crossing keeper

English

The crossing keeper at Whittlesea, Cambs.

Noun

crossing keeper (plural crossing keepers)

1. (rail transport) A member of railway staff who looks after a level crossing.
   • 1951 September, B. D. J. Walsh, “The Sudbury and Haverhill Line, Eastern Region”, in Railway Magazine, page 619:

     All these level crossings have hand-operated gates, and are manned by crossing-keepers.

Usage notes

In Britain, crossing keepers are employed at gated crossings, where the gates haven't been replaced by barriers. In New Zealand they usually held a stop board in the middle of the roadway at a busier crossing, which could also have warning lights and bells. Level crossing gates were not used in New Zealand.