Australian Railroad Crossing Signals

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Username1
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Re: Australian Railroad Crossing Signals

Post by Username1 » Fri Dec 15, 2017 4:37 am

TrickyMario7654 wrote:
Username1 wrote:I think it's because the government likes to pointlessly waste money! Just kidding, there must be some sort of regulations or rules stating that all crossings that are in construction zones I.e being removed, must have LED lights to help improve safety. All crossings that have been removed for quite a while now receive LED lights before major construction starts.
I don't think that's the case, as both crossings in St Albans were incandescent when they were removed last year (not counting the overhead lights).
Wow that’s strange! I remember before the 3 crossings were removed on the Frankston line last year they all became LED. Maybe it’s just a subjective thing then and has more detailed criteria that depends on the situation.
Metro, why are you so bad at maintaining your railway crossings??
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Re: Australian Railroad Crossing Signals

Post by Swedish Crossings » Fri Dec 15, 2017 5:21 am

Username1 wrote:
TrickyMario7654 wrote:
Username1 wrote:I think it's because the government likes to pointlessly waste money! Just kidding, there must be some sort of regulations or rules stating that all crossings that are in construction zones I.e being removed, must have LED lights to help improve safety. All crossings that have been removed for quite a while now receive LED lights before major construction starts.
I don't think that's the case, as both crossings in St Albans were incandescent when they were removed last year (not counting the overhead lights).
Wow that’s strange! I remember before the 3 crossings were removed on the Frankston line last year they all became LED. Maybe it’s just a subjective thing then and has more detailed criteria that depends on the situation.

I just think they should NOT throw away the new equipment once grade separation is complete, they should keep it and reuse it at other crossings with damaged or broken bells,lights etc.
"Trains are the way to travel"
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Username1
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Re: Australian Railroad Crossing Signals

Post by Username1 » Fri Dec 15, 2017 8:35 pm

Dunno if I’ll Abe able to get to Thornbury today, I’ve been stuck on a delayed train for over an hour on the Frankston line... Buses are also replacing trains between Caulfield and Richmond.. Metro needs to GET OUT OF MELBOURNE!
Metro, why are you so bad at maintaining your railway crossings??
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Re: Australian Railroad Crossing Signals

Post by McK&H.Aust » Fri Dec 15, 2017 11:25 pm

Username1 wrote:Dunno if I’ll Abe able to get to Thornbury today, I’ve been stuck on a delayed train for over an hour on the Frankston line... Buses are also replacing trains between Caulfield and Richmond.. Metro needs to GET OUT OF MELBOURNE!
That sux, it's bad timing to be having buses this time of year during the Christmas rush, and it's the start of school holidays. :oops:
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Re: Australian Railroad Crossing Signals

Post by McK&H.Aust » Fri Dec 15, 2017 11:37 pm

Finally got around to filming the crossing at Koolewong today and noticed a couple of interesting things. Firstly both of the faded crossbucks seen in the 2015 GSV images have been replaced by new "old style" crossbucks :TUP2: it's amazing that they didn't use the new red background crossbucks!
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.465 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.466 ... 312!8i6656

Secondly the cast iron counterweight arms on the eastern gate have been replaced by recycled aluminium ones, not sure if the old ones were damaged, or they wanted to add extra counterweights but couldn't because of the old style arms. At least they kept the Federal Signal gate mech.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.465 ... 312!8i6656

The "new" counterweight arms were probably recycled from the crossing at Hamilton which received new signals last year.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.918 ... 312!8i6656
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Re: Australian Railroad Crossing Signals

Post by Username1 » Sat Dec 16, 2017 12:07 am

McK&H.Aust wrote:
Username1 wrote:Dunno if I’ll Abe able to get to Thornbury today, I’ve been stuck on a delayed train for over an hour on the Frankston line... Buses are also replacing trains between Caulfield and Richmond.. Metro needs to GET OUT OF MELBOURNE!
That sux, it's bad timing to be having buses this time of year during the Christmas rush, and it's the start of school holidays. :oops:
I knew that I should’ve gone yesterday! I’ve been putting it off for the last two weeks and then the day that I finally decide to go I get stuck for over 3 hours...
Replacement busses hadn’t even arrived when I was leaving (I was stuck at Southland Station). And the Metro staff didn’t even know what was going on... :TDOWN:
The trains ended up being suspended all the way down to Morrabin with Metro advising that people take a bus to Darling station on the Glenwaverly line...

Btw I found out that Parker’s road at Parkdale has a type 2 and a adjusted type 1 and the new WCH gate mechs raise the gates really really fast.
Metro, why are you so bad at maintaining your railway crossings??
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Re: Australian Railroad Crossing Signals

Post by TrickyMario7654 » Sat Dec 16, 2017 12:08 am

McK&H.Aust wrote:Finally got around to filming the crossing at Koolewong today and noticed a couple of interesting things. Firstly both of the faded crossbucks seen in the 2015 GSV images have been replaced by new "old style" crossbucks :TUP2: it's amazing that they didn't use the new red background crossbucks!
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.465 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.466 ... 312!8i6656

Secondly the cast iron counterweight arms on the eastern gate have been replaced by recycled aluminium ones, not sure if the old ones were damaged, or they wanted to add extra counterweights but couldn't because of the old style arms. At least they kept the Federal Signal gate mech.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.465 ... 312!8i6656

The "new" counterweight arms were probably recycled from the crossing at Hamilton which received new signals last year.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.918 ... 312!8i6656
I think the older style cast iron counterweight arms are my favorite style arms for the WCH mechs.

I mentioned yesterday that some new images have appeared on street view, and Google just so happened to drive by the crossing at Taree which now has the new gated signals. Interestingly enough, the new bells are one Safetran Type 3 and one WCH e-bell.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-31.907 ... 312!8i6656

Staying on the topic of bells, it seems that Marrangaroo actually had the WCH m-bells as early as May.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.451 ... 312!8i6656

That crossing in Dubbo which used to have Harmon gate mechs certainly did have the old WCH m-bells recycled onto the new signals.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.243 ... 312!8i6656
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Re: Australian Railroad Crossing Signals

Post by McK&H.Aust » Sat Dec 16, 2017 12:36 am

TrickyMario7654 wrote:I mentioned yesterday that some new images have appeared on street view, and Google just so happened to drive by the crossing at Taree which now has the new gated signals. Interestingly enough, the new bells are one Safetran Type 3 and one WCH e-bell.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-31.907 ... 312!8i6656
I remember speaking to the signal maintainer when filming the crossing and he said that this was the last installation of Siemens gate mechs. They had already purchased them before they were banned, apparently it takes at least 12 weeks for equipment to arrive so they have to order well in advance. Maybe this was also the last Safetran Type 3 they had in stock.


TrickyMario7654 wrote:That crossing in Dubbo which used to have Harmon gate mechs certainly did have the old WCH m-bells recycled onto the new signals.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.243 ... 312!8i6656
I thought it looked odd to have the old bells when I drove past in October. Being brand new signals they would normally come pre-assembled with WCH e-bells, but I'm not complaining! Wonder which other areas will be receiving new GSV images? Hopefully Swan Hill and the Portland Line.
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Re: Australian Railroad Crossing Signals

Post by TrickyMario7654 » Sat Dec 16, 2017 12:53 am

McK&H.Aust wrote:Wonder which other areas will be receiving new GSV images? Hopefully Swan Hill and the Portland Line.
Although this image is from 2014, it seems that the only change since 2010 is that the crossing now has newer white SORS signs.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.338 ... 312!8i6656
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Re: Australian Railroad Crossing Signals

Post by McK&H.Aust » Sat Dec 16, 2017 12:55 am

Username1 wrote:
McK&H.Aust wrote:
Username1 wrote:Dunno if I’ll Abe able to get to Thornbury today, I’ve been stuck on a delayed train for over an hour on the Frankston line... Buses are also replacing trains between Caulfield and Richmond.. Metro needs to GET OUT OF MELBOURNE!
That sux, it's bad timing to be having buses this time of year during the Christmas rush, and it's the start of school holidays. :oops:
I knew that I should’ve gone yesterday! I’ve been putting it off for the last two weeks and then the day that I finally decide to go I get stuck for over 3 hours...
Replacement busses hadn’t even arrived when I was leaving (I was stuck at Southland Station). And the Metro staff didn’t even know what was going on... :TDOWN:
The trains ended up being suspended all the way down to Morrabin with Metro advising that people take a bus to Darling station on the Glenwaverly line...

Btw I found out that Parker’s road at Parkdale has a type 2 and a adjusted type 1 and the new WCH gate mechs raise the gates really really fast.
It always amazes me that we have so much technology these days to communicate with each other but people still can't find out what's going on when there are delays on the public transport network. Then Metro or Sydney Trains (or whoever) will come up with some crappy excuse and have a fare free day or something similar to compensate.

I've also put off visiting crossings and then regretted it later, but it can be difficult to find the time, and sometimes the motivation :LOL4:
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