Australian Railroad Crossing Signals

[McK&H.Aust]

Made another visit to the Forbes/Parkes area and found another two crossings with Westinghouse hybrid bells.

The first was this crossing at Gunningbland which had a WCH m-bell back in 2010 https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.121 ... 312!8i6656
It has since been replaced by a hybrid bell and now has red background crossbucks...
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1HhAO7 ... qbOSDpShpV
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1F5zwL ... nU8q5Wah0C

The second crossing was at Bogan Gate (cool name) which isn't on GSV so I don't know what the original bell was, although I suspect it was also a WCH m-bell. This is the closest view I could find https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.107 ... 328!8i1664
The signals were installed in 2001 and seem to be an early installation of Alstom lights, as the junction boxes are GEC Alsthom. Also mounted on both junction boxes are some odd looking devices which could be alarms, possibly for night operation of the crossing although they don't appear to be in working order.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1evJOm ... elw8qiqw45
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1h3e2h ... VTJiBQduBS
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1zD_Hl ... W4iiopr_r8

I managed to film Bogan Gate but wasn't able to film the crossing at Gunningbland. Apart from being "decorated" by birds, both hybrid bells seem to be fairly new and it seems the area around Parkes has actually become a hotspot for hybrids

A couple of other hybrid bells which I filmed were....
Tichborne, which is unchanged from the 2015 GSV image https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.225 ... 312!8i6656
The crossing actually had a teardrop bell until 2006 or 2007 when it was replaced by the hybrid.

Forbes, which has a healthy sounding combo of hybrid and WCH m-bell https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.379 ... 312!8i6656
The hybrid bell replaced the previous WCH m-bell some time after 2010 https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.379 ... 312!8i6656

The other two crossings filmed were Caragabal which still has a WCH m-bell but has been upgraded with United Group lights and red background crossbucks https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.844 ... 328!8i1664 and the crossing at Garema which isn't on GSV but has two WCH m-bells https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.552 ... 384241,16z

[TrickyMario7654]

Made another visit to the Forbes/Parkes area and found another two crossings with Westinghouse hybrid bells.

The first was this crossing at Gunningbland which had a WCH m-bell back in 2010 https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.121 ... 312!8i6656
It has since been replaced by a hybrid bell and now has red background crossbucks...
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1HhAO7 ... qbOSDpShpV
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1F5zwL ... nU8q5Wah0C

The second crossing was at Bogan Gate (cool name) which isn't on GSV so I don't know what the original bell was, although I suspect it was also a WCH m-bell. This is the closest view I could find https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.107 ... 328!8i1664
The signals were installed in 2001 and seem to be an early installation of Alstom lights, as the junction boxes are GEC Alsthom. Also mounted on both junction boxes are some odd looking devices which could be alarms, possibly for night operation of the crossing although they don't appear to be in working order.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1evJOm ... elw8qiqw45
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1h3e2h ... VTJiBQduBS
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1zD_Hl ... W4iiopr_r8

I managed to film Bogan Gate but wasn't able to film the crossing at Gunningbland. Apart from being "decorated" by birds, both hybrid bells seem to be fairly new and it seems the area around Parkes has actually become a hotspot for hybrids

A couple of other hybrid bells which I filmed were....
Tichborne, which is unchanged from the 2015 GSV image https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.225 ... 312!8i6656
The crossing actually had a teardrop bell until 2006 or 2007 when it was replaced by the hybrid.

Forbes, which has a healthy sounding combo of hybrid and WCH m-bell https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.379 ... 312!8i6656
The hybrid bell replaced the previous WCH m-bell some time after 2010 https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.379 ... 312!8i6656

The other two crossings filmed were Caragabal which still has a WCH m-bell but has been upgraded with United Group lights and red background crossbucks https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.844 ... 328!8i1664 and the crossing at Garema which isn't on GSV but has two WCH m-bells https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.552 ... 384241,16z

Thanks for all those updates, looking forward to seeing all those videos!

Speaking of updates, I just found some recently updated street view images of the crossing at Molong, showing the new signals at the crossing. (Spoiler: it's a typical new NSW upgrade with WCH equipment)
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.091 ... 312!8i6656

Also found this crossing in Dubbo that was upgraded with gates in 2016, surprisingly it uses Siemens gate mechs and just one WCH e-bell!
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.242 ... 312!8i6656

[trainman7]

Made another visit to the Forbes/Parkes area and found another two crossings with Westinghouse hybrid bells.

The first was this crossing at Gunningbland which had a WCH m-bell back in 2010 https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.121 ... 312!8i6656
It has since been replaced by a hybrid bell and now has red background crossbucks...
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1HhAO7 ... qbOSDpShpV
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1F5zwL ... nU8q5Wah0C

The second crossing was at Bogan Gate (cool name) which isn't on GSV so I don't know what the original bell was, although I suspect it was also a WCH m-bell. This is the closest view I could find https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.107 ... 328!8i1664
The signals were installed in 2001 and seem to be an early installation of Alstom lights, as the junction boxes are GEC Alsthom. Also mounted on both junction boxes are some odd looking devices which could be alarms, possibly for night operation of the crossing although they don't appear to be in working order.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1evJOm ... elw8qiqw45
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1h3e2h ... VTJiBQduBS
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1zD_Hl ... W4iiopr_r8

I managed to film Bogan Gate but wasn't able to film the crossing at Gunningbland. Apart from being "decorated" by birds, both hybrid bells seem to be fairly new and it seems the area around Parkes has actually become a hotspot for hybrids

A couple of other hybrid bells which I filmed were....
Tichborne, which is unchanged from the 2015 GSV image https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.225 ... 312!8i6656
The crossing actually had a teardrop bell until 2006 or 2007 when it was replaced by the hybrid.

Forbes, which has a healthy sounding combo of hybrid and WCH m-bell https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.379 ... 312!8i6656
The hybrid bell replaced the previous WCH m-bell some time after 2010 https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.379 ... 312!8i6656

The other two crossings filmed were Caragabal which still has a WCH m-bell but has been upgraded with United Group lights and red background crossbucks https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.844 ... 328!8i1664 and the crossing at Garema which isn't on GSV but has two WCH m-bells https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.552 ... 384241,16z

Nice to see so many hybrids being reused! I wonder if ARTC/John Holland have some hybrids stockpiled?

[McK&H.Aust]

Thanks for all those updates, looking forward to seeing all those videos!

Speaking of updates, I just found some recently updated street view images of the crossing at Molong, showing the new signals at the crossing. (Spoiler: it's a typical new NSW upgrade with WCH equipment)
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.091 ... 312!8i6656

Also found this crossing in Dubbo that was upgraded with gates in 2016, surprisingly it uses Siemens gate mechs and just one WCH e-bell!
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.242 ... 312!8i6656

Molong was a really nice crossing and it's sad to see it ruined, now there is only one crossing in NSW with Westinghouse gate mechs

It's surprising that they only put one bell on such a busy road at Dubbo, interesting to see Siemens gate mechs used with WCH e-bells, I guess by then they were already having doubts about the Safetran type 3's.

Nice to see so many hybrids being reused! I wonder if ARTC/John Holland have some hybrids stockpiled?

I'm sure ARTC would have kept some hybrid bells, considering their reuse of old m-bells on other crossings. Not sure about John Holland, but considering they used a hybrid to replace the previous WCH m-bell at Blayney (before the signals were entirely replaced), it's likely they also keep some older bells.

[freebrickproductions]

The signals were installed in 2001 and seem to be an early installation of Alstom lights, as the junction boxes are GEC Alsthom. Also mounted on both junction boxes are some odd looking devices which could be alarms, possibly for night operation of the crossing although they don't appear to be in working order.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1evJOm ... elw8qiqw45
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1h3e2h ... VTJiBQduBS
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1zD_Hl ... W4iiopr_r8

According to one of my friends over in the UK, those are indeed alarms, from Cranford Controls:
https://www.firedetectionshop.co.uk/sho ... RqEALw_wcB

[McK&H.Aust]

The signals were installed in 2001 and seem to be an early installation of Alstom lights, as the junction boxes are GEC Alsthom. Also mounted on both junction boxes are some odd looking devices which could be alarms, possibly for night operation of the crossing although they don't appear to be in working order.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1evJOm ... elw8qiqw45
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1h3e2h ... VTJiBQduBS
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1zD_Hl ... W4iiopr_r8

According to one of my friend's over in the UK, those are indeed alarms, from Cranford Controls:
https://www.firedetectionshop.co.uk/sho ... RqEALw_wcB

Thankyou for finding out what they are
I did some more searching and they are also sold in Australia, this is probably the model used on the crossing https://au.rs-online.com/web/p/electron ... s/2487178/

The other alarm on the crossing (on the bell-less signal) seems to have been damaged so I'm pretty sure they would be defunct by now.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=18RMNs ... VbynEg6W41

I've checked what documentation I could find on the crossing and there are no references to any alarms, so it was possibly a trial or something done by the local signal maintainers.

On a different subject, here is a crossing in South Australia which was downgraded from active to passive. It seems the crossing was originally part of the main road (Petersburg Rd) until it was diverted onto a new alighnment with an overpass. The crossing was kept open but downgraded to passive.
2010: https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.959 ... 312!8i6656
2015: https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.959 ... 312!8i6656
The crossing was solar powered and old Westinghouse signal bases were used for the solar panel masts https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.959 ... 312!8i6656

[McK&H.Aust]

Found a video showing changes to the crossing at Oaklands Park SA and it seems that work is well underway on the crossing removal.



The crossing itself is shown beginning at 2:05 and there have been major alterations to the signals. With the exception of the gated signal, all other signals and traffic lights on the southern side of the crossing have been removed. The gated signal has been refitted with forward facing lights and traffic lights. https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.010 ... 312!8i6656

The gate mech has been removed from the northern median signal and a longer gate added to the other signal, with the number of lanes reduced. Traffic lights have also been fitted to both signals https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.009 ... 312!8i6656

[trainman7]

Found a video showing changes to the crossing at Oaklands Park SA and it seems that work is well underway on the crossing removal.



The crossing itself is shown beginning at 2:05 and there have been major alterations to the signals. With the exception of the gated signal, all other signals and traffic lights on the southern side of the crossing have been removed. The gated signal has been refitted with forward facing lights and traffic lights. https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.010 ... 312!8i6656

The gate mech has been removed from the northern median signal and a longer gate added to the other signal, with the number of lanes reduced. Traffic lights have also been fitted to both signals https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.009 ... 312!8i6656

Interesting to see the construction phase! It’s a shame it’s going as it was a cool setup! Though being extremely busy, it’s probably for the best that it’s being removed!

[Username1]

Just an update from a couple of the Frankston line crossings. Lochiel Avenue in Edithavale has had one of the GS adjusted type 1s on the eastern side of the crossing replaced with a GS type-3. And on a bigger note, the Westinghouse gate mechanism on the eastern side of the crossing Bear street crossing in Mordialloc was replaced by a WCH gate mech and the other Westinghouse gate mech that still remains has some sort of sticker on it but I couldn’t make out what it said. This would’ve been done in the last week or so I as i went past not long ago.

EDIT* Also forgot to add that the adjusted type 1 on the western side of the Parkers road crossing in Parkdale has died, meaning that when the gates lower and the type 2 sounds out, the crossing becomes a silent crossing with only the swing gates making sound.

[McK&H.Aust]

Just an update from a couple of the Frankston line crossings. Lochiel Avenue in Edithavale has had one of the GS adjusted type 1s on the eastern side of the crossing replaced with a GS type-3. And on a bigger note, the Westinghouse gate mechanism on the eastern side of the crossing Bear street crossing in Mordialloc was replaced by a WCH gate mech and the other Westinghouse gate mech that still remains has some sort of sticker on it but I couldn’t make out what it said. This would’ve been done in the last week or so I as i went past not long ago.

EDIT* Also forgot to add that the adjusted type 1 on the western side of the Parkers road crossing in Parkdale has died, meaning that when the gates lower and the type 2 sounds out, the crossing becomes a silent crossing with only the swing gates making sound.

It's nice to see another adjusted GS Type 1 being replaced by a type 3, hopefully the dead one at Parkdale will also be replaced by a type 3. Sad to see another Westinghouse gate mech being replaced, but I gesss they would be quite old and spare parts no longer available.

I'm surprised that more Australian crossings don't have the bells shut off when the gates have lowered, specially at crossings near houses where there are pedestrian alarms. On many crossings the bells are outnumbered by pedestrian alarms anyway (4 alarms and 2 bells).

Moving to the Wollongong area, some more articles about level crossings have made the local news.

https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/sto ... gs/?cs=300

https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/sto ... ng/?cs=300

https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/sto ... gs/?cs=300

https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/sto ... gs/?cs=300