Australian Railroad Crossing Signals

Talk about signals ranging from wigwags to EVA signals here.

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TrickyMario7654
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Re: Australian Railroad Crossing Signals

Post by TrickyMario7654 » Tue Jun 27, 2017 3:47 am

McK&H.Aust wrote:There was another crossing south of Gerogery where the Olympic Hwy crossed the railway line. I remember seeing a picture and it also had 8x24 lights. In 2001 five teenagers were killed when their car was hit by the XPT at the crossing. After the accident they installed gates at the crossing and then built a overpass a couple of years later https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerogery_ ... g_accident

This is where the crossing used to be https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.879 ... a=!3m1!1e3
I've heard about the crossing and accident...

In fact, I was reading about it earlier today. :Tongue1:

But anyways, I noticed that you can make out where the old highway alignment used to make a sharp turn into the crossing. Apparently, the crossing was also located in the middle of an intersection...

...and it was the NSW cousin of High Street, Reservoir. :LOL3:
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.716 ... 312!8i6656
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McK&H.Aust
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Re: Australian Railroad Crossing Signals

Post by McK&H.Aust » Tue Jun 27, 2017 3:58 am

TrickyMario7654 wrote:
McK&H.Aust wrote:There was another crossing south of Gerogery where the Olympic Hwy crossed the railway line. I remember seeing a picture and it also had 8x24 lights. In 2001 five teenagers were killed when their car was hit by the XPT at the crossing. After the accident they installed gates at the crossing and then built a overpass a couple of years later https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerogery_ ... g_accident

This is where the crossing used to be https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.879 ... a=!3m1!1e3
I've heard about the crossing and accident...

In fact, I was reading about it earlier today. :Tongue1:

But anyways, I noticed that you can make out where the old highway alignment used to make a sharp turn into the crossing. Apparently, the crossing was also located in the middle of an intersection...

...and it was the NSW cousin of High Street, Reservoir. :LOL3:
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.716 ... 312!8i6656
Wow that's a complicated crossing, I notice it has the yellow signs of death. Since the crossing is going to be removed I guess Metro will replace the hybrid bells any day now!
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McK&H.Aust
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Re: Australian Railroad Crossing Signals

Post by McK&H.Aust » Fri Jun 30, 2017 5:17 pm

Strange mounting of the lights at this gateless crossing, they seem to be offset.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.286 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.285 ... 328!8i1664

Passive crossing being upgraded.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.322 ... 312!8i6656

A gateless crossing with 2 bells on a single track.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.464 ... 312!8i6656

Another passive crossing being upgraded.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.481 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.481 ... 312!8i6656
The finished product https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.482 ... 312!8i6656

A nice looking older gateless crossing.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.487 ... 328!8i1664

A new install with the lights above the crossbuck.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.513 ... 328!8i1664
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TrickyMario7654
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Re: Australian Railroad Crossing Signals

Post by TrickyMario7654 » Fri Jun 30, 2017 5:36 pm

McK&H.Aust wrote:Strange mounting of the lights at this gateless crossing, they seem to be offset.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.286 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.285 ... 328!8i1664

A gateless crossing with 2 bells on a single track.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.464 ... 312!8i6656

A nice looking older gateless crossing.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.487 ... 328!8i1664

A new install with the lights above the crossbuck.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.513 ... 328!8i1664
I quite like those crossings. :TUP2:

I found this crossing in Bungendore which has inverted SORS signs on a separate post.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.257 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.257 ... 312!8i6656
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McK&H.Aust
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Location: Sydney, Australia

Re: Australian Railroad Crossing Signals

Post by McK&H.Aust » Fri Jun 30, 2017 5:55 pm

TrickyMario7654 wrote:
McK&H.Aust wrote:Strange mounting of the lights at this gateless crossing, they seem to be offset.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.286 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.285 ... 328!8i1664

A gateless crossing with 2 bells on a single track.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.464 ... 312!8i6656

A nice looking older gateless crossing.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.487 ... 328!8i1664

A new install with the lights above the crossbuck.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.513 ... 328!8i1664
I quite like those crossings. :TUP2:

I found this crossing in Bungendore which has inverted SORS signs on a separate post.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.257 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.257 ... 312!8i6656
Nice find, those inverted "Do not queue over railway crossing" signs are also becoming rarer. Streetview doesn't go back far enough, but that crossing used to have Harmon gate mechs.
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chris96
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Re: Australian Railroad Crossing Signals

Post by chris96 » Sat Jul 01, 2017 6:49 am

I just stumbled upon this video on Magnetic Autocontrol's official Youtube channel about their pedestrian rail crossing gates. It demonstrates how they can withstand vandalism:


They also make train and tram stabling gates as well as emergency exit gates with traffic light push buttons for pedestrian crossings:


Although not really crossing related, check out this "gate garden" at the magnetic Autocontrol factory! :TUP2: :



On an unrelated note, I've noticed how the Victorian railways used to re-use a lot of their old bells back in the day (something that never happens nowadays :TDOWN: ) For example, the teardrop bells at Liddiard Street in Traralgon were re-installed when the crossing was upgraded with gates in the mid 90's:
Image

Another example are these crossings at Bungaree, Victoria, where old teardrop bells were used on flashing light setups installed in the 80's. The crossings can be seen towards the end of these videos:



E-Bells replaced these teardrops years ago, but both crossings have recently been upgraded with boom gates anyway (which is pointless because the entire Bungaree loop is about to be closed meaning these signals will be ripped out after only a couple years of use. Talk about wasting money! :Angry: )

On yet another note, I discovered that the Munro Street crossing in Coburg had it's E-Bells replaced sometime between 2006 and 2016. This image from 2006 shows GS type 1 bells with custom housings:
Image

But by 2016, they have been replaced with GS type 2's:
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.744 ... 312!8i6656

Finally, I am happy to report that the Westinghouse Hybrid bells at Hoppers crossing are still intact!:
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.883 ... 312!8i6656

BTW, sorry for this long post.
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TrickyMario7654
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Re: Australian Railroad Crossing Signals

Post by TrickyMario7654 » Sat Jul 01, 2017 4:55 pm

chris96 wrote:I just stumbled upon this video on Magnetic Autocontrol's official Youtube channel about their pedestrian rail crossing gates. It demonstrates how they can withstand vandalism:
Pretty neat, but people still somehow manage to make their way onto the tracks when a train's coming, even when they're closed. *COUGH* Main Road, St Albans *COUGH* anyone? :Curse1:
chris96 wrote:On an unrelated note, I've noticed how the Victorian railways used to re-use a lot of their old bells back in the day (something that never happens nowadays :TDOWN: ) For example, the teardrop bells at Liddiard Street in Traralgon were re-installed when the crossing was upgraded with gates in the mid 90's:
Image
I've seen that picture before on Vicsig. :TUP2: But sadly, both the teardrops and EB gate mechs are gone now. :Awww:
chris96 wrote:E-Bells replaced these teardrops years ago, but both crossings have recently been upgraded with boom gates anyway (which is pointless because the entire Bungaree loop is about to be closed meaning these signals will be ripped out after only a couple years of use. Talk about wasting money! :Angry: )
And I thought this was stupid...
TrickyMario7654 wrote:The third change (and probably the stupidest one) is that all the lights have been upgraded to LED. This would of been a great upgrade, if they weren't removing the crossing altogether. :TDOWN: Also note how the lights on this signal have been mounted on a McK&H junction box?
Image
chris96 wrote:On yet another note, I discovered that the Munro Street crossing in Coburg had it's E-Bells replaced sometime between 2006 and 2016. This image from 2006 shows GS type 1 bells with custom housings:
Image

But by 2016, they have been replaced with GS type 2's:
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.744 ... 312!8i6656
Looks like they were already replaced in 2014.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.744 ... 312!8i6656
chris96 wrote:Finally, I am happy to report that the Westinghouse Hybrid bells at Hoppers crossing are still intact!:
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.883 ... 312!8i6656
It's always good to hear that mechanical bells are still in service at crossings. :TUP1:
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McK&H.Aust
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Re: Australian Railroad Crossing Signals

Post by McK&H.Aust » Mon Jul 03, 2017 9:29 am

Can't remember if this has been posted before, but this crossing at Dubbo has an American style 2 Tracks sign. It replaced the original signal which was probably damaged by a vehicle.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.244 ... 312!8i6656

The old signal https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.244 ... 312!8i6656

Found a distant view of the new gated signals on the level crossing at Clarendon. The new signals seem to have WCH e-bells, United Group lights and the new style crossbucks. Interestingly they have left the older gateless signal with the Harmon lights and inverted SORS sign. https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.607 ... 312!8i6656

Also remaining is this sign https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.608 ... 312!8i6656
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Re: Australian Railroad Crossing Signals

Post by Username1 » Wed Jul 05, 2017 1:38 am

So just a little update about the the Station Street crossing in Seaford. The dead E-bell has not been replaced but these lights (problem not shown in this picture) are now bent facing towards each other. they have been this way for a couple months now... https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.103 ... 312!8i6656 I guess a truck must have hit it after turning out of the Seaford RSL parking lot.

Also this gate mechanism (the one with the dead e bell) is now misbehaving even more than what i previously mentioned (it sometimes slips back down and makes loud crunching noises when reaching the vertical position) but now it doesn't lower all the way. https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.103 ... 312!8i6656 it's kind of like this crossing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiKbDg_VEKg


On another note the other e bell is now extremely quiet, the pedestrian alarms are now much louder than the e bell.
I swear everything that does need replacing on Metro's crossings don't get replaced cough cough m bells ate Eel race road cough cough, but things that don't need replacing do get replaced!! Imagine an alternate universe where e bells were never invented :LOL2:

EDIT: I forgot to add that these gate mechanisms were installed around 2008 as that's when Connex upgraded this crossing. This is when the crossing revived e bells as well.
Metro, why are you so bad at maintaining your railway crossings??
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TrickyMario7654
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Re: Australian Railroad Crossing Signals

Post by TrickyMario7654 » Thu Jul 06, 2017 3:56 am

Username1 wrote:On another note the other e bell is now extremely quiet, the pedestrian alarms are now much louder than the e bell.
I swear everything that does need replacing on Metro's crossings don't get replaced cough cough m bells ate Eel race road cough cough, but things that don't need replacing do get replaced!! Imagine an alternate universe where e bells were never invented :LOL2:

EDIT: I forgot to add that these gate mechanisms were installed around 2008 as that's when Connex upgraded this crossing. This is when the crossing revived e bells as well.
Seriously, Metro never spend the money on fixing the rail network, which is falling apart in several ways. But they'll replace perfectly working m-bells. :TDOWN:

Slight correction on the Station Street crossing, as it had the Safetran mechs in 2007. So only the hybrid bells were replaced in 2008.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.103 ... 328!8i1664

Moving onto other things, I've discovered these photos from Wongm's Rail Gallery site showing that the crossing at Murrumbeena has been messed with as part of the Skyrail works...

Firstly, the crossing has had an LED upgrade and the crossbucks and SORS signs updated on the cantilever signals. Really, just really?! Why do they keep upgrading crossings being removed. :Curse1:
Image

The other change is that the gate masts have been ripped out and replaced with galvanized masts containing WRRS gate mechs and hinged boom gates (like the Tramsquare crossings in Melbourne) to allow the rail viaduct to be built.
Image
Image

I'm willing to bet that the WRRS mechs came of Blackburn Road, as this crossing had them...
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.820 ... 312!8i6656
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