A WARTON teenager had a miraculous escape when his tractor was struck by a train near Millom station, a court heard.

Luke Pedley, 18, of Croftlands, was conducting silage work on a nearby farm and was attempting to cross the line on the Salthouse Number 3 occupational crossing.

As he crossed he was hit by the Carlisle to Lancaster train, but the driver had noticed Pedley in time to use the emergency brakes and warn passengers of the impending collision.

Mr Stephen Rothwell, prosecuting, said the farmer had rung the signalman at Millom, asking him to put trains "on caution" as his tractors would be crossing the line.

Drivers were told to watch out for trains and a board with instructions for crossing was situated near the line.

The train was driving at 35mph and reduced to 20mph on approach to the crossing. The driver used the horn as a "double warning". The tractor, however, continued to cross and the train's emergency brakes were applied.

The driver warned his passengers and took his place in the seating area. A witness said the collision was "more like a slight bump than a huge impact."

Miraculously, Pedley was not injured, but was shaken by the whole experience. Mr Rothwell said that the incident had occurred because Pedley had "failed to follow the procedure".

Mr Russell Davies, defending, said Pedley had not seen the train before he crossed. He also stated that an "unsafe system" was being used, in that the gates which should be open and closed by individual drivers were tied open.

Pedley had to perform an anti-clockwise manoeuvre taking just under a minute to get up the incline to the crossing, and therefore would not have seen the train.

The conditions were also "sluggish" from the weather earlier.

Mr Davies said that the incident in July last year had left Pedley with post-traumatic stress. "He could easily have lost his life" he said. "He frequently has nightmares about what has happened and what might have happened."

Judge Peter Openshaw QC said Pedley had been "diverted and distracted". "It is inconceivable that you would do that deliberately" he said. Pedley was given a conditional discharge for 12 months after he admitted endangering safety on a railway. He was ordered to pay prosecution costs of £260.

"Miraculously you yourself were not killed" said Judge Openshaw QC.

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