Great Western Coffee Shop

Ok, this may seem like a bit of a random question... but I'm sure it can be answered here.

I was just wondering precisely how many level crossings there are on the line between Paddington and Tiverton Parkway, and where they all are. I should know this, but even looking out of a train window it is easy to miss something when you're travelling at 125mph!

I already know of a couple, IIRC there is one between Pewsey and Westbury, and of course, there is one at Ufton Nervet, but I am sure there are others!

I make it 10 between Reading and Tiverton

Any idea where they all are?

Midgam, Colthrop, Thatcham, Hamstead, Kintbury, Hungerford, Athelney, Victory, Bradford On Tome

However, they may be more.

by level crossing do we mean road crossings or footpath crossings also, i belive if you hunt around network rails site for this route it has a description something like so many miles how many stations r/a, l/g, number of crossings

Yes, I do mean road crossings. Looking for the information on the Network Rail site - not found anything yet!

I'm suprised Devon_Metro hasn't mentioned that there's a level crossing between Castle Cary - Taunton in the village of Athelney ;D

Erm ... sorry, Trout, but he did, actually.  :-[

I've just seen that... ::) :P :D

However let me explain how I made that error ;D

I knew there was a level crossing between Taunton and Castle Cary as I see it on my way to work. However I didn't know what the village it is in was called until I did some Googling...! :o So I had the post pretyped out and just copied the village name without looking at D_M's post to check if it was listed...!

*Mental Note, Read the thread*

You won't be going at 125mph over any of them unless the drivers speeding!

Midgam, Colthrop, Thatcham , Hamstead, Kintbury, and Hungerford are all full barriers.  Athelney, Victory and Bradford On Tone  are all automatic half barriers.  You could do 125mph over the first 6 if line speed allowed, but AHB's are only permisible where line speed is 100mph or less.

You could go over Stocks Lane and Causeway at 125 mph.  The person asking the question didn't say it had to be via the Berks and Hants.

The implication was there in the first post!   

Over to you OP,  which route would you like to take?

I was talking about what I believe is the normal route for trains from London to Devon eg: London, Reading, Newbury, Pewsey, Westbury Castle Carey, Taunton & Tivvy.

 :)

I shall be going to Tiverton on the 15:06 from Paddington on June 29th (hello to anyone on here who will be working on that service! :P), and shall try and use the satnav on my mobile phone to find out the route, because it would be interesting to find out exactly where you are between stations (have had the phone a year and only found out how to get that function working a couple of months ago!) although of course, coming out of Whiteball Tunnel and seeing the M5 I know exactly where I am!  ;D 

On a fast train, it is possible to track your route.

Upon leaving Taunton
Flyover = Cogload Junction MP123
Level Crossing = Athelney MP120
Station = Castle Cary MP115
Station = Bruton MP112
Junction = East Somerset Junction MP105
Junction = Blatchrbridge Junction MP102
avoiding frome
Junction = Clink Road Junction MP100
Junction = Fairwood Junction MP97
avoiding Westbury, White Horse on right
Junction = Heywood Road MP96
Loop = Woodborough MP80
Station = Pewsey

etc

Both MLN1 and (MLN1 - BKE - BHL - SWY - (WES) - WEY - FRA - WEY - CCL - MLN1) are used by trains from London to Devon.  Most do take the latter route though.