A railway line running through your runway?
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A railway line running through your runway?
How many ATC units out there still have an active railway line running through a runway? I know that Gisborne, New Zealand is one of them.
Any more?
Any more?
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Originally Posted by ATCO1962
How many ATC units out there still have an active railway line running through a runway? I know that Gisborne, New Zealand is one of them.
Any more?
Any more?
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In Gisborne, there is a lighting control unit that allows the tower controller to halt all trains before they reach about 50m from the edge of the runway. The default is to allow planes the right of way. When a train arrives on the scene(the tower controller gets an aural warning as well as a visual one on the panel) and the ATCO is happy with spacing, s/he allows the train to cross by way of a green signal to the train driver.
It's worked well for the better part of a half century although there was an anecdote told about a red-faced ATCO who forgot, in a quiet moment, to turn the signals back to the planes-have-right-of-way and only caught the impending disaster at the last minute. Result: train had squared off wheels after some emergency braking. Don't know if that's true; perhaps someone could verify?
I think Australia had one of these airports in the past, at least. Is that right?
It's worked well for the better part of a half century although there was an anecdote told about a red-faced ATCO who forgot, in a quiet moment, to turn the signals back to the planes-have-right-of-way and only caught the impending disaster at the last minute. Result: train had squared off wheels after some emergency braking. Don't know if that's true; perhaps someone could verify?
I think Australia had one of these airports in the past, at least. Is that right?
Ballykelly NI used to have one, but being an Army camp now rather than RAF, they reduced the useable runway length so that the present runway no longer has a railway on it, although the paved surface is still visible.
Trains used to have priority over aircraft (Shackletons mostly when I was there).
Trains are diesel powered, so there's no requirement for catenary's.
Trains used to have priority over aircraft (Shackletons mostly when I was there).
Trains are diesel powered, so there's no requirement for catenary's.
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AHhhh, Hamble. The railway line from the oil depot to the Soton - Pompey line. Not across the runway (threshold of 02/stop end of 20) but I do remember a Cherokee driving across it after landing on RWY 20. I rather think the undercarriage stayed on the north side of the railway line. Instructor on board as well....
Oh dear!
Oh dear!
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There's an old freight spur just west of the runways at El Paso, TX that does cross taxiway A. Don't think it's used much, but used to get a couple train crossings a month years ago.
What I always thought interesting is that you can still see a portion of the old Butterfield Stagecoach road between the runways as it runs by the fire station and dissappears under taxiways J & K. There used to be a sign noting the fact along side those taxiways. You can still trace the road, (a two rut track actually) from the airport for about 30 miles or more to the ENE towards Hueco Tanks and the Cornudas Mountains from the air.
What I always thought interesting is that you can still see a portion of the old Butterfield Stagecoach road between the runways as it runs by the fire station and dissappears under taxiways J & K. There used to be a sign noting the fact along side those taxiways. You can still trace the road, (a two rut track actually) from the airport for about 30 miles or more to the ENE towards Hueco Tanks and the Cornudas Mountains from the air.
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Le Touquet (LFAT) did have one but i do not know if it is still active or even there.
Maybe Lydd Air at Lyyd cound answer that question as they operate in Le Touquet from Lydd.
Maybe Lydd Air at Lyyd cound answer that question as they operate in Le Touquet from Lydd.
Come to think of it, wasn't there also one across the apron at Beauvais? Skyways used to run '748's from Lympne (Ashford International - the first one) to interconnect with trains to Paris didn't they?
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RAF Valley, Anglesey (for the benefit of non-UK readers, located in the far northern reaches of Wales) has the Holyhead - Bangor mainline passing 150m or so from the 19 threshold and a bit further from 22(?). Seem to remember a switch in the tower which could control the railway signals though the old memory is hazy as to whether trains actually had to be stopped with aircraft on approach. 
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Originally Posted by revik
RAF Valley, Anglesey (for the benefit of non-UK readers, located in the far northern reaches of Wales) has the Holyhead - Bangor mainline passing 150m or so from the 19 threshold and a bit further from 22(?). Seem to remember a switch in the tower which could control the railway signals though the old memory is hazy as to whether trains actually had to be stopped with aircraft on approach.
An indication is available in the tower of approaching trains and a warning passed to any aircraft on final, "...caution, train right left." It is the pilots call whether to continue or GA. The tower controller is able to set signals on the track to danger in order to stop trains but only for use should an aircraft foul the line. There is hot-line in the tower to Valley signal box.
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I'll see your railway line and raise you a dual carriageway across the runway. RAF Gibraltar was a laugh a minute!! When an acft was about 10nm final the barriers would be lowered by the TWR controller. On more than one occasion the single aluminium bar dropped down between a trucks cab and trailer - never to be seen again as the truck accelerated to beat the lights!! And for the pedestrians that were a bit slow walking across the runway we used a loudspeaker to put the fear of God into them. Again on more than one occasion I remember a little old lady bursting from a shuffle to a sprint to clear the active as a 737 got to about a mile final. Sadly she was carrying plastic shopping bags weighed down with Safeways finest goodies - or at least she was until the plastic handles broke as she made a dash for it. Despite the obvious FOD hazard left behind the acft still landed. Once the acft had vacated the Runway became a road again and said LOL would return to the centreline to collect what was left of her weekly shop! Sad but true! Those were the days. More fun than Valley - for me at least !!
Last edited by BurglarsDog; 22nd Apr 2006 at 04:46.
Used to be a rail line crossing the runway at Wynyard airport in Australia
http://www.airwaysmuseum.com/WYY%20r...ossing%201.htm
http://www.airwaysmuseum.com/WYY%20r...ossing%202.htm
There are many links to plane collides with train at Sydney airport. This is one of them
http://www.spiritsofansett.com/history/Niven/trains.htm
http://www.airwaysmuseum.com/WYY%20r...ossing%201.htm
http://www.airwaysmuseum.com/WYY%20r...ossing%202.htm
There are many links to plane collides with train at Sydney airport. This is one of them
http://www.spiritsofansett.com/history/Niven/trains.htm
