The 03/12/2001 marked my first day as an employee of Railtrack, though not as a Signalman. Instead I started as a Level Crossing Keeper at Red Cow Level Crossing in Exeter, right next to Exeter St Davids station.

Job Definition

Training

My training lasted slightly longer the usual due to the lack of seats on PTS courses. The basic task of the job is pretty easy to pick up, despite its responsibility. Each track and direction of train, type of train and also combination of movements means that it's not always a simple decision as to whether is is safe for people to cross. It's also necessary to take into account the state of the pedestrian. Even in these days of equality it is still true that younger joggers take less time to cross compared to older persons with two walking sticks! Once I had completed my PTS course I took my rules the next day and worked that afternoon. A twelve hour shift on a rest day!

Moans and Rants

I have very little gripes about the job and I am usually more than happy to stand in the wind and rain while the barriers are down. My only pet hate at the moment are those few Railway Staff who think that because they work on the railway they can ignore my instruction and make their own decision. I understand that they're probably more likely to safely cross then a member of public (MOP) it doesn't set a very good example particularly when you have MOPs waiting with them.

Also why do cars toot their horn at me when the barriers are down for long periods of time, it's not my fault!

Job Benefits

As I said above I have very little qualms with the job, in fact I think it's brilliant. I enjoy being out in the open and despite being next to a busy road it's lovely to stand outside in the "fresh" air, especially early in the morning when it looks like the picture further down this page. It was also nice in the winter when it was frosty and at sunrise the whole of the station area was white.

Other benefits include getting to shake your head at cars that jump the lights and get "caught" by the barriers. We also got a Christmas Card from a family who crosses the crossing every day, thanking all railway staff for their hard work, which was really nice and cheered me up for days! Um, what else is funny? There's a chap whos black poodle insists on biting the barriers as she/he walks past, that always makes me giggle.

Not that i'm particularly interested in the trains themselves it can be nice to see what's around. Interesting trains are mainly freight and light locomotives thought we do get the odd failed HST or delayed working that terminates at Exeter St Davids. Simple things please simple people...