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| forge farm crossing 25/08/2011 at 15:51 #20099 | |
jc92
3690 posts |
becoming slightly pedantic for a second, i received a phone call from forge farm crossing for, iirc a car to cross, the move was authorised and the crossing protected with reminders but it got me thinking that its not just network rail operating over forge farm. normally of course a red/green indicator and a 10mph speed restriction is sufficient for spa valley trains to use the crossing under normal circumstances but if i needed to authorise an abnormal load, or herd of cattle etc, would the oxted signaller need to inform the spa valley to caution their drivers or not? "We don't stop camborne wednesdays" Log in to reply |
| Re: forge farm crossing 25/08/2011 at 17:07 #20102 | |
DriverCurran
688 posts |
Ahhh the first person to mention the Spa Valley :-) When I was over there for the 1940's weekend, when some of the start up screens were taken, it was found that the spa valley services actually have to stop at the crossing where a crossing attendant then places the red/green lights to red. It is possible that in any re-release that the Spa Valley may feature. Hope that clears up the method of working at Forge Farm. Paul You have to get a red before you can get any other colour Log in to reply |
| Re: forge farm crossing 25/08/2011 at 17:42 #20110 | |
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jc92
3690 posts |
thanks- so we can assume the crossing is safe as spa valley services will stop. hmm will it feature like the trams on trent or as a phone call? "We don't stop camborne wednesdays" Log in to reply |
| Re: forge farm crossing 25/08/2011 at 18:12 #20117 | |
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DriverCurran
688 posts |
In the present version you can indeed relax in the knowledge that the virtual gate keeper is indeed keeping all those cows/bulls and other assorted users that want to cause havoc on the Uckfield line very very safe. At this stage am still trying to decide the way that the Spa will be simulated, Paul You have to get a red before you can get any other colour Log in to reply |
| forge farm crossing 01/07/2019 at 03:17 #119186 | |
KeithJAS
4 posts |
I was wondering recently, what is the relationship between all concerned at the crossing? Is the Spa Valley crossing keeper actually a crossing keeper, or does he take instruction from Oxted or does he have to ask Oxted every time a Spa Valley train wants to cross? It's such an unusual situation that I was very curious. Log in to reply |
| forge farm crossing 03/07/2019 at 03:32 #119237 | |
rfw
177 posts |
I was a 'forge farm crossing attendant' about 4 years ago, and from what I remember the operating procedure was as follows: Arrive at FFC Sign in in logbook Call SVR Duty manager & confirm that we are operating and to check communications from the landline in the hut & get called back (DM has already called Oxted and asked permission to set SVR901 (which is a massive gate) to off), log in logbook Call Oxted using crossing handset on SVR line side (the handset the public uses to call Oxted) and ask to be called back to check communications, log in logbook First SVR train arrives and stops at stop board. - Insert key into local control station and switch to the red option (forgotten what it was called), wait for red bulb to illuminate, verify traffic lights are showing red aspect. once satisfied crossing is 'secure' and gates are down, signal train across with a flag or bardic (depending on lighting) once train has passed return local control station to normal, wait for white light to illuminate, remove key, and log movement in logbook Subsequent SVR trains arrives and stops at stop board. - Insert key into local control station and switch to the red option (forgotten what it was called), wait for red bulb to illuminate, once satisfied crossing is 'secure' and gates are down, signal train across with a flag or bardic (depending on lighting) once train has passed return local control station to normal, wait for white light to illuminate, remove key and log movement in logbook Following final movement for the day: lock local control station cover, call SVR DM from landline stating that the crossing has been normalised and that I am leaving the crossing (who then calls Oxted to thell them such and that SVR901 has been returned to danger when they are told such by the guard of the last train). log call in logbook Sign out in logbook lock up and leave It varied a bit if travelling to crossing on first / last train or came to crossing by road as to where you sign in and some particulars. We couldn't tell users if it was safe to cross, we had to tell them to check the traffic lights (it could triggered red by the National rail line using track circuit and we don't have an indication ourselves. We couldn't help them operate the crossing (user pumped barriers) because reasons (insurance? / liability?) And of course working on or near the line we had a valid PTS, had been trained and assessed on our competency being a FFCA and wore SVR branded high vis. The hut had track circuit operating clips, a pot of detonators, a bardic, one large red flag, one large green flag, a very comfy and probably not fireproof chair, a potbelly stove that was damn near impossible to get going or keep going and would fill the hut with smoke at any opportunity it saw and a large collection of old railway magazines (amongst other things) The line limit over the crossing afaik was 25mph, but there was a stop board either side and those old trains wouldn't accelerate anywhere near that fast, probably were going 15 at most and that's enough when they're 6'6" away from you with nothing between you and the wheels. Since I last did it the duty manager has moved from TWW to GBR and goodness knows what else has changed TL;DR No Not a crossing keeper - a crossing attendant No instructions from Oxted No they don't need to call for each train Further questions, ask - I can probably dig out the rule book and confirm some things The train now standing on platform 2, should be on the rails Last edited: 03/07/2019 at 03:39 by rfw Reason: TL;DR added Log in to reply The following user said thank you: KeithJAS |
| forge farm crossing 10/07/2019 at 05:59 #119354 | |
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KeithJAS
4 posts |
It sounds like the crossing has road lights that are either controlled by treadles on the NR line and also manually by the SVR attendant. Presumably any slow road traffic would call oxted and that oxted would advise the road user to check with the attendant before crossing? Thanks RFW for that very interesting explanation. Log in to reply |
| forge farm crossing 10/07/2019 at 22:25 #119363 | |
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rfw
177 posts |
KeithJAS in post 119354 said:Presumably any slow road traffic would call oxted and that oxted would advise the road user to check with the attendant before crossing?.According to my SVR 09/2014 rule book Quote: 6.11 Animals and large, low or slow moving vehiclesIt is also worth noting that forge farm crossing is on a single track dead end private road, is the far side of a bridge with a 7.5T weight limit and leads to two houses and a (probably) abandoned small holding (formerly farm house, oast house and farm yard) Derek Hayward has some images of the crossing on his website. The train now standing on platform 2, should be on the rails Last edited: 10/07/2019 at 22:26 by rfw Reason: formatting Log in to reply The following user said thank you: KeithJAS |
| forge farm crossing 10/07/2019 at 23:13 #119364 | |
Edgemaster
332 posts |
I think I've used this crossing as a pedestrian to reach the rock formation to the north of the tracks here, interesting set of barriers to operate manually 
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