LX6 - HAYWOOD Traditional Cache

This cache is part of the 31-cache series "Doncaster LX" (LX is standard railway terminology for "Level Crossing").

The great majority of the caches in this series are drive-by, and most are not particularly challenging - although there are one or two that may make you scratch your head a little ;-)
The caches are a variety made up of the following:

• Tupperware
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• 35mm
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• Nano
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• Camo Tube
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• and one or two others.........

With the odd exception, we aren't going to tell you which caches are which - you can find that out for yourselves for the most part! In addition, there won't be clues for a lot of the caches, but you won't struggle to find them too much.

The final cache in the series is a BONUS cache, and the co-ordinates for that cache are contained in one way or another in fifteen of the caches in the series. Sometimes you will have to answer a question to get part of the co-ordinate, at other times the question and/or the answer will be in the cache container. It will never be loose in the container, however - it will always be taped to the inside of the container or be attached to the logsheet when present.

The questions that you have to answer will be based around the level crossings themselves - you might, for instance, be asked how many flashing red road lights there are at a particular crossing. And that is the whole point of this series - we would like to impart a little extra knowledge about level crossings, and if you come away from it knowing a little bit more than you did, that is a good thing. Clues to the questions will always be found within the text or at the crossing itself - you will never have to go away and do research on the internet, for instance.

All of the caches are placed within about 300m of the associated level crossings, but none are located in a position that will cause any safety implications. Of the very few that are located closer than the recommended 150 ft (46 m) of the railway, the railway is completely fenced off from the cache location, and retrieval will cause no safety issues. At only one cache (LX8) is the user expected to cross the railway on foot to get to the cache location. This traversal, however, can be accomodated easily by following the signs at the level crossing (Booths No. 1). If any cacher feels uncomfortable with using the crossing in the normal manner, please contact us. It is not necessary to visit this cache to complete the series.

Finally, we would ask that the following basic rules are adhered to when completing this series:

• Never park at emergency parking sites at automatic crossings
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• Be aware of, and considerate to, local residents
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• If an alternative parking Waypoint is provided in the cache listing, please use it
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• Always observe any signs and/or notices detailing how the crossing is to be used
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We hope that you have fun with this series - we certainly had fun setting it!

Because CCTV cameras are used by the signaller to determine that the crossing is clear of obstructions, they have to be available at all times, and also be useable in all conditions. You should be able to see the cameras at the crossing on a tall post - there are two identical cameras. Only one is in use at any time, but the signaller can switch between them.

The CCTV image is transmitted either via copper co-axial cable or, more recently, fibre. There are often diverse routing systems so that the image can still be transmitted in the event of cable problems. If the CCTV system does fail, there are two options. The first is that an operator is despatched to site to act as the "eyes" of the signaller. He talks to the signaller on the telephone, and confirms when the crossing is clear. In the event that the remote transmission system fails, the local operator can take complete control of the crossing and raise/lower the barriers under instruction from the signaller.

To ensure that the image is viewable at night, the crossing is also provided with plenty of illumination. In addition, the cameras have a DAY/NIGHT setting which is selectable by the signaller. Cameras of the vintage of this crossing are black and white (as are most security cameras), but the advent of fibre-based transmission systems in recent years means that colour systems are the norm for new installations.

As far as possible, the cameras point as near to north as possible - this ensures that there is minimum interference from sunlight - especially reflections from wet roads caused by low-lying sun position in winter.