Level crossing stupidity...

[Colin_McLeod]

In the English papers it was made out that he was saving himself and leaving the passengers to fend for themselves, the video puts a very different slant on the episode doesnt it!

No surprise there about the English papers. There is probably a conspiracy theory about it somewhere on Facebook blaming corruption in high places.

[keefer]

So what did he hitt wasn't the knitting, as he would have hit that as he went over the first track, so it must have been some other wire, such as a telephone wire. I would have thought he reversed at the end to try to get the wire clear of his tipping mechanism. Mind you, the best way to get the wire clear of the tipping mechanism is not to get it in there in the first place.

I thought it was maybe a wire leading to a terminating/ tensioning mast. There seems to be a portal mast and possibly catenary in the distance, is this location perhaps the limit of electrification? Edited May 21, 2016 by keefer

[railsquid]

Not sure if stupidity involved here (or whether the ICE driver lost his cool, I'll get my coat) but a level crossing and a bus were involved:

At least 16 injured as high-speed train crashes into bus in Switzerland

[Titan]

So what did he hitt wasn't the knitting, as he would have hit that as he went over the first track, so it must have been some other wire, such as a telephone wire. I would have thought he reversed at the end to try to get the wire clear of his tipping mechanism. Mind you, the best way to get the wire clear of the tipping mechanism is not to get it in there in the first place.

 

He did hit the 'knitting'. If you look carefully you can see the cantilevers supporting the nearest wires in the background start to move just after the truck gets half way across. Somehow he manages to snag the first wire without a flash and a bang - possibly it is lower voltage, 1500V dc? and the rubber tyres of the truck provide sufficient insulation. It seems that we only get a flash when he carries the wire(s) far enough to contact and short out the support mast on the other side, whereupon we get a big flash in the vicinity of the base of the mast. This further suggests that it might be 1500V dc, as some systems have a special earthing bond. In order to help reduce stray currents they are earthed by what could be described as a high voltage fuse. Under normal circumstances it is an insulator, but should the voltage on the mast raise above a safe level it shorts out earthing the mast. Having to cope with the maximum current from all lines simultaneously rather than one may be why there is such a flash at the base.

Edited May 22, 2016 by Titan

[RJS1977]

What do we think of this moron?

 

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=37f_1463753796

 

Rather reminds me of this: https://youtu.be/P5sowcqMX2I?t=136

[SM42]

The incident with the tipper  truck is in Poland and they use 3000v DC.

 

 

Andy

[Budgie]

The incident with the tipper  truck is in Poland and they use 3000v DC.

... which can still kill you.

[Welly]

Here is a good one in the US. Red car stops on ungated track whilst waiting to exit the adjacent road junction, panics and reverses into car behind!

 

Three cars dodge that particular train which only has 2 wagons and so able to stop in time - look at the first wagon!

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwuOEBBW9-Q

[Dubloseven]

They're not all over here in the UK then?  Absolutely unbelievable. I suspect the train driver might be a little miffed given the way he's sounding the hooter!

Edited June 4, 2016 by Dubloseven

[Shadow]

Read the lettering on the first wagon at 1:19

 

Operation Lifesaver.

Cross Tracks Safety.

 

Very apt!!!

[Budgie]

I know this is in the US, so is off-topic here, but it is a salutary reminder of what can happen at level crossings without gates and traffic signals on the road

 

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/tragic-girl-4-asks-for-family-after-waking-up-in-hospital-following-crash-from-which-she-was-sole-a3282516.html

[Gary H]

Here's another very recent incident in Hertfordshire .

Parent or other setting a very good example to the youngster (Not.).

http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/video-adult-and-child-in-near-miss-with-train

[RJS1977]

Here's another very recent incident in Hertfordshire .

Parent or other setting a very good example to the youngster (Not.).

http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/video-adult-and-child-in-near-miss-with-train

 

I'm slightly confused here. The article says that the video shows the adult and child opening the gate and running across, however the video doesn't show this.

 

As the child is running ahead of the adult, is it possible the child is running away and the adult is trying to stop them?

[96701]

I'm slightly confused here. The article says that the video shows the adult and child opening the gate and running across, however the video doesn't show this.

 

As the child is running ahead of the adult, is it possible the child is running away and the adult is trying to stop them?

It looks to me like the adult is on a jog accompanied by the child. The bloke who opened the far gate looks as though he is waiting there until the train passed.

[Coryton]

As the child is running ahead of the adult, is it possible the child is running away and the adult is trying to stop them?

 

As they run across the tracks, it looks possible that that's what's going on.

 

But as they go through the gate they look as if they get close enough that the adult could have (and - if chasing the child, presumably would have) stopped them.

[RJS1977]

Found out yesterday just how scary it is to see someone drive a vehicle across a crossing in front of you when you're in the cab of a loco. Fortunately I wan't driving but both Driver and Fireman turned the air blue!

[Dubloseven]

It looks to me like the adult is on a jog accompanied by the child. The bloke who opened the far gate looks as though he is waiting there until the train passed.

After viewing the clip several times I have to agree with 96701. It looks to me like the guy was a chancer risking his life and that of his child. It's the train drivers I feel sorry for, having to put up with this sort of thing on what seems to be a very regular basis.

 

Regards, Cliff.

[Shadow]

Just seen this on the BBC site. Not stupidity, just slow!

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-36940162

Edited August 1, 2016 by Shadow

[russ p]

Just seen this on the BBC site. Not stupidity, just slow!http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-36940162

I'm surprised that old dear didn't have a heart attack, not only did she think she was about to be hit by a train, some nutter came out of nowhere and stole her bag

[4630]

.

Edited November 12, 2016 by 4630

[phil-b259]

Just seen this on the BBC site. Not stupidity, just slow!

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-36940162

 

Its also complete scaremongering by the BBC.

 

This particular crossing has barriers that completely close off the road so by law it must be interlocked with the signals and be proved to be clear before the signals can change to proceed. Up until a couple of years ago this duty was performed by a person - but now its done by the Obstacle detection system - which is not only completely fail safe, but also cannot suffer from the 'look but did not see' syndrome that (speaking as a S&T technician) we have plenty of evidence of happening at CCTV crossings or ones observed directly by the human eyeball.

 

The only significant difference with OD crossings is that the facing barriers will always descend 7 seconds after the red road lights were activated, while at most CCTV or traditional barrier crossings if the signaller lets go of the lower button to do something else, it could be longer (but never less) than that.

 

At Polgate many of the elderly residents had got used to the signaller letting go of the lower button until they cleared the crossing, thus allowing them more time to finish crossing. Since the installation of the OD system this is not the case.

 

HOWEVER observers should note that the trailing barrier remains raised - precisely because an obstacle (the elderly lady) was still on the crossing.

 

Under such a situation the trailing barriers will remain up for a maximum of 60 seconds before lowering - BUT if an obstacle is still detected on the crossing after this the trailing barriers will raise again after 10 seconds. If the obstacle is still there then the crossing goes into 'Failed' mode.

 

In Failed mode it is impossible to change the protecting signals, just as they cannot be cleared with the barriers up or of an obstacle is detected on the crossing.

 

So in short, as a colleague observed, she may have had a bit of a fright but she was in no danger at any stage.

Edited August 1, 2016 by phil-b259

[Grovenor]

The only problem there is that pedestrians are under no obligation to keep left, so trailing/facing barriers are not relevant to them.

Regards

[phil-b259]

The only problem there is that pedestrians are under no obligation to keep left, so trailing/facing barriers are not relevant to them.

Regards

 

True, but the fact remains that the lady had a perfectly suitable escape route available - even if it required her to step off the pavement and round the end of the lowered facing barrier.

 

Increasing the length of time between the red lights coming on and the barriers lowering means the barrier sequence must be started even earlier and the road remain closed for longer. While an extra 3 seconds between the reds coming on and the barriers starting to lower may not sound like much, at busy crossings this soon adds up...

Edited August 1, 2016 by phil-b259

[RJS1977]

True, but the fact remains that the lady had a perfectly suitable escape route available - even if it required her to step off the pavement and round the end of the lowered facing barrier.

 

Increasing the length of time between the red lights coming on and the barriers lowering means the barrier sequence must be started even earlier and the road remain closed for longer. While an extra 3 seconds between the reds coming on and the barriers starting to lower may not sound like much, at busy crossings this soon adds up...

 

And the longer people have to wait at the barriers, the more likely they are to try to beat them.

[royaloak]

Its also complete scaremongering by the BBC..

 

So in short, as a colleague observed, she may have had a bit of a fright but she was in no danger at any stage.

And its about time Network Rail took the BBC to task over their sensationalist (and incorrect) headlines!