Tracks out of service

[TrickyMario7654]

I wholeheartedly agree on preserving equipment after the tracks go dormant. As Brick showed in Courtland, Alabama... all of the equipment (including the relay box) can be moved from one crossing to another and put back into service. I would have to think this is a cheaper alternative than purchasing brand new equipment.

Sadly, they didn't get the message when they removed the crossings at Mitcham. (Photo courtesy of Vicsig)

Here's another level crossing removal video I disapprove of...

[ZachL]

Not sure if this was posted before, but West Sacramento, CA:
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.5665321 ... 312!8i6656

I don't understand why railroads sometimes go to the effort of turning the lights around and installing a "tracks out of service" sign when they could just remove the equipment all together and put it in safe storage. The same thing also happened at this crossing nearby:
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.5964936 ... 312!8i6656

I used to think this only happened on lines that had the possibility of being used again in the future (as a way to protect the equipment temporarily, but still keep it in place if needed). But I've see this happen at crossings where the tracks have been totally ripped up!

More often than not, it could have something to do with the potential of returning service in the future. However, over time, plans fall and they don't happen. Also, I'm pretty sure that it's different departments within a railroad that handle equipment removal than track removal as well.

[chris96]

There's heaps of disused crossings in the industrial areas of LA, particularly around Commerce. Most of these tracks just served local factories:
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@33.9229 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@33.9608 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@33.9246 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@33.9907 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@33.9950 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@33.9970 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@33.9968 ... 312!8i6656

Most unusual:
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@34.0021 ... 312!8i6656

This place even has crossings over crossings! :
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@34.0040 ... 312!8i6656

There are way too many crossings for me to post here. I suggest you check out this area on Google maps. It's absolutely teeming with interesting crossings!

[TrickyMario7654]

This place even has crossings over crossings! :
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@34.0040 ... 312!8i6656

OMG! So many crossings!
While were at it. Here's this crossing that runs through this carpark at the Melbourne wharf.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.820 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.819 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.820 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.820 ... 312!8i6656
Sadly, all the tracks have now been ripped out.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.820 ... 312!8i6656

[cabman701]

This I believe is the old Chicago & North Western line in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. They liked Griswold signals it appears!

These are no longer there unfortunately: https://www.google.com/maps/@43.7454275 ... 328!8i1664.
The relay box was though 3 years ago: https://www.google.com/maps/@43.7454281 ... 312!8i6656

This one is on the site: http://www.rxrsignals.com/Wisconsin/R-Z ... gan/Union/
It's sidelights are gone: https://www.google.com/maps/@43.7320904 ... 312!8i6656
And it's brother across the tracks? Well... https://www.google.com/maps/@43.7320893 ... 312!8i6656

More that fell between 2007 and 2013: https://www.google.com/maps/@43.7298495 ... 328!8i1664
https://www.google.com/maps/@43.7298506 ... 328!8i1664
Again, the relay box was still there 3 years ago: https://www.google.com/maps/@43.7296859 ... 312!8i6656

[TrickyMario7654]

Leftover track at Toora, VIC from when the South Gippsland rail line ran all the way up to Yarram. The line beyond Leongatha was closed in June 1992 after the Barry Beach Goods train (the last thing that still used the line beyond Leongatha) ceased using the line.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.665 ... 328!8i1664

Found this crossing on an out of service line in Mount Gambier, SA that has "RAILWAY CROSSING NOT IN USE" signs. One signal is missing the lights too!
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.831 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.831 ... 312!8i6656
The signs weren't there in 2008, though the lights were still missing on one of the signals.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.831 ... 328!8i1664
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.831 ... 328!8i1664

Same story with a nearby crossing, those lights have taken quite a beating on this signal! The signal on the other side has been torn out and replaced with this sign containing a crossbuck and a "RAILWAY CROSSING NOT IN USE" sign.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.832 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.832 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.832 ... 312!8i6656

This one has this weird support beam running from the top to the base of the signal.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.819 ... 312!8i6656

Vintage looking passive crossing.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.857 ... 328!8i1664
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.857 ... 328!8i1664

Another vintage crossing. Sadly, the signs had been removed by 2010.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.857 ... 328!8i1664
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.857 ... 312!8i6656

The line crosses the SA/VIC border and thus, all findings below this line are from VIC.

The signs look much more newer at this passive crossing.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.867 ... 328!8i1664

Another passive crossing with newer signs. One of them is missing the crossbuck for some reason.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.920 ... 328!8i1664
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.920 ... 328!8i1664

Very old looking Flashing Lights setup with vintage lights and a McK&H teardrop bell.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.125 ... 328!8i1664
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.125 ... 328!8i1664

Another crossing with old signals. One side is missing the crossbuck as well!
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.127 ... 328!8i1664
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.127 ... 328!8i1664

The line then rejoins the main line to Portland shortly after the last crossing listed above.

There are way too many crossings for me to post here. I suggest you check out this area on Google maps. It's absolutely teeming with interesting crossings!

Crossings such as this one...
https://www.google.com/maps/@33.9990859 ... 6656?hl=en

[chris96]

There are way too many crossings for me to post here. I suggest you check out this area on Google maps. It's absolutely teeming with interesting crossings!

Crossings such as this one...
https://www.google.com/maps/@33.9990859 ... 6656?hl=en

Very much like that. Amazing find!!

[busman_49]

Dryden Rd, Moraine, OH:
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.6903579 ... 312!8i6656
(the SORS signs are unusual for Ohio!)

It looks like it's been cut off from the mainline, or badly overgrown:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Dryde ... 84.2231158

[chris96]

Dryden Rd, Moraine, OH:
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.6903579 ... 312!8i6656
(the SORS signs are unusual for Ohio!)

It looks like it's been cut off from the mainline, or badly overgrown:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Dryde ... 84.2231158

I'm a little puzzled by what these square boxes are on the back of the bells:
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.6903563 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.6902716 ... 312!8i6656
From the front they just look like standard WCH M-Bells.

[ZachL]

Dryden Rd, Moraine, OH:
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.6903579 ... 312!8i6656
(the SORS signs are unusual for Ohio!)

It looks like it's been cut off from the mainline, or badly overgrown:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Dryde ... 84.2231158

I'm a little puzzled by what these square boxes are on the back of the bells:
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.6903563 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.6902716 ... 312!8i6656
From the front they just look like standard WCH M-Bells.

Those are motor bells! Instead of being powered by magnets (like a standard mechanical bell), they're run by a motor.