Please post complex crossings and signal arrangements.

[Robert_Gift]

In the late 1990s I drove a friend to Ventura/Oxnard.
I recall a grade crossing where 5 streets intersected.

Coming from the west the track was in the middle of the street.
It passed through the intersection and I believe curved a little and was then on the south side of the street.

I recall the crossing signals and gates were very interesting and complex.
I told my elderly friend he'd probably get confused and stop on the WRONG side of the gates!

http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?v ... &encType=1

Update:
Looking at the aerial photograph, most of the gates and crossing signals I recall appear to have been removed.
It appears this is now controlled mostly by traffic signals.
Wish we had stopped and I had taken photographs.

Anyone have old photos?
Thank you.

[illinoistrains]

There are a bunch of those in the phoenix area. All the streets in phoenix are set up like a grid, and then there is Grand Ave. which crosses diagonally creating many 6 way intersections, then throw a railroad track in and you got a mess. http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?v ... &encType=1

[SirKrunch]

Well...
In another topic, Lewistown, Pennsylvania was brought up.
Typing that into Google Maps led to these interesting jungle-gym signals...

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source= ... 5,,0,-2.11

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source= ... 9,,0,-0.51

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source= ... 02411&z=19

Not a complicated crossing as much... but some very complicated signal masts and light setups if you ask me.

[fgossage]

Say good evening to the intersection of W Britton Rd and N Western Ave in Oklahoma City, OK.

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/2771/image033vn.jpg
(I made this a link because of the size of the image.)

This is an intersection that has a railroad track (in good shape...likely very active) that runs diagonally through the middle of the intersection, straight from the southwestern quarter to the northeastern quarter. This means that all possible movements at the intersection have to wait when a train is coming.... so.... all four approaches have cantilevers and gates. I wonder how hard track-clearance green style pre-emption would be in a case like this. All four sides would have to be able to exit the track, but unlike in the case of a normal intersection, there are only queue lines to get onto the crossing, not lines waiting to get off, after they've made their movement within the intersection. Could it be as simple as the traffic lights ending any existing green cycle and going red on all four sides?

As far as a just a complicated or aggravating crossing setup, the next crossing is found near Bloomington, MN. It's featured on the main site here, and I think it's near the Mall of American, if I recall correctly.



Holy ... On the edge of the image, you notice a mast signal in the median. There are also channelized right turn lanes for the approach at the bottom right of this image and the left of this image, that are off screen... that also have mast signals with gates. While it may be over-signalized... there is only one set of lights for each approach lane on the cantilever (which is mainly for high speeds so that the indications can be seen for a distance). Still, even going this route, I think the second and fourth sets of lights on the cantilever can be removed... and there would still be more than adequate advance warning for five approach lanes of high-speed city traffic. It is pretty though. lol

[Smjh1979]

The Bloomington crossing can be viewed here: http://www.rxrsignals.net/Minnesota/Bloomington/24/

[fgossage]

I can kind of understand all the lights on the cantilever for the approach lanes from the south... since it's higher speed traffic that will approach the crossing and then the traffic signal, but I can't understand having three sets of lights on the cantilever plus two mast signals, plus back facing lights on the mast and cantilever from the south side of the crossing to warn the side that is going to have to cross the intersection first. They're not going to have a green light to approach the crossing if it's activated anyway...

[Robert_Gift]

I can kind of understand all the lights on the cantilever for the approach lanes from the south... since it's higher speed traffic that will approach the crossing and then the traffic signal, but I can't understand having three sets of lights on the cantilever plus two mast signals, plus back facing lights on the mast and cantilever from the south side of the crossing to warn the side that is going to have to cross the intersection first. They're not going to have a green light to approach the crossing if it's activated anyway...

One pair of lights for/over each lane plus the ones at the right side.
Wonder how much all of that cost?

Thank you all for your interesting posts.

In Lewistown, PA, it must have been Depot Street which had the bug-eyed crossing signal facing south.
There used to be two, maybe three, tracks there -like a little yard.
The bug-eyed signal has likely been replaced. There is no entrance onto Depot Street from the east right in front of the signal.

In Ventura, I remember that crossing gate facing behind that crossing signal. IT APPARENTLY IS THE ONLY CROSSING SIGNAL AT THAT GRADE CROSSING!