The first fully automatic level crossing barriers in this country : Spath, Staffordshire : leaflet : British Railways : London Midland Region : 1961 : second fold

            The information leaflet produced by British Railways, London MIdland Region, to accompany the introduction of the first fully automatic level crossing barriers in the United Kingdon; this was at Spath, just north of Uttoxeter in Staffordshire, on the Churnet Valley line. The British Transport Commission, the masters of British Railways, along with the Ministry of Transport, had been interested in the adoption of this technology since the 1950s when the concurrent savings in manned level crossings that this system offered began to appear desirable. after a fact finding tour in Europe and legal consent granted by Parliament in 1957 the BTC introduced its Provisional Requirements for such crossings in 1958.

The crossing chosen for the first application, made in 1959, was for this at Spath where BR stated that the existing manned crossing equipment was outdated and required replacement. The equipment, manufactured for British Railways by Westinghouse Brake and Signals, was operated by track circuits and came into use on 5 February 1961. Described in the Press as a "robot crossing" there was initially a requirement for a crossing keeper to be in attendance. This was finally dispensed later in the year subject to some additional road signs being provided as the level crossing at Spath was on a T-junction and there were concerns about cars queuing over the tracks. The crossing was also fitted with "Second Train Coming" signs to alter waiting drivers to the fact the barriers may remain down despite a train apparently having passed; these were not commonly installed on later examples.

A few early attempts to avoid the crossing by zig-zagging soon found their way to the Magistrates' Court and duly dealt with. Although Spath 'showed the way' the actual crossing and the equipment were destined to have a ridiculously short life. As the Beeching "Axe" marched on and BR began to drastically prune the railway network services were withdrawn from the line in 1965 and the level crossing abolished.

Taken on: November 23, 2024

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Mike Ashworth Collection

British Railways

Spath

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1961

5 February 1961

level crossings

road safety

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automatic level crossings

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the first fully automatic level crossing barriers in this country

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Sets appears in: • The first automatic level crossing in this country : British Railways : Spath, Staffordshire : leaflet : 1961 • British Railways and British Rail ephemera more » • Railway publicity « less

Groups appears in: • That Old Timey Feeling • Typophile // typography, lettering and design more » • Vintage Typography • Text and Typography • PLANET EARTH BACK IN THE DAY • British Rail • Vintage Railway Publicity, pre-1980 • UK Railway Memorabilia • British Railways in the 60's « less

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