I made another visit to the area today and sadly there has been an outbreak of bell nazi fever. The crossings at Glennies Creek and Scone have both had their remaining m-bells replaced by Safetran type 3's
Also the hybrid bell at Mangoola has been replaced by a Safetran type 3, same for the crossing at White St, Blandford which lost it's WCH m-bell. Finally, the crossing at Rosemount Rd, Denman has seen it's WCH m-bell replaced by a WCH e-bell (at least it wasn't a type 3).
The only good news is the Modern Industries bell remains at Brook St, Muswellbrook, and the Federal Signal gate mechs survive at Army Camp Rd, Singleton.
The strange thing is that most of the replacement Safetran type 3's looked brand new, not sure why they would install more of them given the recent number of failures
That’s some pretty sad news. The m-bells at Glennies Creek and Blandford were sounding healthy on July 2. I am amazed the MI bell is surviving despite it having issues. Do you know if the hybrid bells at Grasstree are still there?
For some reason, ARTC in the Hunter area really loves replacing m-bells for the sake of it. They even acted like Metro at one stage, replacing the m-bells at Station Rd, Lochinvar (replacing a Federal Signals bell ) and Hermitage Rd, Belford just weeks before they were removed. I guess ARTC had a stockpile of Type 3s that they thought they’d use. Did you do any filming?
I didn't check the crossing at Grasstree, will probably do that on the way home. The signals are stiil in place at Hebden Rd but due to the new fencing and nowhere safe to park, I couldn't get close enough to film it. There were lots of workers too, there is a three day closedown of the Hunter lines at the end of this month, so maybe the signals will be removed then.
I filmed Army Camp Rd, Rosemount Rd (again) and Mangoola (again). Tomorrow I'm going further north to check the m-bells at Murrurundi and Werris Creek, then to Gunnedah, Boggabri and also check the crossing north of Baan Baa which did have hybrids back in 2015.
It’s a fair bet the signals at Hebden Rd will be removed during the shutdown. Sadly the m-bells at Boggabri have been replaced with Safetran Type 3s
I made another visit to the area today and sadly there has been an outbreak of bell nazi fever. The crossings at Glennies Creek and Scone have both had their remaining m-bells replaced by Safetran type 3's
Also the hybrid bell at Mangoola has been replaced by a Safetran type 3, same for the crossing at White St, Blandford which lost it's WCH m-bell. Finally, the crossing at Rosemount Rd, Denman has seen it's WCH m-bell replaced by a WCH e-bell (at least it wasn't a type 3).
The only good news is the Modern Industries bell remains at Brook St, Muswellbrook, and the Federal Signal gate mechs survive at Army Camp Rd, Singleton.
The strange thing is that most of the replacement Safetran type 3's looked brand new, not sure why they would install more of them given the recent number of failures
That’s some pretty sad news. The m-bells at Glennies Creek and Blandford were sounding healthy on July 2. I am amazed the MI bell is surviving despite it having issues. Do you know if the hybrid bells at Grasstree are still there?
For some reason, ARTC in the Hunter area really loves replacing m-bells for the sake of it. They even acted like Metro at one stage, replacing the m-bells at Station Rd, Lochinvar (replacing a Federal Signals bell ) and Hermitage Rd, Belford just weeks before they were removed. I guess ARTC had a stockpile of Type 3s that they thought they’d use. Did you do any filming?
I didn't check the crossing at Grasstree, will probably do that on the way home. The signals are stiil in place at Hebden Rd but due to the new fencing and nowhere safe to park, I couldn't get close enough to film it. There were lots of workers too, there is a three day closedown of the Hunter lines at the end of this month, so maybe the signals will be removed then.
I filmed Army Camp Rd, Rosemount Rd (again) and Mangoola (again). Tomorrow I'm going further north to check the m-bells at Murrurundi and Werris Creek, then to Gunnedah, Boggabri and also check the crossing north of Baan Baa which did have hybrids back in 2015.
It’s a fair bet the signals at Hebden Rd will be removed during the shutdown. Sadly the m-bells at Boggabri have been replaced with Safetran Type 3s
That's a shame about Boggabri, more Safetran type 3's
I'm not expecting to find many m-bells tomorrow but I'll have a look anyway. I wonder if the e-bell frenzy in the Hunter is due to the region having more funds because of the coal traffic? One good thing I did notice is many of the crossings still have the old crossbucks and inverted SORS signs.
I made another visit to the area today and sadly there has been an outbreak of bell nazi fever. The crossings at Glennies Creek and Scone have both had their remaining m-bells replaced by Safetran type 3's
Also the hybrid bell at Mangoola has been replaced by a Safetran type 3, same for the crossing at White St, Blandford which lost it's WCH m-bell. Finally, the crossing at Rosemount Rd, Denman has seen it's WCH m-bell replaced by a WCH e-bell (at least it wasn't a type 3).
The only good news is the Modern Industries bell remains at Brook St, Muswellbrook, and the Federal Signal gate mechs survive at Army Camp Rd, Singleton.
The strange thing is that most of the replacement Safetran type 3's looked brand new, not sure why they would install more of them given the recent number of failures
That’s some pretty sad news. The m-bells at Glennies Creek and Blandford were sounding healthy on July 2. I am amazed the MI bell is surviving despite it having issues. Do you know if the hybrid bells at Grasstree are still there?
For some reason, ARTC in the Hunter area really loves replacing m-bells for the sake of it. They even acted like Metro at one stage, replacing the m-bells at Station Rd, Lochinvar (replacing a Federal Signals bell ) and Hermitage Rd, Belford just weeks before they were removed. I guess ARTC had a stockpile of Type 3s that they thought they’d use. Did you do any filming?
I didn't check the crossing at Grasstree, will probably do that on the way home. The signals are stiil in place at Hebden Rd but due to the new fencing and nowhere safe to park, I couldn't get close enough to film it. There were lots of workers too, there is a three day closedown of the Hunter lines at the end of this month, so maybe the signals will be removed then.
I filmed Army Camp Rd, Rosemount Rd (again) and Mangoola (again). Tomorrow I'm going further north to check the m-bells at Murrurundi and Werris Creek, then to Gunnedah, Boggabri and also check the crossing north of Baan Baa which did have hybrids back in 2015.
It’s a fair bet the signals at Hebden Rd will be removed during the shutdown. Sadly the m-bells at Boggabri have been replaced with Safetran Type 3s
That's a shame about Boggabri, more Safetran type 3's
I'm not expecting to find many m-bells tomorrow but I'll have a look anyway. I wonder if the e-bell frenzy in the Hunter is due to the region having more funds because of the coal traffic? One good thing I did notice is many of the crossings still have the old crossbucks and inverted SORS signs.
The amount of coal traffic would likely be a contributing factor to the e-bell outbreak although the rest of the network is in poor shape. Many of the bridges and sections of track have 10-20Km speed restrictions.
The Hunter region has seemed to have mostly escaped the upgrade bug when it comes to the old crossbucks and inverted SORS signs. I am pretty sure only a handful of crossings have had red crossbucks installed in the last few years.
The crossings at Murrurundi and Ardglen have lost their m-bells and now have Safetran type 3's. Single St at Werris Creek still has it's black hybrid bell, although now has red background crossbucks on all three signals. The other crossing at Werris Creek still has both teardrop bells.
The crossing at New St, Gunnedah still has it's WCH m-bell and there is still no sign of work commencing on the replacement overpass. The crossing at Boggabri still has two Safetran type 3's, while the crossing north of Baan Baa (known as Narrabri Coal according to the sign on the relay bungalow) still has it's hybrid bells.
Narrabri West was the furthest I went, the Newell Hwy crossing now has new gateless signals with new WCH lights and two WCH e-bells. Old Turrawan Rd now has a Safetran type 3 but is otherwise unchanged.
McK&H.Aust wrote:Checked out more crosings today.....
The crossings at Murrurundi and Ardglen have lost their m-bells and now have Safetran type 3's. Single St at Werris Creek still has it's black hybrid bell, although now has red background crossbucks on all three signals. The other crossing at Werris Creek still has both teardrop bells.
The crossing at New St, Gunnedah still has it's WCH m-bell and there is still no sign of work commencing on the replacement overpass. The crossing at Boggabri still has two Safetran type 3's, while the crossing north of Baan Baa (known as Narrabri Coal according to the sign on the relay bungalow) still has it's hybrid bells.
Narrabri West was the furthest I went, the Newell Hwy crossing now has new gateless signals with new WCH lights and two WCH e-bells. Old Turrawan Rd now has a Safetran type 3 but is otherwise unchanged.
That’s some very sad news. It’s a good thing you filmed the hybrids at Ardglen when you did. I just hope the Type 3s will die quickly like so many have been lately. ARTC must have quite a stockpile of Type 3s!
I am glad the bell Nazis haven’t gotten to the crossings at Werris Creek and the hybrids north of Baan Baa! I bet John Holland will use the excuse “life expired” to replace the signals on the Newell Highway even though they weren’t.
McK&H.Aust wrote:Checked out more crosings today.....
The crossings at Murrurundi and Ardglen have lost their m-bells and now have Safetran type 3's. Single St at Werris Creek still has it's black hybrid bell, although now has red background crossbucks on all three signals. The other crossing at Werris Creek still has both teardrop bells.
The crossing at New St, Gunnedah still has it's WCH m-bell and there is still no sign of work commencing on the replacement overpass. The crossing at Boggabri still has two Safetran type 3's, while the crossing north of Baan Baa (known as Narrabri Coal according to the sign on the relay bungalow) still has it's hybrid bells.
Narrabri West was the furthest I went, the Newell Hwy crossing now has new gateless signals with new WCH lights and two WCH e-bells. Old Turrawan Rd now has a Safetran type 3 but is otherwise unchanged.
That’s some very sad news. It’s a good thing you filmed the hybrids at Ardglen when you did. I just hope the Type 3s will die quickly like so many have been lately. ARTC must have quite a stockpile of Type 3s!
I am glad the bell Nazis haven’t gotten to the crossings at Werris Creek and the hybrids north of Baan Baa! I bet John Holland will use the excuse “life expired” to replace the signals on the Newell Highway even though they weren’t.
It sure will be interesting to see how many of the new Safetran type 3's end up dying, maybe Siemens were selling them off cheap and ARTC couldn't resist!
At least John Holland are using WCH e-bells, but it is odd that they used two e-bells at the Newell Hwy when the old setup had a single m-bell.
McK&H.Aust wrote:Checked out more crosings today.....
The crossings at Murrurundi and Ardglen have lost their m-bells and now have Safetran type 3's. Single St at Werris Creek still has it's black hybrid bell, although now has red background crossbucks on all three signals. The other crossing at Werris Creek still has both teardrop bells.
The crossing at New St, Gunnedah still has it's WCH m-bell and there is still no sign of work commencing on the replacement overpass. The crossing at Boggabri still has two Safetran type 3's, while the crossing north of Baan Baa (known as Narrabri Coal according to the sign on the relay bungalow) still has it's hybrid bells.
Narrabri West was the furthest I went, the Newell Hwy crossing now has new gateless signals with new WCH lights and two WCH e-bells. Old Turrawan Rd now has a Safetran type 3 but is otherwise unchanged.
That’s some very sad news. It’s a good thing you filmed the hybrids at Ardglen when you did. I just hope the Type 3s will die quickly like so many have been lately. ARTC must have quite a stockpile of Type 3s!
I am glad the bell Nazis haven’t gotten to the crossings at Werris Creek and the hybrids north of Baan Baa! I bet John Holland will use the excuse “life expired” to replace the signals on the Newell Highway even though they weren’t.
It sure will be interesting to see how many of the new Safetran type 3's end up dying, maybe Siemens were selling them off cheap and ARTC couldn't resist!
At least John Holland are using WCH e-bells, but it is odd that they used two e-bells at the Newell Hwy when the old setup had a single m-bell.
Maybe they thought two bells on the Newell Hwy were necessary given the road is fairly busy?
McK&H.Aust wrote:Checked out more crosings today.....
The crossings at Murrurundi and Ardglen have lost their m-bells and now have Safetran type 3's. Single St at Werris Creek still has it's black hybrid bell, although now has red background crossbucks on all three signals. The other crossing at Werris Creek still has both teardrop bells.
The crossing at New St, Gunnedah still has it's WCH m-bell and there is still no sign of work commencing on the replacement overpass. The crossing at Boggabri still has two Safetran type 3's, while the crossing north of Baan Baa (known as Narrabri Coal according to the sign on the relay bungalow) still has it's hybrid bells.
Narrabri West was the furthest I went, the Newell Hwy crossing now has new gateless signals with new WCH lights and two WCH e-bells. Old Turrawan Rd now has a Safetran type 3 but is otherwise unchanged.
That’s some very sad news. It’s a good thing you filmed the hybrids at Ardglen when you did. I just hope the Type 3s will die quickly like so many have been lately. ARTC must have quite a stockpile of Type 3s!
I am glad the bell Nazis haven’t gotten to the crossings at Werris Creek and the hybrids north of Baan Baa! I bet John Holland will use the excuse “life expired” to replace the signals on the Newell Highway even though they weren’t.
It sure will be interesting to see how many of the new Safetran type 3's end up dying, maybe Siemens were selling them off cheap and ARTC couldn't resist!
At least John Holland are using WCH e-bells, but it is odd that they used two e-bells at the Newell Hwy when the old setup had a single m-bell.
Maybe they thought two bells on the Newell Hwy were necessary given the road is fairly busy?
Yes that's probably it, maybe the next LCSC report will give some more details.
McK&H.Aust wrote:Checked out more crosings today.....
The crossings at Murrurundi and Ardglen have lost their m-bells and now have Safetran type 3's. Single St at Werris Creek still has it's black hybrid bell, although now has red background crossbucks on all three signals. The other crossing at Werris Creek still has both teardrop bells.
The crossing at New St, Gunnedah still has it's WCH m-bell and there is still no sign of work commencing on the replacement overpass. The crossing at Boggabri still has two Safetran type 3's, while the crossing north of Baan Baa (known as Narrabri Coal according to the sign on the relay bungalow) still has it's hybrid bells.
Narrabri West was the furthest I went, the Newell Hwy crossing now has new gateless signals with new WCH lights and two WCH e-bells. Old Turrawan Rd now has a Safetran type 3 but is otherwise unchanged.
Did you get around to any filming? How about the Armidale line?
Metro, why do you keep removing Mechanical bells?!
McK&H.Aust wrote:Checked out more crosings today.....
The crossings at Murrurundi and Ardglen have lost their m-bells and now have Safetran type 3's. Single St at Werris Creek still has it's black hybrid bell, although now has red background crossbucks on all three signals. The other crossing at Werris Creek still has both teardrop bells.
The crossing at New St, Gunnedah still has it's WCH m-bell and there is still no sign of work commencing on the replacement overpass. The crossing at Boggabri still has two Safetran type 3's, while the crossing north of Baan Baa (known as Narrabri Coal according to the sign on the relay bungalow) still has it's hybrid bells.
Narrabri West was the furthest I went, the Newell Hwy crossing now has new gateless signals with new WCH lights and two WCH e-bells. Old Turrawan Rd now has a Safetran type 3 but is otherwise unchanged.
Did you get around to any filming? How about the Armidale line?
The only filming today was the crossing north of Baan Baa with the hybrid bells. I need to go home tomorrow and won't be doing the Armidale line this trip.
) and Hermitage Rd, Belford just weeks before they were removed. I guess ARTC had a stockpile of Type 3s that they thought they’d use. Did you do any filming?
