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Encyclopedia > Level crossing

The term level crossing (also called a railroad crossing, railway crossing, train crossing or grade crossing) is a crossing on one level ("at-grade intersection") — without recourse to a bridge or tunnel — of a railway line by a road, path, or another railroad. It also applies when a light rail line with separate right-of-way (or a reserved track tramway) crosses a road; the term "metro" usually means that there are no level crossings (i.e., that the system is grade-separated). An at-grade intersection is a junction at which two or more transport axes cross at the same level (or grade). ... A log bridge in the French Alps near Vallorcine. ... A disused railway tunnel now converted to pedestrian and bicycle use, near Houyet, Belgium A tunnel is an underground passage. ... A road ascends a mountainside using hairpin bends in the French Alps. ... This article is about light rail systems in general. ... A right-of-way (plural: rights-of-way) is an easement or strip of land granted to a railroad company upon which to build a railroad. ... A CLRV Streetcar in the City of Toronto. ... Metro is: a general term, synonymous with rapid transit, subway or underground, for an urban underground rail public transit system (see list of rapid transit systems); any of several specific public transport systems, including: Bi-State Development Agency in Missouri and Illinois, d/b/a Metro since 2003 Buffalo Metro...

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Safety

A level crossing at Chertsey, England, as the barriers rise.
Enlarge
A level crossing at Chertsey, England, as the barriers rise.
A level crossing with flashing lights but no barriers on the Tyne and Wear Metro, England.
A level crossing with a stop sign on the Mariazellerbahn, a single track narrow gauge line to Mariazell, Austria.
A level crossing with a stop sign on the Mariazellerbahn, a single track narrow gauge line to Mariazell, Austria.
A level crossing on China National Highway 109 in Beijing, China.
A level crossing on China National Highway 109 in Beijing, China.
Level crossing at train station Diemen, Netherlands. Trains drive on the right, so the picture shows that for each direction the platforms are after the crossing.
Level crossing at train station Diemen, Netherlands. Trains drive on the right, so the picture shows that for each direction the platforms are after the crossing.
A level crossing in Melbourne, Australia where the roadway includes a tramline.
A level crossing in Melbourne, Australia where the roadway includes a tramline.
A manually-operated level crossing in India.
A manually-operated level crossing in India.

Early level crossings had a flagman in a nearby booth who would, on the approach of a train, wave a red flag or lantern to stop all traffic and clear the tracks. Manual or electrical closable gates that barricaded the roadway were later introduced. The gates were intended to be a complete barrier against intrusion of any road traffic onto the railway. In the early days of the railways much road traffic was horsedrawn or included livestock. It was thus necessary to provide a real barrier. The first U.S. patent for such crossing gates was awarded on August 27, 1867, to J. Nason and J. F. Wilson, both of Boston, Massachusetts.[1] Level crossing - Chertsey - England - Photo by Tagishsimon - 270404 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Level crossing - Chertsey - England - Photo by Tagishsimon - 270404 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Tyne&Wear_Metrotrain_on_level_crossing. ... Image File history File links Tyne&Wear_Metrotrain_on_level_crossing. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2560x1920, 2246 KB)A level crossing with a stop sign. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2560x1920, 2246 KB)A level crossing with a stop sign. ... Stop sign used in English-speaking countries, as well as in the European Union Former European stop sign consisting of red Give Way triangle inside a circle A stop sign is a traffic sign, usually erected at road junctions, that instructs drivers to make a brief and temporary, but complete... Special pilgrims journey near Kirchberg an der Pielach The Mariazellerbahn (Mariazell Railway) is an electrically operated narrow-gauge railway of the Österreichische Bundesbahnen with a track gauge of 760 mm (Bosnian gauge) which connects the Lower Austrian capital Sankt Pölten with the Styrian pilgrimage centre of Mariazell. ... A single track railway A single track railway is one where traffic in both directions shares the same track. ... Narrow-gauge railways are railroads (railways) with track spaced at less than the standard gauge of 4 ft 8 in (1. ... Mariazell is a village of Austria, in Styria, well known for winter sports, 143 km N. of Graz. ... Level crossings in the PRC. DF08 2004 image. ... Level crossings in the PRC. DF08 2004 image. ... China National Highway 109 connects Beijing with Lhasa in Tibet. ... Beijing [English Pronunciation] (Chinese: 北京 [Chinese Pronunciation]; Pinyin: BÄ›ijÄ«ng; IPA: ), a city in northern China, is the capital of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC). ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2576x1932, 2161 KB) [edit] Summary This picture shows the train station Diemen, a suburb of Amsterdam, in the Netherlands. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2576x1932, 2161 KB) [edit] Summary This picture shows the train station Diemen, a suburb of Amsterdam, in the Netherlands. ... Diemen Noord by night Diemen (population: 24,049 in 2004) is a town in the north-western Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. ... A railway platform is a section of pathway, alongside rail tracks at a train station, metro station or tram stop, at which passengers may board or alight from trains or trams. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1250x894, 350 KB) Summary A level crossing in Melbourne, Australia where the roadway includes a tramline. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1250x894, 350 KB) Summary A level crossing in Melbourne, Australia where the roadway includes a tramline. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... A patent is a set of exclusive rights granted by a state to a person for a fixed period of time in exchange for the regulated, public disclosure of certain details of a device, method, process or composition of matter (substance) (known as an invention) which is new, inventive, and... August 27 is the 239th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (240th in leap years), with 126 days remaining. ... 1867 (MDCCCLXVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Nickname: City on a Hill, Beantown, The Hub of the Universe (The State House, according to Oliver Wendell Holmes, is the hub of the Solar System), Athens of America Location in Massachusetts Counties Suffolk County Mayor Thomas Menino (D) Area    - City 232. ...


With the appearance of motor vehicles, this barrier became less and less effective and the need for a barrier to livestock diminished dramatically. Many countries therefore substituted the gated crossings with less strong but highly visible barriers and relied upon road users following the associated warning signals to stop.


In many countries, level crossings on less important roads and railway lines are often "open" or "uncontrolled", sometimes with warning lights or bells to warn of approaching trains. Ungated crossings represent a safety issue; many accidents have occurred due to failure to notice or obey the warning. Railways in the United States are adding reflectors to the side of each train car to help prevent accidents at level crossings. In some countries, such as Ireland, instead of an open crossing there may be manually operated gates, which the motorist must open and close. These too have significant risks, as they are unsafe to use without possessing a knowledge of the train timetable: motorists may be instructed to telephone the railway signaller, but may not always do so.


The consensus in contemporary railway design is to avoid the use of level crossings. The director of rail safety at the UK Railway Inspectorate commented in 2004 that "the use of level crossings contributes the greatest potential for catastrophic risk on the railways." Eighteen people were killed in the UK on level crossings in 2003-4. Bridges and tunnels are now favoured. 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...


At railway stations a pedestrian level crossing is sometimes provided to allow passengers to reach other platforms in the absence of an underpass or bridge. Passengers bustle around the typical grand edifice of Londons Broad Street station in 1865. ...


Where third rail systems have level crossings, there is a gap in the third rail over the level crossing, but the power supply is not interrupted since trains have current collectors on multiple cars. Third rail at the West Falls Church Metro stop in the Washington, D.C. area, electrified to 750 volts. ...

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Crossings around the world

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Australia

In Melbourne, Australia, there are several level crossings where the train tracks cross roads with tram tracks. Australian railroading generally follows United States practice, and has increasingly been employing American-made crossing warning equipment, such as grade crossing predictors, which attempt to provide a consistent amount of warning time for a trains of widely varying speeds. Melbournes Yarra River is popular area for walking, jogging, cycling and relaxing on the banks with a picnic Melbourne (pronounced either or [1]) is the second most populous city in Australia with a metropolitan area population of approximately 3. ... A CLRV Streetcar in the City of Toronto. ...


One recent innovation in Australia is to provide crossbucks with flashing yellow lights at a distance from the level crossing itself, particularly where there are curves and visibility problems. United States rail crossing with crossbucks (Look on the top of the pole in the foreground). ...

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Belgium

At a level crossing, any overhead electric power cables must also cross. This led to a conflict where a mainline railway that crossed one of the country's once extensive interurban tramlines (vicinal or buurtspoorweg) was electrified. In at least one location, this led to the tram overhead being dismantled. A CLRV Streetcar in the City of Toronto. ...

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Italy

The cable-hauled section of the tramway up the hill from Trieste to Opicina has an interesting level crossing with a minor road at midpoint. As well as the rails, people crossing have to step or drive over two haulage cables, separated by wooden planking. Country Italy Region Friuli-Venezia Giulia Province Trieste (TS) Mayor Roberto Dipiazza (since 2001) Elevation 2 m Area 84 km² Population  - Total (as of December 31, 2004) 207,069  - Density 2,480/km² Time zone CET, UTC+1 Coordinates Gentilic Triestini Dialing code 040 Postal code 34100 Frazioni See list...

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Netherlands

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New Zealand

On the Taieri Gorge line, and in two places on the Hokitika Branch, in rural South Island, New Zealand, roads and railways share the same bridge when crossing a river; the rails are in the road and both motorists and the train driver must ensure that the bridge is clear, end to end, before starting to cross. The Taieri Gorge is located on the Taieri River, in the South Island of New Zealand. ... The Ross Branch, now known as the Hokitika Branch, is a branch line railway that forms part of New Zealands national rail network. ... The South Island The South Island is one of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the North Island. ...

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Southeast Asia

Level crossings in China, Thailand, and Malaysia are still largely manually-operated, where the barriers are lowered using a manual switch when trains approach. A significant number of crossings are without barriers.

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Taiwan

As most railroads in Taiwan were built during Japanese administration, railroad crossings remain very common, though many urban crossings have been eliminated when the railroads are moved underground, e.g., segments of the Western Line in Taipei City, or abolished, e.g., Danshui Line that is now of the Taipei Rapid Transit System with no level crossings. See also History of the Republic of China for a history of the government that currently administers Taiwan. ... The Western Line (西部幹線) is a line of the Taiwan Railway Administration. ... Alternative meaning: Taipei County City nickname: the City of Azaleas Capital District Xinyi Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 16 of 25 271. ... The Danshui Line (or Danshuei Line) is a line of the Taipei Mass Rapid Transit System (MRT). ... MRT Ximen Station Interior of the ZhongXiao DunHua MRT station The Taipei Rapid Transit System (Traditional Chinese: 台北大眾捷運系統; Pinyin: TáibÄ›i Dàzhòng Jiéyùn XìtÇ’ng, also known as the MRT, Metro Taipei, or by locals simply as the Traditional Chinese: 捷運; Pinyin: Jiéyùn) is...


The Act Governing the Punishment of Violation of Road traffic Regulations (zh:道路交通管理處罰條例) provide different penalties against different types of violators as follows (with very heavy penalties against motorists and lighter penalties against bicyclists and pedestrians):

  • Article 54: A driver of a motor vehicle shall be administratively fined 6000 to 12000 new Taiwan dollars for a railroad crossing violation. Should an accident occur, the driver license shall also be revoked, which is for life pursuant to Article 67. This lifetime revocation used to be absolute, but the amendment of the law proclaimed on 28 December 2005 and effective on 1 July 2006 has allowed a possible waiver after serving 6 years of the revocation.
  • Article 75: A driver of a non-motorized vehicle (e.g., a bicycle) shall be administratively fined 1200 to 2400 New Taiwan dollars for a railroad crossing violation.
  • Article 80: A pedestrian shall be administratively fined 1200 New Taiwan dollars for a railroad crossing violation.

Accidents at railroad crossings remain a very serious concern. The Taiwan Railway Administration alone has hundreds of level crossings along its routes of slightly more than 1100 km. In average, there is a level crossing in less than 2 km. [1] [2] The New Taiwan Dollar (新臺幣 or 新台幣; ISO 4217 code TWD; common abbreviation NT$), or simply Taiwan Dollar, is the currency of the Republic of China (Taiwan). ... Driving licences within the European Union are subdivided in different categories. ... December 28 is the 362nd day of the year (363rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 3 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... July 1 is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 183 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This racing bicycle is built using lightweight, shaped aluminium tubing and carbon fiber stays and forks. ... The Taiwan Railway Administration (台灣鐵路管理局, a. ...


Red emergency buttons have been installed to allow the public to report an emergency at a level crossing, such as stalled vehicles or any obstables that would be very dangerous should any train approach. [3] However, willfully misusing the emergency button is a criminal offense. In an emergency, the public is asked to:

  1. First, press the button and be sure of its activation with a flashing light.
  2. Second, try to clear any obstables, including any vehicles.
  3. Third, if unable to clear the obstables and the warning bell rings, leave quickly. "A train is coming and please quickly leave the level crossing" will be announced in Mandarin, Taiwanese and Hakka.
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Mandarin, or Beifanghua (Chinese: 北方話; Pinyin: Běifānghuà; literally Northern Dialect(s)), or Guanhua (Traditional Chinese: 官話; Simplified Chinese: 官话; Pinyin: Guānhuà; literally official speech) is a category of related Chinese dialects spoken across most of northern and southwestern China. ... Template:Dablick Taiwanese (Traditional Chinese: 台語, 台灣話; Pinyin: Táiyǔ, Táiwānhuà; Taiwanese Pe̍h-oē-jī: Tâi-gí or Tâi-oân-oē) is a dialect of Min Nan spoken by about 70% of the Taiwanese population. ... Hakka (Simplified Chinese: 客家话, Traditional Chinese: 客家話, Hakka: Hak-ka-fa/-va, pinyin: Kèjiāhuà) is a Chinese dialect/language spoken predominantly in southern China by the Hakka ethnic group and descendants in diaspora throughout East and Southeast Asia and around the world. ...

United Kingdom

There are 8200 level crossings remaining in the United Kingdom in 2005. Of these, 1600 are road crossings. This number is gradually being reduced as the risk of accident at level crossings is considered high. The director of the HSE (Health and Safety Executive) commented in 2004 that "the use of level crossings contributes the greatest potential for catastrophic risk on the railways." . Bridges and tunnels are now favoured, and there is a commitment on the part of UK rail authorities not to build new level crossings, and to reduce the number of existing level crossings. The cost of making significant reductions, other than by simply closing the crossings, is substantial, and a number of commentators argue that the money could be better spent. Some 6500 crossings are user-worked crossings or footpaths with very low usage. The removal of crossings can also improve train performance as some crossings have low rail speed limits enforced on them to protect road users.


In November 2004 there were two major accidents on UK level crossings: one involved a car driver suspected of committing suicide, who caused the death of seven people (Ufton Nervet rail crash); another involving a train carrying 50 school children resulted in no fatalities but a number of injuries. These incidents have increased efforts to review the placing of level crossings and to eliminate them where this is practicable. In the UK it has also been suggested that cameras similar to the type used to detect drivers who run traffic lights be deployed at level crossings, and that penalties for ignoring signals should be much more severe. A particular problem has been that the responsibility for the road safety at crossings is entirely outside the control of the railways. In 2006 legislative activities are in progress to permit Network Rail to be involved in the road side safety of crossings. This will allow the introduction of anti-slip surfaces and also barriers to prevent motorists driving around crossing arms and, it is hoped, reduce the number of crossing related deaths. The train derailed in the Ufton Nervet crash On 6 November 2004 at 18:12 GMT, the 17:35 First Great Western departure from London Paddington to Plymouth hit a stationary car with the driver inside at an automatic level crossing, located close to the rural Berkshire village of Ufton... Network Rails logo Network Rail is a British not for dividend company limited by guarantee that owns the fixed assets of that part of the British railway system that formerly belonged to British Rail, the now-defunct UK state-owned railway operator. ...


In the United Kingdom, major crossings were normally situated within easy viewing distance of a signal box, and usually directly adjacent to the signal box. This ensured that the signalman could verify that the road was clear before allowing a train onto the crossing. Many gated crossings have been replaced by lifting barriers, which are easier to mechanise. "Full barriers" consist of barriers each side of the track, which block the full width of the road and "half barriers" consist of a single arm each side of the road, which block only oncoming traffic. Half barriers were considered to have an advantage as motorists are less likely to be stranded on the crossing and unable to exit, but cases where impatient motorists have driven around the barriers have raised safety concerns. Video cameras are now often used at crossings to allow the human operator to be some distance from the crossing. On lightly-used railways many crossings are sited next to station stops or other stopping points and are crew operated. The guard pushes a plunger on a control box and the barriers are lowered. Once lowered an indicator light permits the driver to proceed if the crossing ahead of is clear. After the train has cleared the crossing automatic control equipment raises the barriers. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...


To ensure that the barriers are noticed and to draw attention, public road crossings are fitted with a ringing warning bell or siren and with lights. Each crossing point also has a telephone which connects to the local signalbox so that in the case of an emergency the signalman's attention can be drawn promptly to the hazard and action can be taken. Some "automatic open crossings", with warning lights and bells but no barriers, were introduced, but their expansion was largely halted after the Lockington rail crash. Some smaller crossings, particularly pedestrian crossings on low-speed lines consist of nothing but a warning sign and raised pathway across the track itself. View of the accident site. ...


The use of pedestrian crossings at stations is now rare, although historically it was common that passengers walked across the line between platforms on branch lines. At Settle, for example, before the footbridge was installed in the 1990s, the time taken while passengers from Leeds walked across the line was happily used to top up the driver's kettle with hot water. With a few exceptions, such as at Carmarthen, the remaining examples occur only on heritage railways. Settle is a small town in North Yorkshire, England, although historically in the West Riding of Yorkshire. ... Carmarthen railway station is the original station situated south of the river on the edge of Carmarthen. ... A scene on a heritage railway. ...

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United States

An example of a typical rail crossing in the United States.
An example of a typical rail crossing in the United States.
Some level crossings, such as this one in Acton, Massachusetts, are also equipped with sidewalk gates.
Some level crossings, such as this one in Acton, Massachusetts, are also equipped with sidewalk gates.
Montana, USA
Montana, USA

In the United States and in countries following U.S. practices, a train must have a bright headlight and ditch lights (short-throw bright lights located below the headlight), a working bell, and a whistle or horn that must be sounded four times as the train approaches the crossing. rrcrossing File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... rrcrossing File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2048x1536, 1949 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Level crossing Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2048x1536, 1949 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Level crossing Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... Settled: 1680 â€“ Incorporated: 1735 Zip Code(s): 01720 â€“ Area Code(s): 351 / 978 Official website: http://acton-ma. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1536x1024, 229 KB) [edit] Summary [edit] Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Level crossing ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1536x1024, 229 KB) [edit] Summary [edit] Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Level crossing ... United States is the current Good Article Collaboration of the week! Please help to improve this article to the highest of standards. ... Train horns are audiable warning devices utilized by diesel and electric locomotives. ...


Some American cities, in the interest of noise abatement, have passed laws prohibiting the sounding of bells and whistles; however, their ability to enforce such rules is debatable. In December 2003, the U.S. Federal Railroad Administration published regulations that would create areas where train horns could be silenced, provided that certain safety measures were put in place, such as concrete barriers preventing drivers from circumventing the gates or automatic directional whistles mounted at the crossing (which reduce noise pollution to nearby neighborhoods). Additional information can be found at the FRA website under "Train horn rule." Implementation of the new "Quiet Zone" Final Rule was delayed repeatedly but was finally implemented in the summer of 2005. 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...


All crossings in the United States are required to be marked by at least a crossbuck; most crossings that intersect rural roads have this setup. In the event that the crossing contains more than one railroad track the crossbuck will usually have a small sign below denoting the number of tracks at the crossing. As traffic on the road crossing or the rail crossing increases, safety features are increased accordingly. More heavily trafficked crossings have automatic warning devices (AWDs), which feature alternately flashing red lights to warn automobile drivers and a bell to warn pedestrians. Additional safety is attained through crossing gates that block automobiles' approach to the tracks when activated. Increasingly, crossings are being fitted with four-quadrant gates to prevent circumventing the gates and crossing the tracks. United States rail crossing with crossbucks (Look on the top of the pole in the foreground). ... A boom barrier is a bar, or pole pivoted in such a way as to allow the boom to block vehicular access through a controlled point. ... A level crossing with four-quadrant gates at Chertsey, England. ...


Operation of a typical AWD-equipped railroad crossing in the United States is as follows:

  • Approximately 30 seconds before arriving at the crossing, the train trips a track circuit near the crossing, triggering the crossing signals. The lights begin to flash alternately, and a bell mounted at the crossing begins ringing. After several seconds of flashing lights and ringing bells, the crossing gates (if equipped) begin to lower, which usually takes 5-10 seconds. Some AWDs will silence the bell once the gates are fully lowered; others continue ringing the bells throughout. The lights continue to flash throughout regardless.
  • Approximately 15 to 20 seconds before arriving at the crossing, the train begins ringing its engine bell and sounds its horn in accordance with NORAC rule 14L or GCOR rule 5.8.2(7): two long blows, one short blow, and one long blow. This signal and engine bell ringing is prolonged or repeated until the engine occupies the crossing. If the AWD is equipped with a directional horn in accordance with FRA Quiet Zone rules, the AWD may provide the whistle signal instead of the train; however, the engine is required to ring its bell regardless.
  • After the train has cleared the crossing, the gates (if equipped) begin to rise, and the bells (if silenced) may begin ringing again. Once the gates have completely risen back to their fully raised position, all warning signals, including the lights and bells, are deactivated.

Some AWD track circuits are equipped with motion detectors that will deactivate the crossing signal if the train stops or slows significantly before arriving at the crossing. A track circuit is an electrical circuit used to detect the presence of a train. ...


As indicated above, the pattern of the bells at each individual crossing can be different. (These bells should not be confused with the bells that are mounted on the trains themselves.) Generally, the bells follow one of these patterns:

  • The bell begins ringing when the lights begin flashing and ringing ceases when the gates have completely lowered.
  • The bell begins ringing when the lights begin flashing and ringing ceases when the gates begin to go up (following the passing of the train.)
  • The bell begins ringing when the lights begin flashing and ringing temporarily stops when the gates have completely lowered. However, when the gates begin to rise, the bell begins ringing again, and rings until the gates have returned to their original position.
  • The final, and most simple, practice is for the bells to begin ringing when the lights begin flashing, keep ringing after the gates have completely lowered, and continue ringing while the gates are rising, only to cease when they have risen completely back to their original position.
A newer, electronic crossing bell.
A newer, electronic crossing bell.
A more traditional, mechanical crossing bell.
A more traditional, mechanical crossing bell.

A handful of level crossings still use wigwag signals, which were developed in the early 1900s by the Pacific Electric Railway interurban system in the Los Angeles region to protect its many level crossings. Though now considered to be antique, around 100 such signals are still in use, almost all on branch lines. By law, these signals must be replaced by the now-standard alternating red lights when they are retired. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1024x768, 277 KB)[edit] Summary This is a General Signals electronic crossing bell found on NW Marina Way in Portland, Oregon. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1024x768, 277 KB)[edit] Summary This is a General Signals electronic crossing bell found on NW Marina Way in Portland, Oregon. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1024x768, 566 KB)[edit] Summary This type of bell has been around for over sixty years. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1024x768, 566 KB)[edit] Summary This type of bell has been around for over sixty years. ... This lower-quadrant Magnetic Flagman wigwag with original base, pole and cantilever continues to warn cars of oncoming trains in Santa Cruz, California to the present day. ... The Pacific Electric Railway (AAR reporting mark PE), also known as the Red Car system, was a mass transit system in Southern California using streetcars, light rail and buses. ... An interurban, also called a radial railway in Canada, is a streetcar line running between urban areas or from urban to rural areas. ... Flag Seal Nickname: City of Angels Location Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates , Government State County California Los Angeles County Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 1,290. ...


A special kind of crossing sign assembly was introduced on an experimental basis in Ohio in 1992, the "Buckeye Crossbuck"[4]. It includes an enhanced crossbuck, reflective and with red lettering, and also a reflective plate reading "YIELD" below the crossbuck, whose sides are bent backwards in order to catch and reflect at a right angle the light of an approaching train. The experiment's final report ("Evaluation of the Buckeye Crossbuck at Public, Passive Railroad/Highway Grade Crossings in Ohio", Ohio Department of Transportation State Job Number 14612, December 2000) gave the device a favorable review[5]. However, the plate was rejected for inclusion in the 2003 Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices[6]. Official language(s) None Capital Columbus Largest city Columbus Largest metro area Cleveland Area  Ranked 34th  - Total 44,825 sq mi (116,096 km²)  - Width 220 miles (355 km)  - Length 220 miles (355 km)  - % water 8. ... The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) is a document issued by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) of the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) to specify the standards by which traffic signs, road markings (see lane), and signals are designed, installed, and used. ...


A track that will run high-speed trains in excess of 120 mph (193 km/h) is being tested in Illinois between Chicago and St. Louis, Missouri. Here, due to the high speed of the trains, gates that totally prevent road traffic from reaching the tracks are mandatory on all level crossings, and steel mesh nets are being tested on the busier crossings to further prevent collisions. These are already in place in Southeastern Connecticut along Amtrak's Northeast Corridor; the rest of the Northeast Corridor is grade-separated. Official language(s) English Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Area  Ranked 25th  - Total 57,918 sq mi (149,998 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 390 miles (629 km)  - % water 4. ... Nickname: The Windy City, The Second City, Chi Town Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location in Chicagoland and Illinois Coordinates: Country United States State Illinois Counties Cook, DuPage Incorporated March 4, 1837 Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Area    - City 606. ... Nickname: Gateway City, Gateway to the West, or Mound City Location in the state of Missouri Coordinates: Country United States State Missouri County Independent City Mayor Francis G. Slay (D) Area    - City 66. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Acela Express in West Windsor, NJ Amtrak Cascades service with tilting Talgo trainsets in Seattle, Washington Amtrak train in downtown Orlando, Florida For other uses, see Amtrak (disambiguation). ... Most of the NEC is owned by Amtrak (those sections shown in red). ...

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Accidents

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On 6 January 1968 a prashant 120 ton transformer was being moved from the English Electric factory at Stafford to storage on the disused airfield at Hixon. ... View of the accident site. ... Investigators look at the destroyed school bus and resulting debris after the accident. ... The Bourbonnais train accident occurred March 15, 1999 at 9:47pm Central (local) time in Bourbonnais, Illinois in the United States. ... search babalo A serious five-fatality level crossing accident at Bells Road Gerogery, New South Wales, Australia, called into question the design of this level crossing. ... The train derailed in the Ufton Nervet crash On 6 November 2004 at 18:12 GMT, the 17:35 First Great Western departure from London Paddington to Plymouth hit a stationary car with the driver inside at an automatic level crossing, located close to the rural Berkshire village of Ufton... The Glendale train crash was the deadliest incident in the history of Metrolink, the commuter railroad in the Los Angeles, California, area (note that the trains involved in this crash are not those of the similiarly-named light-rail operator, Metro). ... Polgahawela level crossing collision - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ... In the Johannesburg level crossing collision of April, 2005, a Bus and a freight train collided north of South Africas capital, killing at least nine people and injuring 60 others. ... The Nagpur level crossing disaster was an accident which occurred on the 3 February 2005, when a trailer being towed by a tractor was utterly destroyed by a train in the village of Kanan, 20km from Nagpur in Maharashtra, India. ...

See also

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An at-grade intersection is a junction at which two or more transport axes cross at the same level (or grade). ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Eugene Patrick Prendergast (1868 - July 13, 1894) was the U.S. assassin of Chicago, Illinois Mayor Carter Harrison, Sr. ... The list includes some terrorist bombings. ... List of road accidentsrecords serious road accidents: those with a high death toll, possess an article of their own, or which hold some historical significance. ... This lower-quadrant Magnetic Flagman wigwag with original base, pole and cantilever continues to warn cars of oncoming trains in Santa Cruz, California to the present day. ... Level crossing accidents are list here. ...

References

  1. ^ Rivanna Chapter, National Railway Historical Society (2005). This Month in Railroad History: August. Retrieved on 2006-08-25.
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2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... August 25 is the 237th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (238th in leap years), with 128 days remaining. ...

External links

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Level crossings

  Results from FactBites:
 
level crossing: Definition and Much More from Answers.com (3042 words)
The term level crossing (also called a railroad crossing, railway crossing, train crossing or grade crossing) is a crossing on one level ("at-grade intersection") — without recourse to a bridge or tunnel — of a railway line by a road, path, or another railroad.
Level crossings in China, Thailand, and Malaysia are still largely manually-operated, where the barriers are lowered using a manual switch when trains approach.
All crossings in the United States are required to be marked by at least a crossbuck; most crossings that intersect rural roads have this setup.
Level crossing - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (3163 words)
A level crossing at Chertsey, England, as the barriers rise.
Early level crossings had a flagman in a nearby booth who would, on the approach of a train, wave a red flag or lantern to stop all traffic and clear the tracks.
Increasingly, crossings are being fitted with four-quadrant gates to prevent circumventing the gates and crossing the tracks.
  More results at FactBites »


 

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