/32a E46/24  
NORTHORPE 2/31c E47/06 GCR ship's wheel
PYEWIPE ROAD 2/32c E48/10 Gate wheel still present, but gates now worked by hand. Table wheel
GOXHILL 2/32b E48/17 Table wheel
OXMARSH CROSSING 2/32b E48/18 Table wheel
BISHTON CROSSING 3/20c W32/11 Not a block post. GWR ships wheel
PLUMPTON 5/15c S21/29 Not a block post. Stevens-style wheel
LITTLEHAVEN 5/19b S27/10a Not a block post. Stevens-style wheel

Although the gates at West Street Junction, Boston, were replaced in early 2002, the gate wheel remains in place as the building is listed.


Barriers worked by wheel

Rigton, 18/8/11 Movie: John Hinson
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Gate wheel
Signal Box Quail SB Ref Remarks
NORTON-ON-TEES 2/47c NE32/11 Barriers worked by wheel. McKenzie & Holland wheel
NUNTHORPE 2/50b NE35/04 Barriers worked by wheel. McKenzie & Holland wheel
BARTON HILL 2/18c NE12/02 Barriers worked by wheel.
RIGTON 2/24a NE4/22 Barriers worked by wheel
CAVE CROSSING (NBP) 2/19c NE6/29a Barriers worked by wheel. McKenzie & Holland wheel

Just like gates (and the boom gates below), manually worked barriers were not originally provided with sirens or warning lights, although in some cases they have been added later.


Gates worked by motor

Signal Box Quail SB Ref Remarks
BRIGG   E47/01 Conventional gates

Boom Gates

Brampton Fell, 25/8/11 Movie: John Hinson
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Signal Box Quail SB Ref Remarks
CUTSYKE 2/39d LM94/34  
HENSALL STATION 2/40a LM94/21  
URLAY NOOK 2/47c NE36/09  
REDCAR CENTRAL 2/51a NE35/18  
BILLINGHAM 2/48a NE32/12 scheduled for replacement August 2011
WINNING 2/23c NE24/03 scheduled for replacement August 2011
BRAMPTON FELL 2/46a NE20/30 scheduled for replacement December 2011

There are many other interesting variations of level crossing operation. Some early installations of barriers were not provided with sirens or warning lights, just as the wheel-operated ones (above). Below is one example - although not in this clip, a siren has been provided although it only sounds during the lowering process and not beforehand.

Corby Gates, 25/8/11 Movie: John Hinson
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0 References are given for Quail Maps and the Directory of British Signal Boxes.


Additional notes by Nick Allsop, "Bunting Hooter", Trevor Hall, Dave Harris, John Lillford, "Mike from Lincs", Frank Nicholas, Nick P, Richard Parson, Ivan Stewart, Mark W, Chris Woolstenholmes and "Pete".

Level crossing gates

Additional information will be welcomed by John Hinson