Google Maps Scavenger Hunt

[freebrickproductions]

Active crossing in the UK:
https://www.google.com/maps/@54.0034263 ... 312!8i6656
The crossing also had what's called "Traffic light-style wig-wags" in the median, which are apparently rather rare:
https://www.google.com/maps/@54.0041236 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com/maps/@54.0046302 ... 312!8i6656
Unfortunately, the wig-wags were replaced when the crossing got upgraded to LED:


Network Rail van:
https://www.google.com/maps/@54.0161562 ... 312!8i6656

Another active crossing:
https://www.google.com/maps/@54.0350088 ... 312!8i6656

A manual crossing:
https://www.google.com/maps/@54.0480772 ... 312!8i6656

Some rather old gates here:
https://www.google.com/maps/@54.0701598 ... 312!8i6656

Another active crossing:
https://www.google.com/maps/@53.9951619 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com/maps/@53.9950553 ... 312!8i6656

Yet another active crossing:
https://www.google.com/maps/@53.2269182 ... 312!8i6656

And another active crossing:
https://www.google.com/maps/@53.0113683 ... 312!8i6656
Interestingly enough, this line had gotten several Invensys Rail (and later Siemens) S-60 gate mechanisms installed at it as a trail run back in 2014, with that crossing being one such crossing to receive them. However, Network Rail wasn't pleased with how well they were preforming, and they are slated to be removed within this year.

Here's another one that got some of the S-60s at it:
https://www.google.com/maps/@52.7955081 ... 312!8i6656

Wishbone gates!
https://www.google.com/maps/@52.7732118 ... 312!8i6656

[ToledoRailfan]

The crossing also had what's called "Traffic light-style wig-wags" in the median, which are apparently rather rare:
https://www.google.com/maps/@54.0041236 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com/maps/@54.0046302 ... 312!8i6656

The Isle of Mann Railway uses those signals on all of their crossings for some reason.

A manual crossing:
https://www.google.com/maps/@54.0480772 ... 312!8i6656

I've never seen a user operated crossing with that kind of setup before.

Some rather old gates here:
https://www.google.com/maps/@54.0701598 ... 312!8i6656

I've never seen that type of gate used in the UK before.

Here's another one that got some of the S-60s at it:
https://www.google.com/maps/@52.7955081 ... 312!8i6656

Wow, kind of strange seeing those gate mechanisms and masts being used in the UK! I've never seen that before! I wonder if this is a new thing or they just did it to that crossing.

[TrickyMario7654]

More quirks I've found...

I think I found some track workers: https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.146 ... 6656?hl=en

I think I've found another crossing with a Safetran Mechanical bell and it's painted black for some reason! (They've since replaced it with an E-Bell, it doesn't matter anyway since this crossing is gonna be grade separated within a few years time): https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.889 ... 6656?hl=en

Sign used to alert motorists of a crossing on a side road: https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.889 ... 6656?hl=en

More suburban train findings...

Another one near Gardiner: https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.853 ... 1664?hl=en

A first for me, as I finally found a freight train in street view. This one is running the Long Island steel train and is passing through Moorabbin station: https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.933 ... 6656?hl=en

Suburban train at the same location: https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.935 ... 6656?hl=en

Another at Cheltenham station (further down the line): https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.966 ... 6656?hl=en

[freebrickproductions]

The crossing also had what's called "Traffic light-style wig-wags" in the median, which are apparently rather rare:
https://www.google.com/maps/@54.0041236 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com/maps/@54.0046302 ... 312!8i6656

The Isle of Mann Railway uses those signals on all of their crossings for some reason.

Links?

Here's another one that got some of the S-60s at it:
https://www.google.com/maps/@52.7955081 ... 312!8i6656

Wow, kind of strange seeing those gate mechanisms and masts being used in the UK! I've never seen that before! I wonder if this is a new thing or they just did it to that crossing.

They did it to multiple crossings. They're all slated to be removed in October/November, IIRC.
Here's a few more with the S-60s:

[ToledoRailfan]

The crossing also had what's called "Traffic light-style wig-wags" in the median, which are apparently rather rare:
https://www.google.com/maps/@54.0041236 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com/maps/@54.0046302 ... 312!8i6656

The Isle of Mann Railway uses those signals on all of their crossings for some reason.

Links?

https://www.google.com/maps/@54.0955349 ... 6656?hl=en

https://www.google.com/maps/@54.0924819 ... 6656?hl=en

https://www.google.com/maps/@54.0914177 ... 6656?hl=en

https://www.google.com/maps/@54.0884722 ... 6656?hl=en

https://www.google.com/maps/@54.0834743 ... 6656?hl=en

https://www.google.com/maps/@54.0809304 ... 6656?hl=en

[TrickyMario7654]

I found a gem! An old style crossbuck crossing with a yield sign (albeit, really faded) below it! Even though they've got boom gates at this location, they haven't taken down the old signage, it was still there when I last went though the crossing on a train in June of this year (though the Westinghouse bells had been replaced with E-Bells at that point, the old signage remains):
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.005 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.005 ... 312!8i6656

Never seen this before, this crossing has both a Westinghouse Hybrid bell and a Safetran E-Bell: https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.524 ... 312!8i6656

Active crossing at Stokes Lane: https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.463 ... 312!8i6656

Looks like I found another Safetran Mechanical bell: https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.073 ... 312!8i6656

[chris96]

Never seen this before, this crossing has both a Westinghouse Hybrid bell and a Safetran E-Bell: https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.524 ... 312!8i6656

Back around 2004 when the Regional Fast Rail Project was completed, there were actually many crossings in Victoria with an E-Bell on one side and a mechanical bell on the other. Here's an example that lasted until 2009: https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.752 ... 56!6m1!1e1 Most of the mechanical bells were replaced around 2008/2009 and I had no idea a crossing like that still existed in recent years (although I'm willing to bet the Hybrid bell has been replaced since that image was taken). Nice find!

Looks like I found another Safetran Mechanical bell: https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.073 ... 312!8i6656

That's actually a Western Cullen Hayes mechanical bell. They have a slightly different design to the Safetrans, with a square logo plate, different mounting hardware and smaller rain shield. They were commonly installed in NSW and Western Australia, but for some reason they were rarely used in Victoria.

[TrickyMario7654]

Looks like I found another Safetran Mechanical bell: https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.073 ... 312!8i6656

That's actually a Western Cullen Hayes mechanical bell. They have a slightly different design to the Safetrans, with a square logo plate, different mounting hardware and smaller rain shield. They were commonly installed in NSW and Western Australia, but for some reason they were rarely used in Victoria.

Oh, the image wasn't clear enough, that's why I got it confused.

While I'm at it, I've found another Melbourne crossing which formerly had a teardrop bell and what looks to be a Safetran Mechanical bell (has since been replaced with E-Bells, the crossing itself is also gonna be grade separated in a few years time ):
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.885 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.885 ... 312!8i6656

Shown this before, but I'll do it again. A crossing which also had a teardrop bell in June 2013, but was replaced with a Westinghouse Hybrid (rather than an E-Bell for some reason,) by October 2015:
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.881 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.881 ... 312!8i6656

[freebrickproductions]

I found a gem! An old style crossbuck crossing with a yield sign (albeit, really faded) below it! Even though they've got boom gates at this location, they haven't taken down the old signage, it was still there when I last went though the crossing on a train in June of this year (though the Westinghouse bells had been replaced with E-Bells at that point, the old signage remains):
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.005 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.005 ... 312!8i6656

Here's something like that on the Alabama & Tennessee River Railway in Gadsden, AL:
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.016252, ... 312!8i6656

[freebrickproductions]

Found another active crossing in the UK with a traffic light wigwag!
https://www.google.com/maps/@52.5035924 ... 6656?hl=en
Closer view of the traffic light wigwag:
https://www.google.com/maps/@52.5036467 ... 6656?hl=en