A delivery driver from Dundee cheated death after blundering across a potentially dangerous section of railway line in Perthshire.
Douglas Gow spoke of the heart-stopping moment he saw a passenger train speeding towards him at 80mph.
Fortunately for the 49-year-old, he cleared the tracks with seconds to spare as the emergency-braking train did not fully stop until a full quarter of a mile beyond the crossing.
Despite admitting endangering the lives of passengers on the train, Gow escaped a driving ban and even the imposition of points on his licence during an appearance at Perth Sheriff Court.
The court was told that prominent signs had warned motorists that they must use a highly visible telephone to inform Network Rail of their intention to use the Kinclaven level crossing.
Nonetheless, Gow claimed that he had simply failed to spot the warnings other than a simple “Stop, Look, Listen” sign and had decided it was safe to cross.
The 9.15am Inverness to Perth service was approaching Stanley on April 16, when its driver spotted the delivery van on the tracks.
He was forced to apply his brakes and sound his horn but fortunately for all there was no collision.
The court was told that there had been no injury to passengers, though they had been jostled by the sudden deceleration.
Gow, meanwhile, told police at the scene that he had never used the crossing before and was “really sorry”.
He later admitted culpably and recklessly crossing the tracks on Caputh Road, Stanley, in his van.
“I started to cross the tracks and as I did, I looked to the left and I could see the train coming around the corner,” he told the court. “Fortunately, I got over the tracks and then stopped.
“When I delivered the parcel, I said to the customer that you didn’t get much time to cross the tracks. He said: ‘Didn’t you phone?’”
Gow, of Balunie Avenue, said he appreciated what the consequences could have been but added: “I just didn’t see the sign.”
Fining him £600, Sheriff Fiona Tait said: “It is fortunate both for yourself and everyone on the train that the consequences of this were not more serious.”