How did that work in practice then? No live rail for the width of the crossing perhaps? With the short two-car train coasting for a few seconds across the 5 or 6 metres?
What he's on about you ask.
Well this morning while randomly flicking through the 2006 second edition of "The Central Line" by messrs. Bruce & Croom, I came across a late 50s early 60s picture of a red 1935 tube stock two-car train (Central Line) which worked as a shuttle at North Weald, out on the eastern edge of the Central Line, and part of the accompanying text reads: "...A level crossing just north of the station remained in use until the line's closure in 1994"
The line in question being the Epping-Ongar section.
BUT does this scenario scare the life out of anyone else the way it did me?
A level crossing on a track-source electric system!!!
Unfortunately the relevant chapter doesn't explain how this curiosity actually worked.