British Level crossing

LGB-Sid

LGB-Sid

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Has anybody ever found drawings etc. for British Level crossing gates, the large old wooden type not half drop down barriers. Decided I need to make some and would like to make them so they work, spent hours so far and not found any. Sad all the old gates around me have been replaced with horrible half barriers, so a trip to measure some not really possible at the moment.
 
LGB-Sid said:
Has anybody ever found drawings etc. for British Level crossing gates, the large old wooden type not half drop down barriers. Decided I need to make some and would like to make them so they work, spent hours so far and not found any. Sad all the old gates around me have been replaced with horrible half barriers, so a trip to measure some not really possible at the moment.
Click to expand...
There's some near Newmarket, Dullingham I think, still operated by hand. There was a pair near Lakenheath but they were changed a couple of years ago.
 
I would go from photographs...

Use something like a nine-inch brick (in the photograph, obviously!) as a reference for scale.
 
LGB-Sid said:
Has anybody ever found drawings etc. for British Level crossing gates, the large old wooden type not half drop down barriers. Decided I need to make some and would like to make them so they work, spent hours so far and not found any. Sad all the old gates around me have been replaced with horrible half barriers, so a trip to measure some not really possible at the moment.
Click to expand...
Got a friend who's into OO? See if you can borrow a Hornby set and scale up.
 
Very good..
Bricks on the signal box are a little small, but there is a 4' 81/2" clue in the foreground..
:giggle::giggle:
 
Similar to eBay Mike's suggestion - do Dapol still do the ex-Airfix kit of the level crossing? If so, just buy one of them and scale everything from there.....

Just checked, and yes it is still made, just over a fiver - reckon that's probably a good investment, you can always pass it on to a OO friend afterwards!

Jon.
 
Paul M said:
There's some near Newmarket, Dullingham I think, still operated by hand. There was a pair near Lakenheath but they were changed a couple of years ago.
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Yep still hand operated when I saw them last year.

I could be persuaded to take photos as I live nearby in Cambridge. Pm me if you like?

I've also got some of the current Wolferton Station, although these are not quite as Rik's diagram, as they are modern copies. Wolferton was closed in '68 and is now a private residence, although the owner does encourage visitors....
 
Thanks for all the reply's pics, images, drawing's and ideas, SWMBO reminded me of a set of gates that might still be in existence around here, there on a road / lane that never really got used much as the gate keeper used to take around 15 mins plus to get out his chair, walk towards you and stare at you fro 5 mins then open the gates :) going to go for a ride down the lane at the weekend to see if they are still there or if they have been replaced as well.
 
I thought most of our level crossings looked like this

Level-crossing-1.jpg
 
I believe the Kent and East Sussex Railway still have timber gates at Tenterden Town Station. Some kind soul on this forum may be in a position to provide timber sizes and gate heights or it may be worth contacting them direct to see if they can oblige. I hope I am right in thinking they still have them. Good luck.

They can be viewed on Google Street View but not full on.

Some images here -

http://www.isle-of-wight-fhs.co.uk/gallery/ak/images/level_crossing_newchurch_station.jpg

http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/b/blackwater/

http://ukrailways1970tilltoday.me.uk/WhittleseaBRtwo.html
 
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In the February edition of 'Garden Rail', there is an advert for 'North Pilton Works' which has a picture of level crossing gates under the heading of 'Lineside kits and accessories' . There web site is as above plus .com
Dave
 
Living near Tenterden, I could go and measure the gates, but not a lot of point really. They are all knocked up on site and often vary in size of timber used based on whats available.
The link given above gives sizes and these look pretty good to me. Note that the top bar is shown as being tapered - not always the Tenterden ones are not.
Now, if you really want to get your hands dirty the Tenterden gates are rotten and will be being replaced this year! There are no drawings - its only a gate after all!
Further down the line are steel gates. Rolvenden used 4 inch box section, whilst Wittersham uses just 2.5 inch box but both built following traditional design..
 
LGB-Sid said:
Has anybody ever found drawings etc. for British Level crossing gates, the large old wooden type not half drop down barriers. Decided I need to make some and would like to make them so they work, spent hours so far and not found any. Sad all the old gates around me have been replaced with horrible half barriers, so a trip to measure some not really possible at the moment.
Click to expand...

Would this drawing do? Great Southern Railway (Ireland). I built a pair out of wood and steel (as per prototype) for my trailer layout.

crossing gates002.jpg

Crossing - train.JPG
The only thing I didn't do was to taper (to the clapping end - which is to the left on this pic.) the top and bottom rails!
 
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