WHAT HAPPENS AT LEVEL CROSSINGS?

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19108, 28 June 1930, Page 13

WHAT HAPPENS AT LEVEL CROSSINGS?

CONTROL METHODS USED TO LESSEN DANGER. The Sockburn disaster, which cost a railway engine-driver and five motorists their lives, brought the level crossing controversy into grim and vivid relief. It was for the purpose of studying the method of control at crossing that a “Star” reporter made an inspec tion of the Colombo Street crossing this morning. The Colombo Street' crossing, although it has not dangerous charac' eristics to the same extent as that at Waltham Road, is perhaps the one most under the notice of the public, and in the main is typical of all crossings within the city. Various Devices. Various devices are used to lessen danger to the public and direct the train into the station. There are five tracks into the station, and these, from the outside track on the south side of Colombo Street to the farthest track on the north, give the crossing a depth of approximately two chains. All five: lines are in use frequently during the day. passenger and goods trains, as well as shunting engines, maintaining constant service. At the approach of a train from the west, alarm bells are set ringing by the signal attendant stationed in a box on the north side of the crossing. The bells are set in motion when the train is roughly 200 yards from the crossing, and there is ample time for the warning to be heeded. Disc signals on the west side of Colombo Street are brought into use to show a red face to traffic and green to the engine-driver, signallinig that the line is clear. Cross-ing-keepers are constantly on duty, working in reliefs of two. It is their duty to station themselves in the roadway to warn traffic, and also to give further indication to the driver of the train. The regulations lay down that the train must not go over the crossing at a speed of more than seven miles an hour, and a whistle must-be isounded before the crossing is reached Ordinary motor traffic is directed by the crossing-keepers, but special signals are provided for the of tram drivers. Traffic Over Grossing. This morning it was noticeable that immediately the alarm bells struck up their tattoo of warning the normal speed of the traffic stream over the crossing became enlivened. Motorists, cyclists and pedestrians, instead of heeding the warning, appeared to regard the bells as a sign to make haste, until it became a race to get across and beat the oncoming train. Even when the engine was less than vo chains from the crossing, and the keepers had long since stationed themselves in their respective position* in the roadway on either side of the crossing, there were signs of defiance of law and reason on the part of a few motorists who, with a glance to judge the ditance between themselves and the approaching train, opened the throttle and skimmed over the crossing, to be lost sight of in the congestion of vehicles that were waiting on the other side for the all-clear signal. Meaning of Keepers’ Flags. Attention has often been drawn to the meaning of the flags carried by. the crossing-keeper, and this meaning cannot be emphasised too much. The green flag has a double purpose. It is used as a warning of danger to the public, and as a sign to the enginedriver that the line is clear. The red flag which the crossing-keeper also carries, but seldom has to use, is kept for emergency purposes, such as a sudden blockage on the line after the all clear signal has been given. It is a signal to the engine-driver to stop. The Keepers Duty. It is more than fortunate for the public that the crossing-keepers of Christchurch are men who have a strong sense of their responsibility. Their duties do not merely find a narrow boundary in the holding of a warning flag. They have to know the intricate meaning of various blocks of signals that indicate the line on which a train will go over the crossing, and station themselves accordingly. It is not over-stat-ing the case to say that often the role of a traffic control officertdevolves upon the crossing-keeper. The strict enforcement of regulations governing a Ifve! crossing, if applied in Colombo Street, would often mean the paralysis of the main traffic stream in the city. The regulations provide that traffic, over a crossing must cease immediately the alarm bells are set ringing. But. in the case of Colombo Street where hundreds of vehicles ply north and south within the space of a few minutes, it would not be practical to hold up the traffic at the first sound of the bell, and keep it still until the line was again clear. Such an action would cause a congestion problem that would not be easily solved. It is here that the judgment of the crossing-keeper is of value. By fining circumstances down to a margin of safety, he can contrel the passage of traffic over the crossing, and so prevent stoppages of undue length His flag is brought into use only at what he considers is the right time, and those who disobey it would appear to take anv blame upon their own heads. Not infrequently the crossingkeeper is disobeyed. Keener’s Observations. Mr %Thomas Wheatley, crossing-keep-er at Colombo Street, has seen the arrival and departure of more trains at Christchurch than can be easily number-, ed. In recounting his experiences to a “Star” reporter this morning, he put things this way: “Motorists as a whole are not a bad

lot, and they generally trqat us crossing keepers fairly. But there are some who deserve to be imprisoned. They will go over in front of anything. They don’t want to stop and they won’t stop. Fining is no good for them; that’s been tried. There is only one thing, and I tell you that’s gaol! ” In reply to a question, the crossingkeeper said that men are worse offenders than women “taking things by and large, but occasionally there is a la-de-da lassie in her mdtor-car who shoots over without caring a snap of the fingers for consequences or anything else.” Mr Wheatley said “cyclists are our worst trouble, but motorists as a rule are fair on us.” A Louder Whistle. A new and more powerful whistle has been introduced by the Railway Department for train use. It is at present being used on only one engine. The whistle has not the shrill note of the common and more familiar type in use in New Zealand, but has a much louder sound, striking a booming and reverberating note. The whistle was in use some time ago but because of _ protests on account of its great noise was discontinued.