Australian Railroad Crossing Signals

[trainman7]

This is a bit of a late response to all this good news about the hybrid bells replacing Safetran type-3 e-bells, but I thought I'd add something. I went to the VR Workshops in Albert Park in May, and the guy there told me he was gonna receive a whole bunch of hybrid bells (apparently about 20, although that might be an exaggerated amount) from the level crossing removal authority and metro (I believe) which he planned to sell, but before he could get them V/Line/VicTrack (I think) got their hands on them first. He told me they desperately needed them because lots of regional crossings had faulty e-bells: which i can assume were the Safetran type-3 e-bells. So yeah that might explain that, but I need to really emphasise that these were his words and not mine, so don't quote me on anything! I know as much as everyone else knows about whether any more crossings will actually get hybrid bells to replace Safetran e-bells

After all that he only got one hybrid bell, which was the black hybrid bell from the Chandler rd level crossing in Noble Park, which he put on EBay for a few weeks, and has since sold. I was able to take a few pics of it before it sold.




And btw I'm loving the pictures and the videos! Ahhh it fills me up with joy

That’s some interesting info! Hopefully the hybrid bells will be reused and replace a few Type 3s!

[Username1]

The gate mech on the northern side of the Edithvale Road crossing in Edithvale is acting up and drops quickly which you can see at 5:54 in this video: https://youtu.be/zvtiP8XJi7Y

[freebrickproductions]

The gate mech on the northern side of the Edithvale Road crossing in Edithvale is acting up and drops quickly which you can see at 5:54 in this video: https://youtu.be/zvtiP8XJi7Y

At least it didn't hit the pavement!

[McK&H.Aust]

There's quite a few crossings in the area I think you should film.

I would suggest Glennies Creek (one of the m-bells has since been replaced by a Safetran Type 3, but this crossing is otherwise unchanged).
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.461 ... 312!8i6656

This one in Scone (another crossing with an m-bell + e-bell combo).
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.045 ... 312!8i6656

I made another visit to the area today and sadly there has been an outbreak of bell nazi fever. The crossings at Glennies Creek and Scone have both had their remaining m-bells replaced by Safetran type 3's

Also the hybrid bell at Mangoola has been replaced by a Safetran type 3, same for the crossing at White St, Blandford which lost it's WCH m-bell. Finally, the crossing at Rosemount Rd, Denman has seen it's WCH m-bell replaced by a WCH e-bell (at least it wasn't a type 3).

The only good news is the Modern Industries bell remains at Brook St, Muswellbrook, and the Federal Signal gate mechs survive at Army Camp Rd, Singleton.

The strange thing is that most of the replacement Safetran type 3's looked brand new, not sure why they would install more of them given the recent number of failures

[freebrickproductions]

The strange thing is that most of the replacement Safetran type 3's looked brand new, not sure why they would install more of them given the recent number of failures

Maybe they found where they had a bunch in storage and decided to go ahead and get their money's worth out of them?

[McK&H.Aust]

The strange thing is that most of the replacement Safetran type 3's looked brand new, not sure why they would install more of them given the recent number of failures

Maybe they found where they had a bunch in storage and decided to go ahead and get their money's worth out of them?

Yes that's the most likely reason, nothing to be gained by leaving them on a shelf somewhere, I guess.

[TrickyMario7654]

There's quite a few crossings in the area I think you should film.

I would suggest Glennies Creek (one of the m-bells has since been replaced by a Safetran Type 3, but this crossing is otherwise unchanged).
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.461 ... 312!8i6656

This one in Scone (another crossing with an m-bell + e-bell combo).
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.045 ... 312!8i6656

I made another visit to the area today and sadly there has been an outbreak of bell nazi fever. The crossings at Glennies Creek and Scone have both had their remaining m-bells replaced by Safetran type 3's

Also the hybrid bell at Mangoola has been replaced by a Safetran type 3, same for the crossing at White St, Blandford which lost it's WCH m-bell. Finally, the crossing at Rosemount Rd, Denman has seen it's WCH m-bell replaced by a WCH e-bell (at least it wasn't a type 3).

The only good news is the Modern Industries bell remains at Brook St, Muswellbrook, and the Federal Signal gate mechs survive at Army Camp Rd, Singleton.

The strange thing is that most of the replacement Safetran type 3's looked brand new, not sure why they would install more of them given the recent number of failures

Oh come on...

I wonder if this part of the network prefers to still install Safetran Type 3's over WCH e-bells?

[McK&H.Aust]

There's quite a few crossings in the area I think you should film.

I would suggest Glennies Creek (one of the m-bells has since been replaced by a Safetran Type 3, but this crossing is otherwise unchanged).
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.461 ... 312!8i6656

This one in Scone (another crossing with an m-bell + e-bell combo).
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.045 ... 312!8i6656

I made another visit to the area today and sadly there has been an outbreak of bell nazi fever. The crossings at Glennies Creek and Scone have both had their remaining m-bells replaced by Safetran type 3's

Also the hybrid bell at Mangoola has been replaced by a Safetran type 3, same for the crossing at White St, Blandford which lost it's WCH m-bell. Finally, the crossing at Rosemount Rd, Denman has seen it's WCH m-bell replaced by a WCH e-bell (at least it wasn't a type 3).

The only good news is the Modern Industries bell remains at Brook St, Muswellbrook, and the Federal Signal gate mechs survive at Army Camp Rd, Singleton.

The strange thing is that most of the replacement Safetran type 3's looked brand new, not sure why they would install more of them given the recent number of failures

Oh come on...

I wonder if this part of the network prefers to still install Safetran Type 3's over WCH e-bells?

There are plenty of newer installations in the area with WCH e-bells, so maybe they are just using up their remaining stock of Safetran Type 3's. Rosemount Rd, Denman, and the crossing at Bylong both recently recieved WCH e-bells, so maybe they are using the more reliable e-bells on those gateless crossings because they only have one bell. But sadly this means there are no more m-bells on the Ulan line.

[trainman7]

There's quite a few crossings in the area I think you should film.

I would suggest Glennies Creek (one of the m-bells has since been replaced by a Safetran Type 3, but this crossing is otherwise unchanged).
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.461 ... 312!8i6656

This one in Scone (another crossing with an m-bell + e-bell combo).
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.045 ... 312!8i6656

I made another visit to the area today and sadly there has been an outbreak of bell nazi fever. The crossings at Glennies Creek and Scone have both had their remaining m-bells replaced by Safetran type 3's

Also the hybrid bell at Mangoola has been replaced by a Safetran type 3, same for the crossing at White St, Blandford which lost it's WCH m-bell. Finally, the crossing at Rosemount Rd, Denman has seen it's WCH m-bell replaced by a WCH e-bell (at least it wasn't a type 3).

The only good news is the Modern Industries bell remains at Brook St, Muswellbrook, and the Federal Signal gate mechs survive at Army Camp Rd, Singleton.

The strange thing is that most of the replacement Safetran type 3's looked brand new, not sure why they would install more of them given the recent number of failures

That’s some pretty sad news. The m-bells at Glennies Creek and Blandford were sounding healthy on July 2. I am amazed the MI bell is surviving despite it having issues. Do you know if the hybrid bells at Grasstree are still there?

For some reason, ARTC in the Hunter area really loves replacing m-bells for the sake of it. They even acted like Metro at one stage, replacing the m-bells at Station Rd, Lochinvar (replacing a Federal Signals bell ) and Hermitage Rd, Belford just weeks before they were removed. I guess ARTC had a stockpile of Type 3s that they thought they’d use. Did you do any filming?

I am pretty the only remaining m-bells in the Hunter region are at:
Cory St, Martins Creek: https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/Co ... 9f375fc956

Hilldale Rd, Hilldale: https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/Hi ... b4749b5070

Dungog Rd, Wallarobba: https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/Du ... f4f6992976

Stroud Hill Rd, Dungog: https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/St ... 11d86e49da
Surprisingly, one of the WCH m-bells was replaced mid last year with a new WCH m-bell.

[McK&H.Aust]

There's quite a few crossings in the area I think you should film.

I would suggest Glennies Creek (one of the m-bells has since been replaced by a Safetran Type 3, but this crossing is otherwise unchanged).
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.461 ... 312!8i6656

This one in Scone (another crossing with an m-bell + e-bell combo).
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.045 ... 312!8i6656

I made another visit to the area today and sadly there has been an outbreak of bell nazi fever. The crossings at Glennies Creek and Scone have both had their remaining m-bells replaced by Safetran type 3's

Also the hybrid bell at Mangoola has been replaced by a Safetran type 3, same for the crossing at White St, Blandford which lost it's WCH m-bell. Finally, the crossing at Rosemount Rd, Denman has seen it's WCH m-bell replaced by a WCH e-bell (at least it wasn't a type 3).

The only good news is the Modern Industries bell remains at Brook St, Muswellbrook, and the Federal Signal gate mechs survive at Army Camp Rd, Singleton.

The strange thing is that most of the replacement Safetran type 3's looked brand new, not sure why they would install more of them given the recent number of failures

That’s some pretty sad news. The m-bells at Glennies Creek and Blandford were sounding healthy on July 2. I am amazed the MI bell is surviving despite it having issues. Do you know if the hybrid bells at Grasstree are still there?

For some reason, ARTC in the Hunter area really loves replacing m-bells for the sake of it. They even acted like Metro at one stage, replacing the m-bells at Station Rd, Lochinvar (replacing a Federal Signals bell ) and Hermitage Rd, Belford just weeks before they were removed. I guess ARTC had a stockpile of Type 3s that they thought they’d use. Did you do any filming?

I am pretty the only remaining m-bells in the Hunter region are at:
Cory St, Martins Creek: https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/Co ... 9f375fc956

Hilldale Rd, Hilldale: https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/Hi ... b4749b5070

Dungog Rd, Wallarobba: https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/Du ... f4f6992976

Stroud Hill Rd, Dungog: https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/St ... 11d86e49da
Surprisingly, one of the WCH m-bells was replaced mid last year with a new WCH m-bell.

I didn't check the crossing at Grasstree, will probably do that on the way home. The signals are stiil in place at Hebden Rd but due to the new fencing and nowhere safe to park, I couldn't get close enough to film it. There were lots of workers too, there is a three day closedown of the Hunter lines at the end of this month, so maybe the signals will be removed then.

I filmed Army Camp Rd, Rosemount Rd (again) and Mangoola (again). Tomorrow I'm going further north to check the m-bells at Murrurundi and Werris Creek, then to Gunnedah, Boggabri and also check the crossing north of Baan Baa which did have hybrids back in 2015.