Ashtead Level Crossing Works – Network Rail
Sectors:
Using: 6m x 3m x 25mm Anti Skid – Steel C/W Bevelled Edge and SALLY
A fundamental planning oversight from many years ago had left a Network Rail maintenance manager with a really serious problem. A section of roadway on a level crossing was in dire need of repair. This would normally a difficult enough problem to deal with, as the lines have to closed and trains rerouted. But in this case, added to that was the fact that the only vehicular access to a sizeable residential estate was via the single access, over this level crossing.
A scheme was hatched involving a crew doing some night works. But access for emergency vehicles such as police, ambulance and fire brigade had to be guaranteed at a moment’s notice. So a crane was figured in to be on standby, should the alarm be raised, 2 large road plates would be swung into position, thus bridging the void of any incomplete engineering works.
The engineers located what they thought were 6m x 3m plates from one of their regular plant suppliers and after months of planning the scene was set for the weekend of the 17th of June. It was only on a second pass of the information, whilst checking off all the details, that it was discovered that the nameless competitor, due to a schoolboy error, was planning to send two plates at 6 feet x 3 feet (that’s just 1.8 m by 0.9m !) This was a disaster because it was almost certain the the road section of the crossing was going to fail completely before the whole thing could be re-orchestrated.
Luckily, the engineer in charge had remembered that he’d dealt with us previously. When he made contact with us. we had 2 of the unusually large 6m x 3m x 25mm plates he required and not only that but they were equipped with SALLY lifters, thus dramatically reducing the deployment time of the alternative 4 x threaded lifting eye versions.
Fully appreciating the urgency of the action required, we consolidated the materials including 2 x SALLY lifters and a suitable spreader beam and delivered the whole package to site, where I’m happy to report, it was never used at all that weekend.
But make no mistake, the project would have certainly failed without our involvement.