Australian Railroad Crossing Signals

[trainman7]

Another Safetran Type 3 bites the dust! This time at Clyde St, Islington Junction. Went past here yesterday and the older model Safetran Type 3 on this signal has been replaced by a WCH e-bell. It's only happened in the last week or two https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.911 ... 312!8i6656

Makes me think I would like to film the crossing If I ever got the chance, as a Safetran Type 3 and WCH e-bell combo is fairly rare, also the signal in question has recycled cast iron counterweight arms which is interesting.

Also noticed some GSV updates in the same area, the Cormorant Rd crossing on the Cargill Siding at Kooragang has had the hybrid bells replaced by WCH e-bells.
August 2017:
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.886 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.886 ... 312!8i6656

May 2018:
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.886 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.886 ... 312!8i6656

Thanks for the update I was planing to see the crossing this weekend as I am pretty sure the road was widened and the signal with the WCH e-bell moved slightly. The Type 3 was dying as it sounded intermittently in June so I guess it died. The WCH e-bell would’ve been installed during a shutdown on the 13th of October to the 15th.

It’s a shame the hybrids at Cormorant Rd are gone now but they were dying. The one on this signal https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.886 ... 312!8i6656 was dead in December 2017 whilst the other sounded very flat. Seeing at though the crossing is so close to the ocean and Hunter River, I wonder if the salty air contributed to the hybrids dying?

[McK&H.Aust]

It’s a shame the hybrids at Cormorant Rd are gone now but they were dying. The one on this signal https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.886 ... 312!8i6656 was dead in December 2017 whilst the other sounded very flat. Seeing at though the crossing is so close to the ocean and Hunter River, I wonder if the salty air contributed to the hybrids dying?

Yes I'm guessing the salty air combined with a lack of use probably killed the hybrids at Cormorant Rd, at least they were replaced with WCH e-bells and not more Safetran type 3's.

On the subject of bells, went for a day trip along the Canberra Line today and thankfully all four signalized crossings still have their m-bells. Given the lack of street view updates for quite some time, I was expecting the worst but was pleasantly surprised! The only real change is that all crossings now have red background crossbucks and new style SORS signs.

The first crossing is Currawang Rd, Komungla https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.868 ... 328!8i1664 which still seems to be all original. It has WCH gate mechs, Alstom lights mounted on United Group junction boxes and WCH m-bells. Didn't see the crossing activate, but like the location and would consider filming here in the future.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Sq6Cq ... MveTSZYUtf
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Fe0Kn ... 2mcLBB23mr
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1p-K99 ... xxWBtxYf7i
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1VebtX ... cwV17Tccrr

Goulburn St, Tarago https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.073 ... 328!8i1664 is mostly unchanged, except that it now has a passive pedestrian crossing. Both signals have Alstom lights mounted on Henkes & Harmon junction boxes, although the WCH m-bell does sound a bit shaky. The hazard triangles on both advance warning signs remain intact.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1cv6Bj ... pgVBTVrxy6
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1oTDwq ... JOZak1mDXS
https://drive.google.com/open?id=18oh0N ... 6ibR4AtPxn
https://drive.google.com/open?id=17HMlM ... ruNkjOWfXN
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1MHcsd ... zXzjcNaMIy

Hoskinstown Rd, Bungendore https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.275 ... 312!8i6656 has the same equipment as Tarago, although I didn't see it activate. Hazard triangles are also intact on the advance warning signs.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1iUyvR ... 1eywCFhbiz
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1a5NUZ ... Nvqsopx2eJ
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1AAHEv ... HckIUfyNhS
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1th2Xj ... dc2WNU_FQc

The highlight of the trip was Malbon St, Bungendore https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.257 ... 312!8i6656 which I filmed. Not only is the equipment unchanged, but it has a nice sounding (and rare) combo of a WRRS bell on the eastern signal and a Federal Signal bell on the western signal. The mounting of the new signage is odd, the eastern signal has the 2 Tracks sign mounted above the crossbuck, while the western signal has it mounted below the SORS sign!
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1gSV0l ... 9WbskjKauA
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1qu3TR ... aNxA_5jmsc
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1XibvU ... Xk6cdc_z-u_
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1wXAfl ... _7vQwazOnm
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1TMvLu ... MPUYv169Zd
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1FL0Bd ... qwRJ_GJN-V

[freebrickproductions]

Neat find with that WRRS/Federal Signal bell combo! The only other crossing I've seen with that combination of crossing bells is one on the CSX Dothan Subdivision.

[McK&H.Aust]

Neat find with that WRRS/Federal Signal bell combo! The only other crossing I've seen with that combination of crossing bells is one on the CSX Dothan Subdivision.

Thanks, had to pinch myself a couple of times when I found it lol. It's actually the second rare bell combo I know of at this crossing, the signals were installed around 1985 and the western signal used to have a McK&H teardrop bell before it was replaced by the FS bell. Pretty sure the WRRS bell is original to the crossing, which also used to have Harmon gate mechs. I have a couple of old photos from around 1993 and you can see both the teardrop bell, presumably what is the WRRS bell and the Harmon mechs. Found one of the photos, just need to find the other so I can include them in the video

[trainman7]

It’s a shame the hybrids at Cormorant Rd are gone now but they were dying. The one on this signal https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.886 ... 312!8i6656 was dead in December 2017 whilst the other sounded very flat. Seeing at though the crossing is so close to the ocean and Hunter River, I wonder if the salty air contributed to the hybrids dying?

Yes I'm guessing the salty air combined with a lack of use probably killed the hybrids at Cormorant Rd, at least they were replaced with WCH e-bells and not more Safetran type 3's.

On the subject of bells, went for a day trip along the Canberra Line today and thankfully all four signalized crossings still have their m-bells. Given the lack of street view updates for quite some time, I was expecting the worst but was pleasantly surprised! The only real change is that all crossings now have red background crossbucks and new style SORS signs.

The first crossing is Currawang Rd, Komungla https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.868 ... 328!8i1664 which still seems to be all original. It has WCH gate mechs, Alstom lights mounted on United Group junction boxes and WCH m-bells. Didn't see the crossing activate, but like the location and would consider filming here in the future.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Sq6Cq ... MveTSZYUtf
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Fe0Kn ... 2mcLBB23mr
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1p-K99 ... xxWBtxYf7i
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1VebtX ... cwV17Tccrr

Goulburn St, Tarago https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.073 ... 328!8i1664 is mostly unchanged, except that it now has a passive pedestrian crossing. Both signals have Alstom lights mounted on Henkes & Harmon junction boxes, although the WCH m-bell does sound a bit shaky. The hazard triangles on both advance warning signs remain intact.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1cv6Bj ... pgVBTVrxy6
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1oTDwq ... JOZak1mDXS
https://drive.google.com/open?id=18oh0N ... 6ibR4AtPxn
https://drive.google.com/open?id=17HMlM ... ruNkjOWfXN
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1MHcsd ... zXzjcNaMIy

Hoskinstown Rd, Bungendore https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.275 ... 312!8i6656 has the same equipment as Tarago, although I didn't see it activate. Hazard triangles are also intact on the advance warning signs.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1iUyvR ... 1eywCFhbiz
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1a5NUZ ... Nvqsopx2eJ
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1AAHEv ... HckIUfyNhS
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1th2Xj ... dc2WNU_FQc

The highlight of the trip was Malbon St, Bungendore https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.257 ... 312!8i6656 which I filmed. Not only is the equipment unchanged, but it has a nice sounding (and rare) combo of a WRRS bell on the eastern signal and a Federal Signal bell on the western signal. The mounting of the new signage is odd, the eastern signal has the 2 Tracks sign mounted above the crossbuck, while the western signal has it mounted below the SORS sign!
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1gSV0l ... 9WbskjKauA
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1qu3TR ... aNxA_5jmsc
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1XibvU ... Xk6cdc_z-u_
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1wXAfl ... _7vQwazOnm
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1TMvLu ... MPUYv169Zd
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1FL0Bd ... qwRJ_GJN-V

It’s nice John Holland haven’t replaced any of the m-bells along the Canberra Line! Great to see another Federal Signal m-bell discovered I always thought that bell was WCH! Hopefully it’s left alone for a while! Wouldn’t mind betting it’s the last crossing in NSW to have a Federal Signals and WRRS m-bell combination.

Speaking of m-bell finds, I went past this crossing in the Auburn train maintenance facility today and it has hybrid bells! https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.838 ... a=!3m1!1e3 It also has WCH gate mechs and bases and originally had Westinghouse clear LEDs but they have since been replaced by United Group lights. I am pretty sure the signals were installed in either 2009 or 2010 and it must’ve been the only Westinghouse equipment RailCorp used at that time.

[McK&H.Aust]

It’s nice John Holland haven’t replaced any of the m-bells along the Canberra Line! Great to see another Federal Signal m-bell discovered I always thought that bell was WCH! Hopefully it’s left alone for a while! Wouldn’t mind betting it’s the last crossing in NSW to have a Federal Signals and WRRS m-bell combination.

I've looked at the crossing on GSV many times and also thought it was a WCH bell. Never thought I'd see another FS bell, would be interesting to know where it came from. Both bells sound healthy so hopefully they don't replace them, and I agree it is probably the last Federal Signals/WRRS bell combo.

Speaking of m-bell finds, I went past this crossing in the Auburn train maintenance facility today and it has hybrid bells! https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.838 ... a=!3m1!1e3 It also has WCH gate mechs and bases and originally had Westinghouse clear LEDs but they have since been replaced by United Group lights. I am pretty sure the signals were installed in either 2009 or 2010 and it must’ve been the only Westinghouse equipment RailCorp used at that time.

Nice to find another hybrid bell, and deep in WCH territory (Sydney) of all places lol. Usually new installations with Westinghouse hybrid bells and Westinghouse LED's would use Safetran gate mechs, so it's interesting that they used WCH gate mechs instead. It's a shame they replaced the Westinghouse LED's with United Group lights, but comes as no surprise considering they have been replaced on most other crossings, sadly.

[trainman7]

Got some photos of the slightly modified crossing at Clyde St, Islington Junction today. As previously reported by McK&H.Aust, the Safetran Type 3 on this signal https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.911 ... 312!8i6656 has been replaced by a WCH e-bell. This was yet another Type 3 that had died. This signal has also been moved slightly to allow for a cycle lane with a longer gate being installed. This has led to one of the cast iron counterweights being replaced with a new WCH one.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/139253871 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/139253871 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/139253871 ... ed-public/

[TrickyMario7654]

Got some more bad news out of Pakenham. The Westinghouse Pedestrian Gate Mechs at McGregor Road are about to be replaced by modern swing gates. Just drove over the crossing tonight and spotted the new gates midway through installation. I had a bad feeling about this because they had closed the pedestrian crossing about a week earlier for works and while I had my intial doubts, it’s turns out my fears were realised.

I don’t know why they’re doing this because I can’t recall seeing any mention of a pedestrian crossing upgrade at McGregor Road, and it doesn’t seem to be as utilised as the one on the other side which was installed back in 2012.

Also found this on the LXRA site, looks like they’re going to prioritise 25 more crossings for future removal (most likely after 2022).
https://levelcrossings.vic.gov.au/media ... g-removals

Some of the candidates are no surprises (like Old Geelong Road, Hoppers Crossing and Union Road, Surrey Hills), but there’s still some I don’t think there’s any point to removing (like Reynard Street, Coburg).

[McK&H.Aust]

Got some photos of the slightly modified crossing at Clyde St, Islington Junction today. As previously reported by McK&H.Aust, the Safetran Type 3 on this signal https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.911 ... 312!8i6656 has been replaced by a WCH e-bell. This was yet another Type 3 that had died. This signal has also been moved slightly to allow for a cycle lane with a longer gate being installed. This has led to one of the cast iron counterweights being replaced with a new WCH one.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/139253871 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/139253871 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/139253871 ... ed-public/

Nice pictures, thanks for sharing

I've always found this to be an interesting crossing, despite the newer equipment. It's nice that they used a WCH e-bell, hopefully ARTC have used up the last of their Safetran Type 3's.

[McK&H.Aust]

Got some more bad news out of Pakenham. The Westinghouse Pedestrian Gate Mechs at McGregor Road are about to be replaced by modern swing gates. Just drove over the crossing tonight and spotted the new gates midway through installation. I had a bad feeling about this because they had closed the pedestrian crossing about a week earlier for works and while I had my intial doubts, it’s turns out my fears were realised.

I don’t know why they’re doing this because I can’t recall seeing any mention of a pedestrian crossing upgrade at McGregor Road, and it doesn’t seem to be as utilised as the one on the other side which was installed back in 2012.

Also found this on the LXRA site, looks like they’re going to prioritise 25 more crossings for future removal (most likely after 2022).
https://levelcrossings.vic.gov.au/media ... g-removals

Some of the candidates are no surprises (like Old Geelong Road, Hoppers Crossing and Union Road, Surrey Hills), but there’s still some I don’t think there’s any point to removing (like Reynard Street, Coburg).

That's sad news about the Westinghouse pedestrian gates being replaced. It sure is difficult to understand why some crossings are upgraded before others.

Seems like the Andrews Government feels it is on a winner (politically speaking) with their level crossing removals, so they want to announce more. I fear there is political influence involved in selecting which crossings are being removed, and the money doesn't always go where it is needed most.