Rother Valley Railway

I'm sure I read somewhere, that there is no intention of that being a manned control cabin. I think they plan on using obstacle detectors.

 

I think it might be safer if Junction Rd could also be monitored at the Bodiam end, with the ability to be switched out, if the station is ever unmanned, the crossing can be controlled by treadles, linked to colour light signals, but if theres ever a problem, with the power, its easier to get someone to site from Bodiam than from Robertsbridge, if a crossing ever has to be manually operated i would imagine the train would stop short, and the crew would operate the crossing, via a locked panel and proceed , then repeat the operation,

 

My undertanding is that the crossings will be controlled by Treadles with Colour light signals and obstruction detection - the 3 crossings are to be monitored from the new Cabin adjacent to the A21.

 

Thats going to cost quite a few pennies...

 

This might give some clarity from Unipart Rail:
https://www.unipartrail.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/level_crossing_in_a_box.pdf

 

That's the expensive way of doing it. I'm sure that the RVR will have a much cheaper option in mind.

 

That expensive system might be what the ORR are going to insist on, Certainly the A21 will need to be fully controlled, the other two, possibly might not need to be so complex, they will all have to be of the powered barrier type, ideally with some manual operation in the case of cable problems, i think it will be a good safeguard to have crew operated switch panels on the approaches that can trigger the lights and barriers, if something goes wrong,

 

The ORR will insist on it being fit for purpose, not where it is purchased from.

 

A lot of design work has been done already and submitted to the ORR, National Highways and the Public Inquiry.

 

Harold, You might know of the new Northiam level crossing? I remember reading something about a pre-cast concrete LC being installed there recently-ish, but there's nothing in Tenterden Terrier No. 150. Was it some work done by London Underground and Bakerail? Anyone?

 

Covered I think in the online Newsletter.

There was some kind of 'work in' to give staff from several rail maintenance companies experience of the track work, without affecting the National Network. Three work sites. The KESR had to do a lot afterwards, but it was a big help. Not sure whether the crossing was part of that, but it was soon after.

 

Here’s how KESR did it at Rolvenden, using precast concrete units both to reduce road-closure time and minimise any road maintenance requirements in the future.

https://www.railengineer.co.uk/revolutionary-level-crossing-on-kent-heritage-railway/?amp

 

Thanks Mike. The Northiam LC is indeed mentioned in K&ESR Members Newsletter No. 71 (dated 01/05/23) but somewhere else I think I have seen some nice pix of the work done. Anyway, it has been done! Nicely!

 

I remember seeing the video of the installation, so the team will know exactly how to do the works, I don't see an problems with Junction Rd, or Northbridge St, the councils have already seen, the method of working now twice, and must be reassured the road closures will be limited to overnight, Highways agency I would think will probably want someone on site to inspect each stage during the A21 works

 

I posted some photos on here in the K&ESR thread, which the railway had posted on Instagram.

Sent from my XQ-AS52 using Tapatalk

 

Thanks Paul. I've just scrolled through the K&ESR thread and found them. Yes, these are they! (See Post no.606 of 7 March '23 on p.31 of the thread.)
Doesn't it look neat? Are the heritage gates there re-installed?

 

Yes, the gates have remained the heritage "fun to operate in heavy traffic" variety...

 

The ones on the RVR extension will be full barrier.

 

There is an exercise ongoing on the KESR on ways to reduce the total journey time from Tenterden to Robertsbridge, as we are aware that families, in particular, can be put off by a return journey that is just TOO long. As part of that, some of the level crossings may be altered to the barrier type on the current KESR. I know that a number of people have been doing an awful lot of work to try to make the RVR extension work for the KESR once it is built. It's not just a case of "once it's built, we use it." There needs to be a lot of forward planning.

 

Find the NYMR and SVR too long for that reason