Australian Railroad Crossing Signals

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chris96
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Australian Railroad Crossing Signals

Post by chris96 » Sun Oct 25, 2015 4:43 am

Hi All! I know this site is mostly for discussing signals in the US. However, as an Australian signal fan, I thought I'd bring this up as our railroad crossing signals are almost exactly the same as those in the US (I guess we were too cheap/lazy to come up with our own design! :Smile:)! We even import most of our equipment from American companies such as WCH, General Signals, Safetran (now Siemens) and US&S. We also have a few local Australian-made brands such as Westinghouse Signals Inc., McKenzie & Holland (who originally manufactured our teardrop bells under licence from US&S) and Barker Technics. All of these local Australian companies made lights, bells, gate mechanisms, relays as well as many other wayside signals.

The first type of active crossing signal used in Australia was the classic Wig Wag, imported from the Magnetic Signal Company of Los Angeles. Sadly, none of these signals can be found in operation on a real crossing today with the last unit reported to have been taken out of service in the mid 90's. The only known Wig Wag protecting a functioning railroad here today can be found on the Puffing Billy Railway (a historic tourist train), however it is located over an internal pedestrian crossing and not at a roadway as intended.

After modern flasing light signals were introduced, McKenzie & Holland was the first company to manufacture equipment for the local market and were the standard for the majority of crossing installations at the time. MK&H's most popular product was undoubtedly their version of the US&S teardrop, witch were pretty much the only bells installed in the country for some time. However, when production of these bells ceased in the late 1970's, the Westinghouse hybrid bell soon became the new standard, being installed on most new installations. Launched in the early 80's, this bell looks and functions the same way as the Safetran hybrid bell (that was based on the Westinghouse design). However it sounds very different due to another gong being used. Some other mechanical bells were imported an installed around this time such as units from Safetran, Wabco and WCH.

Then electronic bells became a thing. The first E-Bells in Australia were made locally by Barker Technics. These looked very different to the units we know today. They were a small black box with a mounting bracket often installed in pairs to cover a larger area (as they were very directional units). Today, all new installations and upgrades use E-Bells from General Signals, Safetran/Siemens and WCH.

There has always been a mix of lights and gate mechanisms used at Aussie crossings. Early on, MK&H lights and WRRS gate mechs were common, but during the 80's, it was common to see all Westinghouse crossings pop up. Westinghouse lights continue to be the standard used at most crossings, however some imported American models do occasionally pop up. For a while, Safetran gate mechs were popular, but the models installed today are mostly from WCH.

Most crossings in my area are comprised of a GS or ST E-Bells with Westinghouse lights and a WCH gate mech.

I posted a video on Youtube a while ago, showing examples of crossing signals in my city (Melbourne, Australia). Highlights include the last teardrop bell still in use in Melbourne, examples of Westinghouse equipment in action, some older Barker Technics E-Bells and examples of US equipment in use Down Under! Enjoy:
Last edited by chris96 on Tue Oct 27, 2015 3:47 am, edited 3 times in total.
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ToledoRailfan
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Re: Australian Railroad Crossing Signals

Post by ToledoRailfan » Sun Oct 25, 2015 3:15 pm

Here is the United States and Canada, when we had the 48 degrees crossbucks, the ones in Canada looked similar to the ones in Australia because Canada uses the term railway instead of railroad. I remember I once saw an image on a Facebook group where there was a signal in a museum in Ontario where it had a signal with a 48 degree crossbuck and I thought the signal was from Australia and brought to Canada. I assume that the signal did not originally have a 48 degree crossbuck because signals would usually have a 90 degree crossbuck. Although there were some rare exceptions.
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Re: Australian Railroad Crossing Signals

Post by ToledoRailfan » Sun Oct 25, 2015 3:17 pm

Here is a thread that I made on the group earlier this year on the forum: viewtopic.php?f=13&t=2848&hilit=Puffing+Billy+Railway
Last edited by ToledoRailfan on Mon Mar 27, 2017 12:21 am, edited 1 time in total.
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NSrailfan4life
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Re: Australian Railroad Crossing Signals

Post by NSrailfan4life » Sun Oct 25, 2015 4:52 pm

They are practically the same! :cool:

They use the same brands as us. Also New Zealand is on the same page!
C.E.O. of Nelsons Trainsim Store Nelson Acosta: Our Webpage: http://trafficlight658.wix.com/nelsonstrainsimstore
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McK&H.Aust
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Re: Australian Railroad Crossing Signals

Post by McK&H.Aust » Wed Mar 02, 2016 9:24 pm

Found a Safetran mechanical bell in Taree NSW. Although Safetran gate mechanisms and type 3 E-bells are very common in Australia, for some reason their mechanical bells were rarely used. https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-31.907 ... 312!8i6656

You can just hear the Safetran at the start of this video, it stops ringing when the gates have lowered. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piSqMyEOkko

There is an interesting mixture of equipment on this crossing, with Harmon gate mechanisms, a WCH mechanical bell and possibly Harmon lights?
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-31.907 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-31.907 ... 312!8i6656
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freebrickproductions
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Re: Australian Railroad Crossing Signals

Post by freebrickproductions » Thu Mar 03, 2016 1:03 am

McK&H.Aust wrote:Found a Safetran mechanical bell in Taree NSW. Although Safetran gate mechanisms and type 3 E-bells are very common in Australia, for some reason their mechanical bells were rarely used. https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-31.907 ... 312!8i6656

You can just hear the Safetran at the start of this video, it stops ringing when the gates have lowered. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piSqMyEOkko

There is an interesting mixture of equipment on this crossing, with Harmon gate mechanisms, a WCH mechanical bell and possibly Harmon lights?
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-31.907 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-31.907 ... 312!8i6656
It is possible they are Harmon 8 inch lights, as they do look similar to the Harmon 8 inchers here in the US. They look a lot like WRRS 8 inch lights.
Here're some that are at a crossing near me here in Huntsville, AL (soon to be replaced):
ImageHarmon 8 inch Lights by freebrickproductions, on Flickr
ImageHarmon 8 inch Light by freebrickproductions, on Flickr
ImageHarmon 8 inch Light by freebrickproductions, on Flickr

Harmon 12 inch lights have also come in a few varieties of styles, one of which appears to just be an enlarged version of the 8 inch lights! Here's a signal with some examples over in Athens, AL:
ImageSafetran & Harmon 12x24" Lights by freebrickproductions, on Flickr
ImageHarmon 12x24" light by freebrickproductions, on Flickr
ImageHarmon 12x24" Light by freebrickproductions, on Flickr
They/Them for me, please.

Click here if you want to submit crossing photos to the site!

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McK&H.Aust
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Re: Australian Railroad Crossing Signals

Post by McK&H.Aust » Thu Mar 03, 2016 2:22 am

freebrickproductions wrote:
McK&H.Aust wrote:Found a Safetran mechanical bell in Taree NSW. Although Safetran gate mechanisms and type 3 E-bells are very common in Australia, for some reason their mechanical bells were rarely used. https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-31.907 ... 312!8i6656

You can just hear the Safetran at the start of this video, it stops ringing when the gates have lowered. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piSqMyEOkko

There is an interesting mixture of equipment on this crossing, with Harmon gate mechanisms, a WCH mechanical bell and possibly Harmon lights?
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-31.907 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-31.907 ... 312!8i6656
It is possible they are Harmon 8 inch lights, as they do look similar to the Harmon 8 inchers here in the US. They look a lot like WRRS 8 inch lights.
Here're some that are at a crossing near me here in Huntsville, AL (soon to be replaced):
ImageHarmon 8 inch Lights by freebrickproductions, on Flickr
ImageHarmon 8 inch Light by freebrickproductions, on Flickr
ImageHarmon 8 inch Light by freebrickproductions, on Flickr

Harmon 12 inch lights have also come in a few varieties of styles, one of which appears to just be an enlarged version of the 8 inch lights! Here's a signal with some examples over in Athens, AL:
ImageSafetran & Harmon 12x24" Lights by freebrickproductions, on Flickr
ImageHarmon 12x24" light by freebrickproductions, on Flickr
ImageHarmon 12x24" Light by freebrickproductions, on Flickr

Thanks for posting those pictures. There is not quite enough detail in the streetview images to know for sure, but it certainly looks like the Harmon logo on the junction box cover. The crossing was installed in the mid 1980's so they are more likely to be Harmon, but you never know. Back then they used to re-use a lot of old equipment. I am kicking myself because I used to travel past here quite often and I never noticed the lights (or the Safetran Bell). :Blush2:

It's a shame they are replacing those Harmon lights near you, they look to be in good condition. Is there any particular reason they are replacing them, or is it the same as Australia where they replace fairly new installations (15 or 20 years old and working fine) to justify their budget?

Maybe you can get to that crossing when they are doing the work and score yourself a light or two :Grin:
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McK&H.Aust
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Re: Australian Railroad Crossing Signals

Post by McK&H.Aust » Thu Mar 03, 2016 12:00 pm

Found a Wabco bell at Wangaratta, VIC
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-36.373 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-36.373 ... 312!8i6656
The image is from 2010, wonder if it's still there.
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freebrickproductions
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Re: Australian Railroad Crossing Signals

Post by freebrickproductions » Thu Mar 03, 2016 12:03 pm

McK&H.Aust wrote:
freebrickproductions wrote:
McK&H.Aust wrote:Found a Safetran mechanical bell in Taree NSW. Although Safetran gate mechanisms and type 3 E-bells are very common in Australia, for some reason their mechanical bells were rarely used. https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-31.907 ... 312!8i6656

You can just hear the Safetran at the start of this video, it stops ringing when the gates have lowered. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piSqMyEOkko

There is an interesting mixture of equipment on this crossing, with Harmon gate mechanisms, a WCH mechanical bell and possibly Harmon lights?
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-31.907 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-31.907 ... 312!8i6656
It is possible they are Harmon 8 inch lights, as they do look similar to the Harmon 8 inchers here in the US. They look a lot like WRRS 8 inch lights.
Here're some that are at a crossing near me here in Huntsville, AL (soon to be replaced):
ImageHarmon 8 inch Lights by freebrickproductions, on Flickr
ImageHarmon 8 inch Light by freebrickproductions, on Flickr
ImageHarmon 8 inch Light by freebrickproductions, on Flickr

Harmon 12 inch lights have also come in a few varieties of styles, one of which appears to just be an enlarged version of the 8 inch lights! Here's a signal with some examples over in Athens, AL:
ImageSafetran & Harmon 12x24" Lights by freebrickproductions, on Flickr
ImageHarmon 12x24" light by freebrickproductions, on Flickr
ImageHarmon 12x24" Light by freebrickproductions, on Flickr

Thanks for posting those pictures. There is not quite enough detail in the streetview images to know for sure, but it certainly looks like the Harmon logo on the junction box cover. The crossing was installed in the mid 1980's so they are more likely to be Harmon, but you never know. Back then they used to re-use a lot of old equipment. I am kicking myself because I used to travel past here quite often and I never noticed the lights (or the Safetran Bell). :Blush2:

It's a shame they are replacing those Harmon lights near you, they look to be in good condition. Is there any particular reason they are replacing them, or is it the same as Australia where they replace fairly new installations (15 or 20 years old and working fine) to justify their budget?

Maybe you can get to that crossing when they are doing the work and score yourself a light or two :Grin:
The railroad they are one (HMCAA, ex-SOU branch line) wants to upgrade the crossing with 12 inch LED lights. The crossing has a tendency to malfunction, so it may end up having the relay case replaced as well.

CSX has no intent to replace the signal with the 12 inch Harmon lights though, because Athens broke an agreement with the railroad a while back.
They/Them for me, please.

Click here if you want to submit crossing photos to the site!

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McK&H.Aust
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Re: Australian Railroad Crossing Signals

Post by McK&H.Aust » Fri Mar 04, 2016 1:22 am

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