Australian Railroad Crossing Signals

[McK&H.Aust]

Those LCSC reports are interesting reading. It's a shame about the crossings at Griffith and Molong, leaves only two crossings with Harmon gate mechs (Henty and Shepherds Siding). I noticed that all of the crossings pictured in the report have exactly the same equipment, being WCH gate mechs, United Group lights and WCH e-bells. I guess that's now the standard for NSW.

I have noticed that the report does tell a few fibs. At the top of page 22 there is a list of crossings which have apparently had minor works carried out during 2016-17, some of the crossings listed as "Replace crossing signs to suit Australian standards" have either been done several years ago or the work hasn't been done yet. Those crossings are.....
Estate Rd, Mount Falcon https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-31.117 ... 312!8i6656 (already done by 2015)
Darling St, Tamworth https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-31.085 ... 312!8i6656 (not done as of November 3, 2017, still has old crossbucks)
Hall St, Tamworth https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-31.101 ... 312!8i6656 (already done by 2015)

Also the crossings at Brisbane St, Tamworth https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-31.088 ... 312!8i6656 and Currabubula https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-31.265 ... 312!8i6656 are listed as "Replace non-frangible RX5 crossing stands including signage". An RX5 crossing stand is the signal mast and flashing light assembly, and as of November 3, 2017 both crossings are unchanged from their 2015 GSV images. Currabubula still has the old crossbucks, and hazard triangles on the advance warning signs. Sadly I fear this means that they could be going to install new masts and replace the teardrop bell.

On the bottom of page 31 it says the crossing at Cunningar had a "boom motor upgrade" but I last saw the crossing around late August 2017 and it still had the old gate mechs then! https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.558 ... 312!8i6656

Another odd listing on page 31 is a "Boom motor upgrade" for the crossing at Bomen, this is very strange considering the fact that the crossing is in the process of being closed (if it hasn't gone already)! https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.071 ... 328!8i1664

Chances are, Henty and Shepard Sidings have been upgraded by now. Better keep an eye on the older crossings on the John Holland network as they may consider more crossings with rare equipment as "life expired assests".

Another crossing marked with "Replace crossing signs to suit Australian Standards" is Markham Street, Armidale. Can you film that crossing and the one at Thunderbolt Way, Uralla next time you're in the area? At least you filmed Griffith and Molong before John Holland saw that perfectly working signals needed to be replaced because they were "life expired".

I have filmed the crossing at Uralla but not Armidale, only had the time to film one so I chose Uralla because it has rectangular backgrounds in addition to the normal lights https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-30.666 ... 312!8i6656 Those backgrounds were mostly used in the 1980's and 1990's back in the days of incandescent lights. They were mostly used on gateless crossings where the angle of the rising or setting sun could hinder the sighting of the lights. Today there are only a handful left as most of the crossings which had them have been upgraded with gates. Both Uralla and Armidale have been fitted with new SORS signs and the red background crossbucks, but apart from that they are unchanged. Uralla was installed in 1984 and the signals are looking a bit tired so it will probably be upgraded first, the signals at Armidale were installed in 1987 and look to be in better condition.

[TrickyMario7654]

I have filmed the crossing at Uralla but not Armidale, only had the time to film one so I chose Uralla because it has rectangular backgrounds in addition to the normal lights https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-30.666 ... 312!8i6656 Those backgrounds were mostly used in the 1980's and 1990's back in the days of incandescent lights. They were mostly used on gateless crossings where the angle of the rising or setting sun could hinder the sighting of the lights. Today there are only a handful left as most of the crossings which had them have been upgraded with gates. Both Uralla and Armidale have been fitted with new SORS signs and the red background crossbucks, but apart from that they are unchanged. Uralla was installed in 1984 and the signals are looking a bit tired so it will probably be upgraded first, the signals at Armidale were installed in 1987 and look to be in better condition.

Armidale looked to have had the regular crossbucks late last year, interesting how two signals lack them.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-30.520 ... 312!8i6656

Also found an inverted "DO NOT QUEUE OVER RAILWAY CROSSING" sign, as well as an upside down Hazard Triangle on the advance warning sign.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-30.520 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-30.520 ... 312!8i6656

[McK&H.Aust]

I have filmed the crossing at Uralla but not Armidale, only had the time to film one so I chose Uralla because it has rectangular backgrounds in addition to the normal lights https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-30.666 ... 312!8i6656 Those backgrounds were mostly used in the 1980's and 1990's back in the days of incandescent lights. They were mostly used on gateless crossings where the angle of the rising or setting sun could hinder the sighting of the lights. Today there are only a handful left as most of the crossings which had them have been upgraded with gates. Both Uralla and Armidale have been fitted with new SORS signs and the red background crossbucks, but apart from that they are unchanged. Uralla was installed in 1984 and the signals are looking a bit tired so it will probably be upgraded first, the signals at Armidale were installed in 1987 and look to be in better condition.

Armidale looked to have had the regular crossbucks late last year, interesting how two signals lack them.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-30.520 ... 312!8i6656

Also found an inverted "DO NOT QUEUE OVER RAILWAY CROSSING" sign, as well as an upside down Hazard Triangle on the advance warning sign.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-30.520 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-30.520 ... 312!8i6656

The new crossbucks were only installed on the main two signals, so thankfully the other signals still don't have any crossbucks. John Holland certainly seem to be more aggressive when it comes to installing those new crossbucks, personally I think it makes very little difference towards the safety of the crossing. The main thing that matters is the lights and they were already LED.

I noticed that those new crossbucks have even appeared on the crossing at Murrumbeena, seems a bit pointless considering the crossing is being removed.

[TrickyMario7654]

The new crossbucks were only installed on the main two signals, so thankfully the other signals still don't have any crossbucks. John Holland certainly seem to be more aggressive when it comes to installing those new crossbucks, personally I think it makes very little difference towards the safety of the crossing. The main thing that matters is the lights and they were already LED.

I noticed that those new crossbucks have even appeared on the crossing at Murrumbeena, seems a bit pointless considering the crossing is being removed.

A lot of the Dandenong corridor crossings have been getting strange modifications lately, here's some pictures I've found on Wongom's Rail Gallery...

Chandler Road - Southern gated signal completely replaced and an LED upgrade.


Heatherton Road - Still looks the same from when I visited it in May.


Corrigan Road - Same from when Stuart last filmed it.


Centre Road - This one's had BIG changes made to it. It first received new gate mechs in January and the western gated signal was replaced completely at the same time. Then sometime in June, the eastern median signal had a gate mast added behind it with a Invensys Rail mech (likely from Mountain Highway, Bayswater). Both gates on the eastern were now hinged (like the ones used on the Tramsquare crossings in Melbourne). A few months later, the western shoulder signal and gate was completely removed, leaving the gate mast with a disused Safetran mech. This picture sums it all up...


Clayton Road - Still looks the same from when I visited it in May, although the pedestrian gates on the eastern side are now manually controlled...



Koornang Road - LED upgrade, hinged boom gates, and red background crossbucks. Also, the gate mechs looked to have been replaced (the old ones were really rusty).



Here's a better picture of Murrumbeena Road, what the heck is up with the overhead crossbuck on the cantilever closest to the camera?


Don't know if Poath Road or Grange Road have been modified yet, chances are they have been by now.

[Username1]

Don't know if Poath Road or Grange Road have been modified yet, chances are they have been by now.

I’ve been past both of these crossings recently and they have both only had some minor modifications compared to other crossings:

Poath Road: the pedestrian crossing where the station used to be is no closed and no longer in use and the northern side
Of the crossing now has a hinged gate. Also all the lights are now LEDs.

Grange road: the Southern side of the crossing now has a hinged gate and is also now all LEDs. The crossing still has both of the Hybrid bells as well.

[McK&H.Aust]

Centre Road - This one's had BIG changes made to it. It first received new gate mechs in January and the western gated signal was replaced completely at the same time. Then sometime in June, the eastern median signal had a gate mast added behind it with a Invensys Rail mech (likely from Mountain Highway, Bayswater). Both gates on the eastern were now hinged (like the ones used on the Tramsquare crossings in Melbourne). A few months later, the western shoulder signal and gate was completely removed, leaving the gate mast with a disused Safetran mech. This picture sums it all up...

I know that it's only a temporary arrangement, but Centre Road would have to win the prize for the strangest installation. I hope somebody records the crossing, but it sure would be difficult with all of the construction work going on and the limited pedestrian access.

[TrickyMario7654]

Centre Road - This one's had BIG changes made to it. It first received new gate mechs in January and the western gated signal was replaced completely at the same time. Then sometime in June, the eastern median signal had a gate mast added behind it with a Invensys Rail mech (likely from Mountain Highway, Bayswater). Both gates on the eastern were now hinged (like the ones used on the Tramsquare crossings in Melbourne). A few months later, the western shoulder signal and gate was completely removed, leaving the gate mast with a disused Safetran mech. This picture sums it all up...

I know that it's only a temporary arrangement, but Centre Road would have to win the prize for the strangest installation. I hope somebody records the crossing, but it sure would be difficult with all of the construction work going on and the limited pedestrian access.

It was already a strange install before they started modifying it, but now it looks ricidious. Maybe Stuart can go back and film the CD9 again now that these changes have occurred.

[StuartHunt101]

Centre Road - This one's had BIG changes made to it. It first received new gate mechs in January and the western gated signal was replaced completely at the same time. Then sometime in June, the eastern median signal had a gate mast added behind it with a Invensys Rail mech (likely from Mountain Highway, Bayswater). Both gates on the eastern were now hinged (like the ones used on the Tramsquare crossings in Melbourne). A few months later, the western shoulder signal and gate was completely removed, leaving the gate mast with a disused Safetran mech. This picture sums it all up...

I know that it's only a temporary arrangement, but Centre Road would have to win the prize for the strangest installation. I hope somebody records the crossing, but it sure would be difficult with all of the construction work going on and the limited pedestrian access.

It was already a strange install before they started modifying it, but now it looks ricidious. Maybe Stuart can go back and film the CD9 again now that these changes have occurred.

Don't worry, i plan to film them all sometime in November! Although i would like to film all the crossings once all the new bridges have been placed overhead, and it doesn't look like that's happened at Grange rd yet. But don't worry, I'll film them all before they're completely removed

[TrickyMario7654]

Centre Road - This one's had BIG changes made to it. It first received new gate mechs in January and the western gated signal was replaced completely at the same time. Then sometime in June, the eastern median signal had a gate mast added behind it with a Invensys Rail mech (likely from Mountain Highway, Bayswater). Both gates on the eastern were now hinged (like the ones used on the Tramsquare crossings in Melbourne). A few months later, the western shoulder signal and gate was completely removed, leaving the gate mast with a disused Safetran mech. This picture sums it all up...

I know that it's only a temporary arrangement, but Centre Road would have to win the prize for the strangest installation. I hope somebody records the crossing, but it sure would be difficult with all of the construction work going on and the limited pedestrian access.

It was already a strange install before they started modifying it, but now it looks ricidious. Maybe Stuart can go back and film the CD9 again now that these changes have occurred.

Don't worry, i plan to film them all sometime in November! Although i would like to film all the crossings once all the new bridges have been placed overhead, and it doesn't look like that's happened at Grange rd yet. But don't worry, I'll film them all before they're completely removed

Going by the LXRA website, all nine crossings will be removed sometime in mid-2018. I expect the State Government to issue a media release stating that they're "fast tracking" the works so they can get more political mileage out of it (ala North, McKinnon, Centre).

[LARDLOGO]

If anyone's interested, here's an Australian Level Crossing bell on eBay. Looks like Westinghouse.
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/South-Austr ... Swa3BaAUt3