Spath Level Crossing

Britain's first automatic level crossing, trialled in the 1960s at Spath, near Uttoxeter, Staffordshire. This may look odd as initally, level crossings never had an amber light! Initally, the signalbox was used to control wooden gates on the line, but when it was modernised (and automated). For a short while, the crossing was monitored due to its experimental nature. The crossing proved to be a success and was the base for all future installations of level crossings in the UK. In 1968, a rail crash involving a low-level transformer and an express train occured in Hixon, causing a catatrophic derailment. Improvement to telecommunications and signage, aswell as the addition of the iconic amber light on level crossings were made. Unfourtantely, this line closed to passenger traffic in 1964 and fully to any sort of traffic in 1988. The crossing was taken down afterward presumably, as there are a lack of photographs of the crossing.