Australian Railroad Crossing Signals

YouTube · Fri Feb 03, 2017 8:41 pm

TrickyMario7654 wrote:Found this ridiculous four-way crossing in South Australia.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.967 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.967 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.966 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.967 ... 312!8i6656

Furthermore, you've got a road overpass running over it!
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.967 ... 312!8i6656

This crossing also has GRS gate mechanisms (with the newer logo on it).
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.967 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.967 ... 312!8i6656

An active shot from 2007.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.967 ... 328!8i1664

Nice find! How many crossings are known to exist with the GRS gate mechs that have the newer logo now? 2?

TrickyMario7654 · Post by **TrickyMario7654** » Sat Feb 04, 2017 12:42 am

(I guess SA don't like M-bells either!)
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.012 ... 312!8i6656

This is a waste of money, replacing Flashing light signals, with flashing light signals!
2013: https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.034 ... 312!8i6656
2015: https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.034 ... 312!8i6656

YouTube · Sat Feb 04, 2017 1:17 am

TrickyMario7654 wrote:Some more SA finds.

Found a crossing with American SORS signs. Wonder why they didn't use the standard Australian ones?
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.750 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.750 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.750 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.750 ... 312!8i6656

Found another crossing which has GRS gate mechs with the newer logo on it.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.973 ... 312!8i6656

This crossing also has G.R.S Lex-C lights.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.973 ... 312!8i6656

Unipart Rail gate lights.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.993 ... 312!8i6656

The sane crossing also has WRRS lights.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.993 ... 312!8i6656

"TRAMWAYS CROSSING" crossbuck. (Usually, it's just "TRAMWAY CROSSING")
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.968 ... 312!8i6656

I don't think GS E-Bells were commonly used in SA, but I found some.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.953 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.954 ... 312!8i6656

For some reason, they moved the bell to a different signal when they replaced it!
2008: https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.017 ... 328!8i1664
2010: https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.017 ... 312!8i6656

Hybrid bells don't seem to be common in SA, but I found this one in Aldgate.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.012 ... 312!8i6656

Sadly, it's been replaced. (I guess SA don't like M-bells either!)
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.012 ... 312!8i6656

This is a waste of money, replacing Flashing light signals, with flashing light signals!
2013: https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.034 ... 312!8i6656
2015: https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.034 ... 312!8i6656

Nice finds!

McK&H.Aust · Post by **McK&H.Aust** » Sat Feb 04, 2017 6:55 am

McK&H.Aust wrote:
freebrickproductions wrote:
McK&H.Aust wrote:Had a successful day of filming. Got a train going past the Modern Industries bell at the Rock. Then went to Yarrawonga and filmed a train going past the Westinghouse teardrop bell which sounds nice & healthy. Finished off by filming a V-line passenger train going past the Safetran m-bell at Wodonga.
I hope you can get those Harmon gate mechs as well! Glad to hear that you had a successful day though, I'm looking forwards to the videos!
Going to try to catch a train going past those Harmon mechs today. There used to be lots of them here, they were used on most new installations during the 1980's but are now disappearing quickly.

Managed to catch the Harmon gate mechs at Henty in action (3 trains). On my way home afterwards I found a second crossing with Harmon gate mechs, I was even fortunate enough to catch a train going past (but only just). The crossing is not on GSV, but is north of Wagga Wagga at a location known as Shepherds Siding https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.008 ... 663647,16z

Unfortunately it's not all good news though, some recent casualties of upgrading include the following.....

These golden oldies at Culcairn with WRRS/GRS type D gate mechs, wishbone gates and a teardrop bell have been replaced by completely new signals with WCH gate mechs, United Group lights and WCH e-bells.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.667 ... 312!8i6656

This "lights only" setup with a WCH m-bell has been replaced by new gated signals with Safetran gate mechs and Safetran type 3 e-bells.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.630 ... 312!8i6656

This crossing at The Rock with Harmon gate mechs and WCH m-bells has been replaced by new signals with WCH gate mechs and Safetran type 3 e-bells.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.271 ... 312!8i6656

This crossing at Uranquinty has also been replaced by new signals with Safetran gate mechs and e-bells.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.191 ... 312!8i6656

This teardrop bell at Bomen has been replaced by a WCH m-bell (at least it wasn't an e-bell).
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.072 ... 328!8i1664

I'm back home, and now begins the process of editing and uploading.

TrickyMario7654 · Post by **TrickyMario7654** » Sat Feb 04, 2017 3:08 pm

McK&H.Aust wrote:Unfortunately it's not all good news though, some recent casualties of upgrading include the following.....

These golden oldies at Culcairn with WRRS/GRS type D gate mechs, wishbone gates and a teardrop bell have been replaced by completely new signals with WCH gate mechs, United Group lights and WCH e-bells.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.667 ... 312!8i6656

This "lights only" setup with a WCH m-bell has been replaced by new gated signals with Safetran gate mechs and Safetran type 3 e-bells.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.630 ... 312!8i6656

This crossing at The Rock with Harmon gate mechs and WCH m-bells has been replaced by new signals with WCH gate mechs and Safetran type 3 e-bells.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.271 ... 312!8i6656

This crossing at Uranquinty has also been replaced by new signals with Safetran gate mechs and e-bells.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.191 ... 312!8i6656

This teardrop bell at Bomen has been replaced by a WCH m-bell (at least it wasn't an e-bell).
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.072 ... 328!8i1664

I'm back home, and now begins the process of editing and uploading.

How sad.

I guess they're starting to get V/Line fever, a fever were they have to make every level crossing they own have the same equipment.

McK&H.Aust · Post by **McK&H.Aust** » Sun Feb 05, 2017 1:13 am

TrickyMario7654 wrote:
McK&H.Aust wrote:Unfortunately it's not all good news though, some recent casualties of upgrading include the following.....

These golden oldies at Culcairn with WRRS/GRS type D gate mechs, wishbone gates and a teardrop bell have been replaced by completely new signals with WCH gate mechs, United Group lights and WCH e-bells.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.667 ... 312!8i6656

This "lights only" setup with a WCH m-bell has been replaced by new gated signals with Safetran gate mechs and Safetran type 3 e-bells.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.630 ... 312!8i6656

This crossing at The Rock with Harmon gate mechs and WCH m-bells has been replaced by new signals with WCH gate mechs and Safetran type 3 e-bells.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.271 ... 312!8i6656

This crossing at Uranquinty has also been replaced by new signals with Safetran gate mechs and e-bells.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.191 ... 312!8i6656

This teardrop bell at Bomen has been replaced by a WCH m-bell (at least it wasn't an e-bell).
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.072 ... 328!8i1664

I'm back home, and now begins the process of editing and uploading.
How sad.

I guess they're starting to get V/Line fever, a fever were they have to make every level crossing they own have the same equipment.

Hopefully the fever doesn't spread too far. At the moment it is mostly confined to the section between Wagga Wagga and Albury, and the main target seems to be crossings with Harmon gate mechs. It certainly makes things boring if all the crossings are the same, I hate to think what it's going to be like in another few years.

TrickyMario7654 · Post by **TrickyMario7654** » Sun Feb 05, 2017 1:47 am

McK&H.Aust wrote:
TrickyMario7654 wrote:How sad.

I guess they're starting to get V/Line fever, a fever were they have to make every level crossing they own have the same equipment.
Hopefully the fever doesn't spread too far. At the moment it is mostly confined to the section between Wagga Wagga and Albury, and the main target seems to be crossings with Harmon gate mechs. It certainly makes things boring if all the crossings are the same, I hate to think what it's going to be like in another few years.

Down here, V/Line's main target seem to be crossings with EB gate mechs. They're removed a lot of them lately (replacing them with WCH ones).

This crossing in Ballarat still had them in January of last year when I was on holiday.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.560 ... 312!8i6656

But by October, they had been replaced and the crossbucks updated with the 'red backgrounds'. (Interestingly enough, they didn't update the '3 Tracks' sign)
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.560 ... 312!8i6656

Thankfully, Metro don't seem to be removing them. The following crossings on their network have them...

Greens Road, Dandenong South (Cranbourne Line)
Abbotts Road, Dandenong South (Cranbourne Line)
Evans Road, Lynbrook (Cranbourne Line)
Thompsons Road, Cranbourne North (Cranbourne Line)
Camms Road, Cranbourne (Cranbourne Line)
South Road, Brighton (Sandringham Line)
Toorak Road, Kooyong (Glen Waverley Line)

North Road in Ormond also had them, though that crossing was removed last year.

Coming to think of it, I'm pretty sure that there's no Teardrop bells left on a V/line owned track! (There used to be loads of them in country Victoria a decade ago, though most of them have been replaced or 'upgraded' with new signals all together!)

If you like to see the variety of equipment that was used in Victoria around 2006-2009, look up 'Level Crossing' on Vicsig's photo search page and you'll be amazed about how much vintage equipment was in use at that time! (on Connex (replaced with Metro in 2009), V/line, and ARTC owned tracks)
http://vicsig.net/photos/search

TrickyMario7654 · Post by **TrickyMario7654** » Tue Feb 07, 2017 3:38 am

McK&H.Aust wrote:This crossing at Wingham was one of the first in NSW to have gates. It was installed in 1958 and the original WRRS/GRS type B gate mechs have been replaced by WCH in recent years. https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-31.864 ... 312!8i6656

Found a video of it from 1993. (From when it still has the original gate mechs.)

Someone also recently uploaded this video of the Upfield line from 1994, mainly focusing on the hand operated level crossings (which the Upfield line was full of until the late 90's). Though you do see three boom gated level crossings. The first two (Boundary Road & Bakers Road) are 1980's Westingouse set-ups, (the former crossing still has hybrid bells to this day!) and the original set-up at the Bell Street crossing. (with a McK&H Teardrop bell and a Westinghouse hybrid!)

I believe the Bell Street crossing was upgraded with cantilevers in 1998, with the Teardrop bell replaced with a hybrid and the original lights and gate mechs replaced. However, the original signal masts were retained as the gate mechanism masts.

McK&H.Aust · Post by **McK&H.Aust** » Tue Feb 07, 2017 10:18 am

TrickyMario7654 wrote:
McK&H.Aust wrote:This crossing at Wingham was one of the first in NSW to have gates. It was installed in 1958 and the original WRRS/GRS type B gate mechs have been replaced by WCH in recent years. https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-31.864 ... 312!8i6656
Found a video of it from 1993. (From when it still has the original gate mechs.)

Someone also recently uploaded this video of the Upfield line from 1994, mainly focusing on the hand operated level crossings (which the Upfield line was full of until the late 90's). Though you do see three boom gated level crossings. The first two (Boundary Road & Bakers Road) are 1980's Westingouse set-ups, (the former crossing still has hybrid bells to this day!) and the original set-up at the Bell Street crossing. (with a McK&H Teardrop bell and a Westinghouse hybrid!)

I believe the Bell Street crossing was upgraded with cantilevers in 1998, with the Teardrop bell replaced with a hybrid and the original lights and gate mechs replaced. However, the original signal masts were retained as the gate mechanism masts.

Nice finds with those videos, the happy gatekeeper is probably working for the LXRA now!

Another crossing I saw during my recent travels was this one at Table Top NSW which has been upgraded with gates (WCH gate mechs and e-bells). The old lights with the extra large backgrounds (8 x 24 inch I believe) were made by Harmon.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.970 ... 312!8i6656

Found the teardrop bell at Swan Hill that you mentioned. It would be nice to film, do you know how often trains go out there?
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.338 ... 312!8i6656
This also looks like an old PTC sign at the crossing https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.338 ... 312!8i6656

Found this while looking for the teardrop bell. Looks like a work group going around and installing new level crossing signs. They have crossbucks in the back of both utes. https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.334 ... 312!8i6656

TrickyMario7654 · Post by **TrickyMario7654** » Tue Feb 07, 2017 4:08 pm

McK&H.Aust wrote:Nice finds with those videos, the happy gatekeeper is probably working for the LXRA now!

Found the teardrop bell at Swan Hill that you mentioned. It would be nice to film, do you know how often trains go out there?
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.338 ... 312!8i6656
This also looks like an old PTC sign at the crossing
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.338 ... 312!8i6656

Thanks! Yeah, he probably is working for them now.

Unfortunately, I have no idea how often that crossing in Swan Hill is used. Also, that is a PTC sign at the crossing. IIRC, they also used to run Melbourne's PT system (under 'The Met'). The Comeng trains seen in that video of the Upfield line were in those green and yellow Met colors until refurbishment in the early 2000's (where they were changed into either Connex or M>Train colors).

Anyways, here's the Bell Street crossing in Coburg today.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.741 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.740 ... 312!8i6656

As I mentioned before, here's the original signal mast's. (If you look carefully in the first image, you can make out where an additional set of lights that faced a nearby side road were mounted. Seems odd that they don't have same arrangement on the newer cantilever signal on that side. But on the opposite side, they added an additional set of lights for a nearby side road, even though the original mast signal on that side only had a set of lights that pointed towards the main roadway.)
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.741 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.741 ... 312!8i6656

The Public Record Office VIctoria site has some old images of this crossing taken shortly after the installation of signals in 1963. (I've posted these before, BTW)

Some action shots.

Australian Railroad Crossing Signals

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Re: Australian Railroad Crossing Signals