At 07:44 AM 15/07/2012, Matthew wrote:

>Even people who live in crossing areas don't follow the rules - my uncle
>was once 'touring' the Riverina. Out in the middle of nowhere he came to
>a railway crossing. Protected only by a stop sign and the cross. He
>stopped, only to have a following car pull up beside him and yell 'why
>did you stop you idiot, the trains don't run this time of year'. He got
>abused by some one who was obviously local, for doing the right thing.
>Said local will probably one day become an accident statistic.
>

This actually happeed at this level crossing back in the late 1940s,
I think it was.

Noel will remember that The National Park branch, as it was at the
time, was at used for crew training purposes. "New" drivers would
be taken out on the branch, on weekdays after the passing of the
morning rail motor, and spend several hours shuffling back between
the terminus and what became known as the "Scouts
Platform. However, the main purpose of the exercise was for the
Travelling Inspector or Instructor to "create" faults on the train,
which the driver was expected to locate and rectify. At around 1400
or may-be a little later, the train would return to Mortdale Car Shed
in order to take up peak workings. At the time, there was one rail
motor at about 1015 in the morning, while in the afternoon, a local
electric would be extended to "the Park". It was only on weekens,
particularly in summer, that an intensive service was provided.

On one such occasion, the departing train came into collision with a
motor lorry, creating considerable damage - but no one was
injured. The Police asked the lorry driver why didn't he stop when
he saw the level crossing lights flashing? His answer . .... "Yes,
I saw the lights flashing - but they don't run trains on the line at
this time of day"!

I doubt whether the Police Constable was amused.

Hunslet.