Australian Railroad Crossing Signals

[ToledoRailfan]

Has anyone ever seen this photograph of a level crossing that someone photoshoped a ufo into in order to make a hoax? I remember seeing it a long time ago but I don't remember where.

level crossing ufo photoshop.JPG

Haven't seen the photograph before, but I think this is the crossing https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.471 ... 312!8i6656

How did you know right away that that was the crossing?

[McK&H.Aust]

Has anyone ever seen this photograph of a level crossing that someone photoshoped a ufo into in order to make a hoax? I remember seeing it a long time ago but I don't remember where.

level crossing ufo photoshop.JPG

Haven't seen the photograph before, but I think this is the crossing https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.471 ... 312!8i6656

How did you know right away that that was the crossing?

Must admit I do spend plenty of time looking at crossings on GSV and it looked familiar. There is also a nice video of the crossing by Stuart Hunt (a member of the forum).

[McK&H.Aust]

With a state election later this year, I'm sure that Dan will announce lots of funding and more crossing removals. There will probably also be more money to upgrade the remaining gateless crossings on the North East line.

All things going well, I should be in Ararat around May 12 (give or take) so hopefully I can check for any remaining m-bells, but I'm betting that they will all be gone.

Hopefully some of the m-bells have survived.

On a similar note, I'm pretty sure some m-bells on the line between Ararat and Geelong have survived. As chris96 mentioned early last year, these two crossings in Inverleigh still had their hybrid bells.
Inverleigh-Winchelsea Road: https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.103 ... 328!8i1664
Railway Street: https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.104 ... 328!8i1664

At least there is still some hope of finding m-bells. Haven't planned the return leg of my trip yet, but after checking out the Portland Line I was thinking of heading to Ararat and maybe then to Geelong. I could possibly check out Inverleigh on the way, but one crossing I really would like to film is Anakie Rd near Geelong. It looks really nice with the older cantilever, Westinghouse gate mechs and hybrid bells. Hopefully it hasn't been trashed by the upgrade nazis https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.093 ... 312!8i6656

The nearby crossing at Thompson Rd has e-bells and one of the Westinghouse gate mechs has been replaced, so it's not a good sign
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.104 ... 312!8i6656

[ToledoRailfan]

Has anyone ever seen this photograph of a level crossing that someone photoshoped a ufo into in order to make a hoax? I remember seeing it a long time ago but I don't remember where.

level crossing ufo photoshop.JPG

Haven't seen the photograph before, but I think this is the crossing https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.471 ... 312!8i6656

How did you know right away that that was the crossing?

Must admit I do spend plenty of time looking at crossings on GSV[/quote]

Nice to know I'm not the only one who does that.

[TrickyMario7654]

At least there is still some hope of finding m-bells. Haven't planned the return leg of my trip yet, but after checking out the Portland Line I was thinking of heading to Ararat and maybe then to Geelong. I could possibly check out Inverleigh on the way, but one crossing I really would like to film is Anakie Rd near Geelong. It looks really nice with the older cantilever, Westinghouse gate mechs and hybrid bells. Hopefully it hasn't been trashed by the upgrade nazis https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.093 ... 312!8i6656

The nearby crossing at Thompsons Rd has e-bells and one of the Westinghouse gate mechs has been replaced, so it's not a good sign
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.104 ... 312!8i6656

Sadly, Anakie Road now has Safetran Type 3's. There's pictures of the crossing on the site.

However, there's another crossing on the line with EB mechs and hybrid bells on the Hamilton Highway (which eventually leads you to Inverleigh and Geelong) at Cressy. The images are from 2010 though, so I don't know if they're still there...
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.024 ... 312!8i6656

[McK&H.Aust]

At least there is still some hope of finding m-bells. Haven't planned the return leg of my trip yet, but after checking out the Portland Line I was thinking of heading to Ararat and maybe then to Geelong. I could possibly check out Inverleigh on the way, but one crossing I really would like to film is Anakie Rd near Geelong. It looks really nice with the older cantilever, Westinghouse gate mechs and hybrid bells. Hopefully it hasn't been trashed by the upgrade nazis https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.093 ... 312!8i6656

The nearby crossing at Thompsons Rd has e-bells and one of the Westinghouse gate mechs has been replaced, so it's not a good sign
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.104 ... 312!8i6656

Sadly, Anakie Road now has Safetran Type 3's. There's pictures of the crossing on the site.

However, there's another crossing on the line with EB mechs and hybrid bells on the Hamilton Highway (which eventually leads you to Inverleigh and Geelong) at Cressy. The images are from 2010 though, so I don't know if they're still there...
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.024 ... 312!8i6656

Shame about the hybrid bells at Anakie Rd, but it would still be a nice crossing if it retains the Westinghouse mechs. It's also one of the few pedestrian crossings in VIC to have Don't Walk lights. The crossing at Cressy would certainly be worth a look.

[chris96]

Shame about the hybrid bells at Anakie Rd, but it would still be a nice crossing if it retains the Westinghouse mechs. It's also one of the few pedestrian crossings in VIC to have Don't Walk lights. The crossing at Cressy would certainly be worth a look.

There are quite a few interesting and notable crossings in the Geelong region that would defiantly be worth checking out.

Apart from the two hybrid bells at Inverleigh (which I can confirm were still in place a couple of months ago), there are other survivors at Queenscliff-Portarlington Rd in Point Lonsdale (part of the Bellarine Railway and only about a 20 to 30 minute drive from Geelong's CBD):
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.258 ... 328!8i1664

And also at Peak School Rd in Little River (this bell replaced a dead Safetran Type 3 and is probably the only M-Bell currently operating on V/Line's network):



Here's the crossing when it still had E-Bells on both sides:
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.986 ... 312!8i6656

Apart from that though, there are no other operational M-Bells left in the area. All have been replaced with E-Bells including the Hamilton Hwy in Cressy.

Unfortunately, you won't have any luck in Ararat either, as all of the M-Bells in and around the town have also been replaced. In fact, every single bell on the Melbourne-Adelaide line is now a Safetran Type 3 (I went on a road trip through this area last year). It's a shame because there used to be a nice variety of equipment on the line.

It's not all bad news though, as some unusually long wishbone gates still survive at Yarra St, South Geelong:
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.158 ... 312!8i6656

And there are also a number of crossings close to Geelong that still have old Westinghouse mechs (all of the Hybrid Bells shown in these images are now Safetran Type 3's though ):
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.961 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.011 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.034 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.069 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.085 ... 312!8i6656

[McK&H.Aust]

Shame about the hybrid bells at Anakie Rd, but it would still be a nice crossing if it retains the Westinghouse mechs. It's also one of the few pedestrian crossings in VIC to have Don't Walk lights. The crossing at Cressy would certainly be worth a look.

There are quite a few interesting and notable crossings in the Geelong region that would defiantly be worth checking out.

Apart from the two hybrid bells at Inverleigh (which I can confirm were still in place a couple of months ago), there are other survivors at Queenscliff-Portarlington Rd in Point Lonsdale (part of the Bellarine Railway and only about a 20 to 30 minute drive from Geelong's CBD):
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.258 ... 328!8i1664

And also at Peak School Rd in Little River (this bell replaced a dead Safetran Type 3 and is probably the only M-Bell currently operating on V/Line's network):



Here's the crossing when it still had E-Bells on both sides:
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.986 ... 312!8i6656

Apart from that though, there are no other operational M-Bells left in the area. All have been replaced with E-Bells including the Hamilton Hwy in Cressy.

Unfortunately, you won't have any luck in Ararat either, as all of the M-Bells in and around the town have also been replaced. In fact, every single bell on the Melbourne-Adelaide line is now a Safetran Type 3 (I went on a road trip through this area last year). It's a shame because there used to be a nice variety of equipment on the line.

It's not all bad news though, as some unusually long wishbone gates still survive at Yarra St, South Geelong:
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.158 ... 312!8i6656

And there are also a number of crossings close to Geelong that still have old Westinghouse mechs (all of the Hybrid Bells shown in these images are now Safetran Type 3's though ):
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.961 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.011 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.034 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.069 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.085 ... 312!8i6656

Thanks chris96 for the updates, at least I know to head straight for Inverleigh and Geelong after checking out the Portland line. Sounds like it would be worth hanging around Geelong for a day or two, I would certainly like to film some Westinghouse gate mechs as they seem to be disappearing fast. These days it seems like a bonus just finding a crossing which has gate mechs other than WCH or Safetran, and I should probably film the hybrid bell at Peak School Rd.

One crossing I did notice on the Melbourne - Adelaide line is this nice older gateless installation at Nairne SA. The northern approach has only one signal on the right-hand side (due to the bend I guess?) which is rare, also the signal bases appear to be McK&H. I think it would be worth filming, providing it hasn't been upgraded already!
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.038 ... 312!8i6656

[TrickyMario7654]

Thanks chris96 for the updates, at least I know to head straight for Inverleigh and Geelong after checking out the Portland line. Sounds like it would be worth hanging around Geelong for a day or two, I would certainly like to film some Westinghouse gate mechs as they seem to be disappearing fast. These days it seems like a bonus just finding a crossing which has gate mechs other than WCH or Safetran, and I should probably film the hybrid bell at Peak School Rd.

One crossing I did notice on the Melbourne - Adelaide line is this nice older gateless installation at Nairne SA. The northern approach has only one signal on the right-hand side (due to the bend I guess?) which is rare, also the signal bases appear to be McK&H. I think it would be worth filming, providing it hasn't been upgraded already!
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.038 ... 312!8i6656

I've expanded that map I made of the Portland line crossings to include the ones between Ararat and Geelong with have m-bells (at least the ones shown on GSV known to still be in service). Just follow the black like and it'll take you to those crossings and eventually Geelong.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1_Pi1v ... sp=sharing

[McK&H.Aust]

Thanks chris96 for the updates, at least I know to head straight for Inverleigh and Geelong after checking out the Portland line. Sounds like it would be worth hanging around Geelong for a day or two, I would certainly like to film some Westinghouse gate mechs as they seem to be disappearing fast. These days it seems like a bonus just finding a crossing which has gate mechs other than WCH or Safetran, and I should probably film the hybrid bell at Peak School Rd.

One crossing I did notice on the Melbourne - Adelaide line is this nice older gateless installation at Nairne SA. The northern approach has only one signal on the right-hand side (due to the bend I guess?) which is rare, also the signal bases appear to be McK&H. I think it would be worth filming, providing it hasn't been upgraded already!
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.038 ... 312!8i6656

I've expanded that map I made of the Portland line crossings to include the ones between Ararat and Geelong with have m-bells (at least the ones shown on GSV known to still be in service). Just follow the black like and it'll take you to those crossings and eventually Geelong.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1_Pi1v ... sp=sharing

Thank you for the map

Just learned that two crossings in Adelaide which were on my list have been removed as part of the Torrens Rail Junction Project. I knew the main Park Terrace crossing was going to be removed (and it has https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.907 ... 312!8i6656) but didn't realise that Gibson St and East St were also in the firing line. Both had old gate mechs and GRS Lex-C lights

Gibson St
Before https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.906 ... 312!8i6656
After https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.907 ... 312!8i6656

East St
Before https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.905 ... 312!8i6656
After https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.906 ... 312!8i6656

Here is the website https://dpti.sa.gov.au/torrens-rail-junction
Didn't realise that Daniel Andrews was also premier of SA