Displaying the green flag at Cranbrook Road

An entirely uneventful day at Cranbrook Road crossing. Two up light engines, 5 return trips and two down light engines, lock everything up and go home. Entirely uneventful but very enjoyable all the same. Arrived at 9.30am and before I knew it, the time was 5.00pm and the last passenger train was on its way up from Rolvenden.

It rained a bit, just when an up train was on its way which made it an impressive sight with sand being blasted out from the sanders in front of the wheels to give extra grip on the slippery rails on the steep gradient here.

The green flag is displayed to authorise the driver to pass the stop board at the gates. The flag confims the gates are open to the railway and it is safe to proceed. If the gates are not manned and are closed to the railway obviously the train has to stop at the stop board and wait until they are opened usually by the guard.

We do have a red flag to display if for any reason the crossing becomes fouled after showing a green flag. A few years ago a motorist ploughed into the gates, taking one with them and colliding with the other.