ColHut Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 Dear All, I am trying to work out if pedestrians were permitted to cross the track to access a platform on the others side. I have in mind a very quiet single track branch line, which, for whatever reason, has the platform built on the far side of the line. I was wondering if via a suitable self latching gate, and appropriate warning signs, would-be passengers would be permitted to cross the track on some sort of barrow crossing, to the platform? This seems common today but only with automatic pedestrian access gates. I understand that barrow crossings per se were not for public access. A picture would be great. regards Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidH Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 I think so. I doubt they would even bother with a gate on quiet lines - although it does depend on what period you are thinking about. Merton Park station in south London for a while had the main building on a disused platform and passengers either used the barrow crossing at the platform end or went across the track via a raised walkway (until the branch closed I think that was an unofficial route) Or Haven Street on the Isle of Wight http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/h/havenstreet/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Sheep Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 Watch the opening bit of the lion the witch and the wardrobe, it's got a scene where the children have been dropped at a station halt that has an open dirt road crossing Walk down the end ramp of the platform and you're kind of at the road. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColHut Posted June 3, 2014 Author Share Posted June 3, 2014 Not quite what you have in mind, cos its an island platform, but Luxulyan station is similar. http://www.nrm.org.uk/ourcollection/photo?group=Sellick%20collection&objid=1997-7219_RJS_CR_136 That is perfect. Looks like they run around the island platform perhaps due to space issues (gauging by the left hand boundary fence). Much appreciated. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColHut Posted June 3, 2014 Author Share Posted June 3, 2014 Thanks David and Blacksheep. Much appreciated. So much for rail safety! I used google maps for a current view. Fascinating. Regards Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Sheep Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 Thanks David and Blacksheep. Much appreciated. So much for rail safety! I used google maps for a current view. Fascinating. Regards Perfectly safe, you just have to look both ways before crossing and take responsibility for yourself. I imagine the engine was warned on approach (although it's likely the driver knew the line) and gave a blast on the whistle and slowed the train slightly until certain the line was clear. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold DaveF Posted June 3, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 3, 2014 There were stations on main lines where access to one platform was across a barrow type crossing, including some on the Settle and Carlisle, including Dent. Photo below. Dent view south April 68 J1268 David Edit - Not exactly relevant, but I'll add it anyway: The only way to the up platform at Dent is still via the barrow type crossing- link to a recent flickr photo by Stem Driver 12. https://www.flickr.com/photos/60319224@N05/12705036094 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pointstaken Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 I think so. I doubt they would even bother with a gate on quiet lines - although it does depend on what period you are thinking about. Merton Park station in south London for a while had the main building on a disused platform and passengers either used the barrow crossing at the platform end or went across the track via a raised walkway (until the branch closed I think that was an unofficial route) Yes, I remember that, went to school near there. Dennis Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velopeur Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 It is easy to forget just how different things were in the days of steam - trains were generally much noisier and there were usually staff on every station to keep an eye on what was going on. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
11B Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 Hi, Silverdale station (next station on from Carnforth on the barrow line). You access it on the down side platform, to get to the up side platform the only way is to use the crossing at the bottom of the platform. As far as I am aware, there is no gates etc. your safety is your own responsibility. It has always been that way there. The link below is from the RSPB web site, but up can just see the crossing at the end of the ramps. http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Discussions.Components.Files/12409/2248.P1000143.JPG Ian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted June 3, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 3, 2014 The South Eastern Railway specialised in stations on double-track lines where the platforms were staggered. With the ticket office on one platform, the only route to the other was via a foot crossing connecting the platform ramps. Even in BR days there were "Stop, Look & Listen before crossing the line" notices. Thus even in the '60s, passengers crossing lines with speeds of 60 mph and more was regarded as reasonable. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
11B Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 Hi, Silverdale station (next station on from Carnforth on the barrow line). You access it on the down side platform, to get to the up side platform the only way is to use the crossing at the bottom of the platform. As far as I am aware, there is no gates etc. your safety is your own responsibility. It has always been that way there. The link below is from the RSPB web site, but up can just see the crossing at the end of the ramps. http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Discussions.Components.Files/12409/2248.P1000143.JPG And there must be a few on the Cumbrian coast line Ian Thinking about it Kents Bank station, a bit further along the line is similar. Crossing on station entrance, bottom of the ramp on the up side, crossing is the only access to the down side unless you fancy a walk across Morecambe Bay! There are gates on this crossing as it is also the road onto the sands. Again, not my photo. http://www.samhallas.co.uk/railway/pets/kents_bank_station.jpg Likewise Ian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
divibandit Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 Ian, This is still the case at Ham Street, on the Ashford - Hastings line (SER). There is separate access to the down platform but most folk seem to use the crossing. Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Market65 Posted June 3, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 3, 2014 Hi, in East Yorkshire, N.E.R. territory, most of the smaller stations on double track lines had a barrow crossing, which was the only way of getting to the opposite platform. Kipling Cotes and Cherry Burton being two such examples. At a larger station, such as at Beverley, although there still is a footbridge, when there was a barrow crossing, passengers would tend to mostly use the barrow crossing - in-spite of warnings from station staff. The barrow crossing at Beverley was removed in the late '80's if I remember correctly. All the best, Market65. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
allan downes Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 There were stations on main lines where access to one platform was across a barrow type crossing, including some on the Settle and Carlisle, including Dent. Photo below. d Dent view south April 68 J1268.jpg Dent view south April 68 J1268 David Edit - Not exactly relevant, but I'll add it anyway: The only way to the up platform at Dent is still via the barrow type crossing- link to a recent flickr photo by Stem Driver 12. https://www.flickr.com/photos/60319224@N05/12705036094 Looking at that picture my good wife remarked " That's in the Pennines and when I lived in Manchester as a child and I used to walk on the 'little bits' " "What's the 'little bits' ? " I shouldn't have asked . "The bits at the bottom, the 'big bits' are at the top " Which of course, explained everything and anything you would ever want to know about the Pennines. Cheers. Allan. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southernboy Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 " I understand that barrow crossings per se were not for public access. " Maybe not officially - but I vividly recall as a child in the 1960s the porters at Brookwood Station helping my Mother, myself (an infant) and two younger siblings across the platform-end barrow crossings to save the hike with prams and pushchairs down and up the steps of the station underpass (which was often flooded in winter - and still is in 2014!). That was a four-track main-line station with frequent express trains! The barrow crossing also had third-rail to negotiate, and more scary for me as a kid - big, scary, local steam engines panting and hissing and spitting at the platform ends waiting to devour me it seemed! So if that was ok on a main line station in the 1960s I can't imagine a single track branch line in the 1930s was any where near being restrictive in that respect. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColHut Posted June 4, 2014 Author Share Posted June 4, 2014 Thanks to you all. Really very much appreciated. So much local knowledge out there. Fantastic. regards Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.