# Traffic Signs Manual/Chapter 4/2013/21

21.1 This section gives a brief description of the prescribed traffic signs used at level crossings and tramway crossings. For further guidance, reference should be made to the Office of Rail Regulation’s (ORR) publication "Railway Safety Publication 7, Level Crossings: A guide for managers, designers and operators" published on the ORR website. See also section 3 in Chapter 3.
May be used with diagram 572, 573 or 773
May be used with diagram 572, 573 or 773
May be used with diagram 572, 573 or 773
May be used only in combination with diagram 529, 529.7, 558, 770, 777 or 772. A distance, an arrow or both may be added
May be used with diagram 602 when used with 778 or 778. 7, or with signals to diagram 3074
May be used with signals to diagram 3074
May be used with signals to diagram 3074. "TRAIN" may be varied to "TRAM"
May be used with signals to diagram 3074. "TRAIN" may be varied to "TRAM"
May be used only in combination with diagram 602
May be used only in combination with diagram 602
​POWER CABLES
May be used only in combination with diagram 780A.
These plates may be used only in combination with diagram 779. The height may be varied. The height in metric units may be omitted. In diagram 780.1A the arrow may be reversed or omitted, and the distance maybe varied or omitted
LOAD GAUGE
21.11 The load gauge shown in diagram 781 gives beneath cable in an audible warning when the safe height beneath an overhead power cable is exceeded. It should always be used where the safe height is less than 16'-6" (5.03 m); see also para 21.12. A safe height less than 16'-6" is likely to be encountered only at private crossings. At such locations the gauge should be effective as speeds are low and users familiar with the layout. The gauge is intended for use with power cables and not at low bridges over public highways, where speeds are likely to be higher and drivers less able to respond to the sound of the bells in time, or even to hear them at all from inside closed cabs.
21.12 The load gauge must be mounted on two posts coloured black and white in alternate horizontal bands each band being less than 250 mm nor more than 335 mm deep (Direction 43.) Diagram 779 with supplementary plate 780.2A should be used when a load gauge is installed.
The number and colour of the bells may be varied
'Table 21-1 :
| Lowest hot weather height of contact wires | Lowest hot weather height of contact wires | Height of gauge (diagram 781) and height to be shown on supplementary plate (diagrams 780A, 780.1A and 780.2A) for different overhead line voltages | Height of gauge (diagram 781) and height to be shown on supplementary plate (diagrams 780A, 780.1A and 780.2A) for different overhead line voltages | Height of gauge (diagram 781) and height to be shown on supplementary plate (diagrams 780A, 780.1A and 780.2A) for different overhead line voltages | Height of gauge (diagram 781) and height to be shown on supplementary plate (diagrams 780A, 780.1A and 780.2A) for different overhead line voltages | Signs to be used |
| Lowest hot weather height of contact wires | Lowest hot weather height of contact wires | 25000 volts | 25000 volts | Less than 25000 volts | Less than 25000 volts | | Signs to be used |
| Imperial | Metric | Imperial | Metric | Imperial | Metric | Signs to be used |
| 18-9" | 5.71 m | 16'-9" | 5.1 m | 17'-3" | 5.2 m | Diagram 779 with 780A or 780.1A |
| 18-6" | 5.64m | 16'-6" | 5.0m | 17'-0" | 5.1 m | Diagram 779 with 780A or 780.1A |
| 18'-3" | 5.56m | – | – | 16'-9" | 5.1 m | Diagram 779 with 780A or 780.1A |
| 18'-0" | 5.49m | – | – | 16'-6" | 5.0m | Diagram 779 with 780A or 780.1A |
| 18'-3" | 5.56m | 16'-6" | 5.0m | - | - | Load gauge (diagram 781) and diagram 779 with 780.2A |
| 18'-0" | 5.49m | 16'-3" | 4.9m | - | - | Load gauge (diagram 781) and diagram 779 with 780.2A |
| 17'-9" | 5.41 m | 16'-0" | 4.8m | 16'-6" | 5.0m | Load gauge (diagram 781) and diagram 779 with 780.2A |
| 17'-6" | 5.33m | 15'-9" | 4.8m | 16'-3" | 4.9m | Load gauge (diagram 781) and diagram 779 with 780.2A |
| 17'-3" | 5.26m | 15'-6" | 4.7m | 16'-0" | 4.8m | Load gauge (diagram 781) and diagram 779 with 780.2A |
| 17'-0" | 5.18m | 15'-3" | 4.6m | 15'-9" | 4.8m | Load gauge (diagram 781) and diagram 779 with 780.2A |
| 16'-9" | 5.10m | 15'-0" | 4.5m | 15'-6" | 4.7m | Load gauge (diagram 781) and diagram 779 with 780.2A |
| 16'-6" | 5.03m | 14'-9" | 4.5m | 15'-3" | 4.6m | Load gauge (diagram 781) and diagram 779 with 780.2A |
May be used with diagram 528, 572, 573, 783, 785.7 or 786
"LONG LOW" may be varied to "LARGE OR SLOW". May be used with diagram 607. 7, 782, 785. 7, 786, 787 or 788'
May be used with diagram 786, 787 or 788. "must phone" may be varied to "must use SOS phone"
May be used with diagram 782 or 783. The telephone number may be varied and "RAILWAY" may be varied to "TRAM Co."
21.13 Diagram 782 is used at crossings where there is a risk of long or low vehicles grounding and causing an obstruction which might not be cleared before the next train arrives at the crossing. It is necessary to consider both the approach profile and the relative levels of the running rails. For guidance on the use of this sign with hump bridges see para 7.1.
21.14 Diagrams 783, 784.1 and 785.1 instruct drivers of long, low, large or slow vehicles to phone to obtain permission before crossing the railway. The smallest size of the sign to diagram 785.1 (25 mm x-height) is intended to be read only by a driver having alighted. A larger size will be required if it is necessary for the sign to be read from a moving vehicle. As non-compliance with the sign to diagram 784.1 could result in an accident or expose a driver to prosecution, it is essential that this group of signs is appropriately sized and properly maintained.
May be used with diagram 782, 783, 784. 7, 787, 788 or 7 028.3. "AT CROSSING" may be omitted. "AND USE PHONE" may be varied to "AND USE SOS PHONE" or "& USE SOS PHONE" The latter should be used only when plating an existing sign (see working drawing P 786)
787 Site of telephone (Alternative types)
788 Direction to telephone (Alternative Types)
The direction of the arrow may be reversed
COUNTDOWN MARKERS
The symbols are reversed when the signs are mounted on the off side
21.17 Countdown markers to diagrams 789, 789.1 and 789.2 may be used to emphasise the approach to a crossing. They are intended to divide into equal lengths the distance between the first marker, with three bars, and the crossing. The first marker should be co-located with the warning sign to diagram 770, 771 or 772 (see para 21.2). Unlike the countdown markers on the approach to a junction, the bars do not represent intervals of 100 yards, as the warning sign will usually be less than 300 yards from the crossing. If the signs are duplicated on the off side of the road, for greater emphasis or to improve visibility, the slope of the bars is reversed.
21.18 Where queues sometimes extend upstream of the crossing warning signs, especially if the end of the queue might be hidden by a bend, queue warning signs might be necessary (see para 20.5).
​NEW CROSSINGS
21.19 Diagram 790 is used following alteration of the method of control of a level crossing. In the case of a new installation, "CONTROL" should be omitted. The sign must be removed within three months of the date of completion of the works (direction 37(1)).
SIZES OF LEVEL CROSSING SIGNS
21.20 Guidance on the appropriate sizes for triangular warning signs and supplementary plates can be found in Appendices A and B respectively. Diagrams 774, 775, 777, 783 to 786 and 788 are prescribed in several sizes, the smallest being appropriate where approach speeds do not exceed 30 mph, and the largest where the national speed limit applies. For intermediate approach speeds, sizes should be proportioned accordingly, using the nearest prescribed size.