SLB #10: Sun Lane RXR – Dismount!
(previously called Sun Lane RXR – Dismount!)
The cache is now incorporated as the last of a 10-cache series circuiting through some fine countryside to the west of Burley-in-Wharfedale.
For background info on the trail including a Map (also available in this cache's Gallery) showing caches and parking spots, and waypoints for parking | trail access, see GC7E48T SLB#1: What a Tip!
Note: irresponsible and mindless dog owners use the inside of the box as a doggy-do dumping ground, but you can safely access the cache without having to deal with their creation!
The cache, a small camo-topped sample tube, is hidden near (but outside) the base of an unusual structure close to the point where Sun Lane crosses the Leeds-Ilkley rail line to continue as a grassy public footpath which runs west to link up with farm lanes, tracks or roads heading either to Ben Rhydding or up to the Cow & Calf pubic house area.
To reach the cache location:park roadside on Sun Lane at N 53 54.874 W 1 45.687 near the entrance to the Sun Lane Nature Reserve and follow the lane south-west from here heading up to the crossing & cache.
The structure of interest is believed to be a (dis)mounting platform or deck which assists horse riders to mount and dismount their steeds – as is required (and indicated by sign) in order to cross the railway. They are particularly useful for people who have challenges (dis)mounting such as those with mobility issues.
The history of level crossings depends on the location, but early level crossings often had a flagman in a nearby booth who would wave a red flag or lantern on the approach of a train to stop all traffic and clear the tracks.
Gated crossings became common in many areas, as they protected the railway from people trespassing and livestock, and protected the users of the crossing when closed by the signalman/gateman.
In the second quarter of the 20th century, manual or electrical closable gates that barricaded the roadway started to be introduced, intended
to be a complete barrier against intrusion of any road traffic onto the railway.
Automatic crossings are now commonplace in some countries as motor vehicles replaced horse-drawn vehicles and the need for animal protection diminished with time. Full, half or no barrier crossings superseded gated crossings, although crossings of older types can still be found in places (such as the cache location). New technology is advancing to create new ways of protecting the railway from users of a level crossing, with one of the most recent being obstacle detection scanners fitted to some crossings in Europe.
Most crossings around the world are marked by some form of saltaire (Saint Andrews Cross) to warn road users.
Level crossings (groesfan reilffordd in Welsh, rèidh-tharsainn in Scottish Gaelic) in the United Kingdom started out as manually gated crossings opened by a signalman. These were standard all across the network until mechanised barriers started to be introduced. These could be operated by a signalman adjacent to the crossing or were automatic. After the major Hixon rail crash in 1968 (see Gallery photo), the design of level crossings started to change, and all mechanised crossings had to have a preliminary amber light fitted, which makes UK level crossings one of only a few countries with this design of crossing. More recent advantages in technology have led to more technical automatic lastcrossings, safer open crossings, and crossings with obstacle detection systems to detect stray people or vehicles on the crossing.
Many crossings in the country now are composed of lights, alarms and full, half or no barriers. The lights are unique in that they have a preliminary amber light accompanied by two red lights. The alarms come in a range of tones, and can be composed of a speaking warning saying ‘warning: another train is approaching’. Many crossings are automatic, but can be manually operated or by CCTV or obstacle detection. There are some gated crossings still left in the country (such as at the cache location), as well as some open crossings with no lights, barriers or alarms.
There are in total 13 types (classifications) of RXR (level crossing) in the UK with different features (eg. signs and equipment) based on the nature of the route crossing the lines and the volume and speed of the rail traffic. For more info on level crossings see here.
See here for a short video of an Australian RXR at dawn.
See here for moments of madness on UK RXRs.