Australian Railroad Crossing Signals

[McK&H.Aust]

I've filmed Back Brawlin Rd and Old Trunk Rd, plus photograped Henty. Won't have time for Wagga Wagga and Tanyinna is a maybe. The Harmon gate mechs are still there at Henty and Shepherds Siding, they must be on borrowed time!

It's amazing that Henty and Shepherds Siding haven't been upgraded yet, unless they have bigger plans for those crossings.

The signals at Shepherds Siding seem to be in reasonable condition so maybe they are leaving them until later. Maybe they have bigger plans for Henty because it doesn't have a proper pedestrian crossing. Interestingly Yerong Creek has a pedestrian crossing with Magnetic Autocontrol swing gates but it's a much smaller town than Henty!

One of the WCH m-bells on the crossing at Old Trunk Rd, The Rock has died so they just have the other bell ringing continuously. It's the same as Junee which still has only one working teardrop bell about a year since the other one died.

Shepherds Siding also appears to be a rather quiet crossing, that could also be why the Harmon gate mechs remain there.

Does Old Trunk Road still have the NEG gate mechs, BTW?

The NEG gate lights have been replaced by the usual LED ones. They could have been WCH as the crossing at Marinna still has WCH gate gate lights and I think both crossings were installed around the same time.

Both crossings were installed in around 2002-03, accordding to the LCSC report from the time.
https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/system ... report.pdf

One interesting thing I noticed in the report is both The Rock and Marinna had their bells with the gongs facing towards approaching traffic. The bells have since been rotated to the normal position. Marinna now has a newer looking WCH m-bell (unpainted) on the eastern signal and a Safetran type 3 e-bell on the western signal.

[TrickyMario7654]

One interesting thing I noticed in the report is both The Rock and Marinna had their bells with the gongs facing towards approaching traffic. The bells have since been rotated to the normal position. Marinna now has a newer looking WCH m-bell (unpainted) on the eastern signal and a Safetran type 3 e-bell on the western signal.

I noticed that Back Brawlin Road now has a Safetran Type 3 on one of the signals, I remember seeing a picture from 2014 and the crossing still had the other WCH m-bell.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.652 ... 312!8i6656

Not too surprised that the wishbone gates have been replaced and the lights being upgraded to LED (though I remember seeing a video from 2012 and the crossing still had the old wishbone gates).

Can I also request that you film these crossings in Grong Grong and Widgelli next time you're in the area?
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.738 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.330 ... 312!8i6656

[McK&H.Aust]

One interesting thing I noticed in the report is both The Rock and Marinna had their bells with the gongs facing towards approaching traffic. The bells have since been rotated to the normal position. Marinna now has a newer looking WCH m-bell (unpainted) on the eastern signal and a Safetran type 3 e-bell on the western signal.

I noticed that Back Brawlin Road now has a Safetran Type 3 on one of the signals, I remember seeing a picture from 2014 and the crossing still had the other WCH m-bell.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.652 ... 312!8i6656

Not too surprised that the wishbone gates have been replaced and the lights being upgraded to LED (though I remember seeing a video from 2012 and the crossing still had the old wishbone gates).

Can I also request that you film these crossings in Grong Grong and Widgelli next time you're in the area?
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.738 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.330 ... 312!8i6656

Back Brawlin Rd still has a WCH m-bell and the Safetran Type 3, I think the e-bell was installed late 2015 (that's when I first noticed it). It's an interesting bell combination and one which will probably not be repeated any time soon. The Olympic Hwy (Yass Rd) crossing at Cootamundra also has the same bell combination, although it's a newer crossing installed in 2003.

The crossings at Widgelli and Grong Grong still had their m-bells earlier this year when I went past. If I do get back to the area I will try to film at least one of them. Not sure where or when my next trip away will be.

[TrickyMario7654]

One interesting thing I noticed in the report is both The Rock and Marinna had their bells with the gongs facing towards approaching traffic. The bells have since been rotated to the normal position. Marinna now has a newer looking WCH m-bell (unpainted) on the eastern signal and a Safetran type 3 e-bell on the western signal.

I noticed that Back Brawlin Road now has a Safetran Type 3 on one of the signals, I remember seeing a picture from 2014 and the crossing still had the other WCH m-bell.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.652 ... 312!8i6656

Not too surprised that the wishbone gates have been replaced and the lights being upgraded to LED (though I remember seeing a video from 2012 and the crossing still had the old wishbone gates).

Can I also request that you film these crossings in Grong Grong and Widgelli next time you're in the area?
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.738 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.330 ... 312!8i6656

Back Brawlin Rd still has a WCH m-bell and the Safetran Type 3, I think the e-bell was installed late 2015 (that's when I first noticed it). It's an interesting bell combination and one which will probably not be repeated any time soon. The Olympic Hwy (Yass Rd) crossing at Cootamundra also has the same bell combination, although it's a newer crossing installed in 2003.

The crossings at Widgelli and Grong Grong still had their m-bells earlier this year when I went past. If I do get back to the area I will try to film at least one of them. Not sure where or when my next trip away will be.

I noticed that the crossbuck on this signal at Yass Road sticks out, any idea why?
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.632 ... 312!8i6656

Also found a recent streetview image of the Broadway crossing in Junee showing the new signals, interesting how the old advance warning sign with an upside down Hazard Triangle remains.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.858 ... 312!8i6656

[McK&H.Aust]

I noticed that the crossbuck on this signal at Yass Road sticks out, any idea why?
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.632 ... 312!8i6656

Not sure why they would want the crossbuck to stick out so far, it's out further than the lights! Also in Cootamundra the Berthong Rd crossing still has it's teardrop bell, the recent work done at the crossing was to replace the grade.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.615 ... 328!8i1664

Also found a recent streetview image of the Broadway crossing in Junee showing the new signals, interesting how the old advance warning sign with an upside down Hazard Triangle remains.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.858 ... 312!8i6656

Cool find, seems like some people don't even know which way the hazard triangles are meant to be mounted. Pretty sure that the road owners are responsible for the advance warning signs (in this case most likely Junee Shire Council) and I guess they haven't got around to updating the signs. I believe the railways are only responsible for maintaining the signals and signs at the crossing itself.

The crossing at Gerogery has a blank Give Way sign (with the wording removed) instead of a hazard triangle on the eastern advance warning sign. Not on GSV but i did get some pictures.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.835 ... 312!8i6656

A couple of odd things I noticed about the crossing at Yerong Creek. The gated signal on the western side has a strange base, it doesn't have a makers name and has a separate junction box attached to the side. The junction box has a sticker with the name O'Donnell Griffin. https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.387 ... 312!8i6656

The gateless signal at the crossing was installed in May 2008 and has a very old pair of cast iron McKenzie & Holland lights with a WRRS junction box cover, certainly lots of recycled equipment used on this installation!
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.387 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.387 ... 312!8i6656

[TrickyMario7654]

Also found a recent streetview image of the Broadway crossing in Junee showing the new signals, interesting how the old advance warning sign with an upside down Hazard Triangle remains.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.858 ... 312!8i6656

Cool find, seems like some people don't even know which way the hazard triangles are meant to be mounted. Pretty sure that the road owners are responsible for the advance warning signs (in this case most likely Junee Shire Council) and I guess they haven't got around to updating the signs. I believe the railways are only responsible for maintaining the signals and signs at the crossing itself.

The crossing at Gerogery has a blank Give Way sign (with the wording removed) instead of a hazard triangle on the eastern advance warning sign. Not on GSV but i did get some pictures.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.835 ... 312!8i6656

A couple of odd things I noticed about the crossing at Yerong Creek. The gated signal on the western side has a strange base, it doesn't have a makers name and has a separate junction box attached to the side. The junction box has a sticker with the name O'Donnell Griffin. https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.387 ... 312!8i6656

The gateless signal at the crossing was installed in May 2008 and has a very old pair of cast iron McKenzie & Holland lights with a WRRS junction box cover, certainly lots of recycled equipment used on this installation!
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.387 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.387 ... 312!8i6656

I found these odd advance warning signs at the Cunnigar crossing.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.559 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.557 ... 312!8i6656

Also found some old advance warning signs at Nubba.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.526 ... 328!8i1664
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.522 ... 328!8i1664

[Username1]

I just found this video that shows that Camp Road campbellfeild got those ugly new crossbucks. Seems a bit of a waste seeing as trains no longer run through the crossing... https://youtu.be/ukhIC6Tcblc

[TrickyMario7654]

I just found this video that shows that Camp Road campbellfeild got those ugly new crossbucks. Seems a bit of a waste seeing as trains no longer run through the crossing... https://youtu.be/ukhIC6Tcblc

I'm guessing the video was filmed before the shutdown, no idea why they keep installing the red background crossbucks on crossings being removed. On the plus side, at least they didn't give the crossing an LED upgrade.

[McK&H.Aust]

I just found this video that shows that Camp Road campbellfeild got those ugly new crossbucks. Seems a bit of a waste seeing as trains no longer run through the crossing... https://youtu.be/ukhIC6Tcblc

I'm guessing the video was filmed before the shutdown, no idea why they keep installing the red background crossbucks on crossings being removed. On the plus side, at least they didn't give the crossing an LED upgrade.

Shame about the new crossbucks, but at least they left the hybrid bells.


Found this old advertisment for McKenzie & Holland on ebay from 1924, they certainly made lots of different equipment!
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/FINE-PERIOD ... 1438.l2649

[TheSignalMan2000]

Not sure if anyone posted this yet, but I found quite an interesting Railway crossing near Sydney
https://www.google.com/maps/@-33.903736 ... 312!8i6656

Activated
https://www.google.com/maps/@-33.903998 ... 312!8i6656

Unique gate design with old-style gate lights
https://www.google.com/maps/@-33.903998 ... 312!8i6656

Wishbone gates
https://www.google.com/maps/@-33.903901 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com/maps/@-33.903815 ... 312!8i6656

I can't tell, but the mechanical bell at this crossing looks like a Westinghouse hybrid bell

At least this signal is active as of September 2014
https://www.google.com/maps/@-33.904074 ... 312!8i6656