Australian Railroad Crossing Signals

[Username1]

Are there any WCH E-bells in Victoria? There's a few of their mechanical bells around but no E-bells. I've noticed that they use them quite a bit in NSW, a few crossings have them in S.A and almost every crossing has them in Tasmania. Strange. I'm starting to get sick of Safetran type 3s and General Signals types 2s.

I don't think so, which is a shame because they are by far the most interesting E-Bells around (as they have their own distinct sound and feature speed/tone adjustment controls).

That's a real bummer because I love the sound of WCH e bells. All of the others kinda sound too similar. I hope Metro starts using them in the near future. I don't know why the don't use them because unlike General Signals, WCH E-bells are made with a lot more quality (made of metal), while General signals is made of PVC pipe. And Safetran E-bells,,, well apart from the type one they all sound like trash (although their mechanical bells are by far my favourite). Is Semens still around?? Maybe if they've died aswell V-line might start picking up WCH bells. Just like how they now only use WCH gate motors now.

[TrickyMario7654]

Are there any WCH E-bells in Victoria? There's a few of their mechanical bells around but no E-bells. I've noticed that they use them quite a bit in NSW, a few crossings have them in S.A and almost every crossing has them in Tasmania. Strange. I'm starting to get sick of Safetran type 3s and General Signals types 2s.

I don't think so, which is a shame because they are by far the most interesting E-Bells around (as they have their own distinct sound and feature speed/tone adjustment controls).

That's a real bummer because I love the sound of WCH e bells. All of the others kinda sound too similar. I hope Metro starts using them in the near future. I don't know why the don't use them because unlike General Signals, WCH E-bells are made with a lot more quality (made of metal), while General signals is made of PVC pipe. And Safetran E-bells,,, well apart from the type one they all sound like trash (although their mechanical bells are by far my favourite). Is Semens still around?? Maybe if they've died aswell V-line might start picking up WCH bells. Just like how they now only use WCH gate motors now.

The most annoying part about E-Bells is the fact that they're making mechanical bells harder to find. I've actually made a list of what crossings still have them in Melbourne.

[McK&H.Aust]

Also, it's just occurred to me how incredibly similar McKenzie & Holland and WRRS gate mechs are. In fact, when comparing the two I can't spot a single difference between them! The crossing below (Cherry St, Werribee) has WRRS mechs:
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.898 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.898 ... 312!8i6656

While this crossing (Champion Rd, Williamstown North) has McK&H mechs (I have seen them in person). Tell me if you can spot any differences between the two!:
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.849 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.849 ... 312!8i6656

I can see a slight difference in the casting on the counterweight arms and possibly a difference in the cable entry at the bottom of the mechanism, but without detailed close-ups they do look pretty much the same. You would also need to see the insides as they could be completely different. It's possible that McK&H had some kind of deal with WRRS to make them locally, or maybe McK&H purchased the rights to make them once WRRS switched to using GRS mechs.

[McK&H.Aust]

That's a real bummer because I love the sound of WCH e bells. All of the others kinda sound too similar. I hope Metro starts using them in the near future. I don't know why the don't use them because unlike General Signals, WCH E-bells are made with a lot more quality (made of metal), while General signals is made of PVC pipe. And Safetran E-bells,,, well apart from the type one they all sound like trash (although their mechanical bells are by far my favourite). Is Semens still around?? Maybe if they've died aswell V-line might start picking up WCH bells. Just like how they now only use WCH gate motors now.

Looking at the price of e-bells probably explains a lot.
The General Signals e-bells are more popular because they are the cheapest at around $200 US.

Siemens now owns Safetran and they have re-branded the Safetran type 3 as the Wayguard Level Crossing bell. Their price is around $400 US. They don't show any other types of bells on their website.

I don't know the price of the WCH e-bells, but I know their mechanical bells are about $500 US so their e-bells are probably not far behind.

[freebrickproductions]

That's a real bummer because I love the sound of WCH e bells. All of the others kinda sound too similar. I hope Metro starts using them in the near future. I don't know why the don't use them because unlike General Signals, WCH E-bells are made with a lot more quality (made of metal), while General signals is made of PVC pipe. And Safetran E-bells,,, well apart from the type one they all sound like trash (although their mechanical bells are by far my favourite). Is Semens still around?? Maybe if they've died aswell V-line might start picking up WCH bells. Just like how they now only use WCH gate motors now.

Looking at the price of e-bells probably explains a lot.
The General Signals e-bells are more popular because they are the cheapest at around $200 US.

Siemens now owns Safetran and they have re-branded the Safetran type 3 as the Wayguard Level Crossing bell. Their price is around $400 US. They don't show any other types of bells on their website.

I don't know the price of the WCH e-bells, but I know their mechanical bells are about $500 US so their e-bells are probably not far behind.

Last I checked, the WCH mechanical bells were about $275 [USD] (or $245 [USD]) and the WCH electronic bells were about $245 [USD] (or $275 [USD]). But that was a few years ago though.

Also, it's just occurred to me how incredibly similar McKenzie & Holland and WRRS gate mechs are. In fact, when comparing the two I can't spot a single difference between them! The crossing below (Cherry St, Werribee) has WRRS mechs:
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.898 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.898 ... 312!8i6656

While this crossing (Champion Rd, Williamstown North) has McK&H mechs (I have seen them in person). Tell me if you can spot any differences between the two!:
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.849 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.849 ... 312!8i6656

I can see a slight difference in the casting on the counterweight arms and possibly a difference in the cable entry at the bottom of the mechanism, but without detailed close-ups they do look pretty much the same. You would also need to see the insides as they could be completely different. It's possible that McK&H had some kind of deal with WRRS to make them locally, or maybe McK&H purchased the rights to make them once WRRS switched to using GRS mechs.

It appears that WRRS and GRS were in some kind of corporate partnership, as all of the "pure" GRS installs I've seen here have used WRRS mechanical bells and some gate mechanisms feature both the GRS and WRRS logos, along with the ones that only feature one company's logo looking exactly the same as the other company's gate mechanism. It's possible that McK&H (and later Westinghouse for a brief time) was apart of the supposed partnership as well.

[TrickyMario7654]

It appears that WRRS and GRS were in some kind of corporate partnership, as all of the "pure" GRS installs I've seen here have used WRRS mechanical bells and some gate mechanisms feature both the GRS and WRRS logos, along with the ones that only feature one company's logo looking exactly the same as the other company's gate mechanism. It's possible that McK&H (and later Westinghouse for a brief time) was apart of the supposed partnership as well.

For what it seems, the VR (Victorian Railways) liked using "pure" McK&H setups. A good example of one is the Carnegie crossing.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.886 ... 312!8i6656

Most of the original equipment at the crossing still survives today. (Impressive for a crossing that's nearly 50 years old.) Both gates mechs are McK&H, all of the lights (except for the set on the additional warning signal, which is from Westinghouse). The newest thing on the crossing (aside from the pedestrian crossing or the red and white wishbone gates, which probably replaced the original Black and White gates) are the GS E-Bells (which replaced a McK&H Teardrop and presumably a RACO mechanical bell. The latter probably also replaced a Teardrop bell years ago.)

Also, when Chris said that the Ivanhoe crossing was "really old". He wasn't kidding! According to Vicsig, the crossing signals were installed in 1960! They're probably among the oldest still in use in Melbourne!

[McK&H.Aust]

Last I checked, the WCH mechanical bells were about $275 [USD] (or $245 [USD]) and the WCH electronic bells were about $245 [USD] (or $275 [USD]). But that was a few years ago though.

I received a quote for a WCH m-bell last year from RSI and it was $490 (not including shipping), even without their mark-up it would still be at least $400. Prices seem to go up every year and it's probably closer to $500 now, although I'm sure the railroads would buy in bulk and get a better price. I tried to get a price directly from WCH but they never answered my email. I also remember reading somewhere else that they are very expensive and you don't get much change from $500.

RSI no longer sell WCH equipment.

[chris96]

Also, when Chris said that the Ivanhoe crossing was "really old". He wasn't kidding! According to Vicsig, the crossing signals were installed in 1960! They're probably among the oldest still in use in Melbourne!

Yeah, and pretty much all of it is still original! The only new additions are the Hybrid bell, red and white booms and pedestrian gates (but the bell and booms are from the late 90's and the pedestrian gates are from the early 2000's, so even they are far from "brand new").

Even the relay cases appear to be all-original! :
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.768 ... 312!8i6656

[chris96]

Sorry for the double post, but I just found this video from 2003 that shows the WABCO bell at Edis St, Kyabram operating!:


Looking at the 2010 street view image, the crossing post on the left side and searchlight signal have been ripped out:
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-36.308 ... 56!6m1!1e1

Apparently, this line is now back in service. But considering the fact that the re-installation of lights to the left of the crossing would have been necessary, I (unfortunately) think it's safe to assume that the whole crossing got a "touch-up" and the WABCO bell is now history.

[TrickyMario7654]

Apparently, this line is now back in service. But considering the fact that the re-installation of lights to the left of the crossing would have been necessary, I (unfortunately) think it's safe to assume that the whole crossing got a "touch-up" and the WABCO bell is now history.

I never noticed that! But yeah, there's probably a good chance they trashed the crossing.
Hopefully they didn't remove the Teardrop bells on the rest of the line.