Australian Railroad Crossing Signals

[RedhenRailcarSAR]

Flat gates will be getting trialed at Evens Road in Lyndbrook sometime soon. Will be interesting to see which gate lights are used.

3F472DC1-4090-47BA-BCFD-8345EC20FB87.jpeg
6B26A11E-8B8F-480F-9E8F-0C43301E6CBC.jpeg
25AE4103-1A07-4AF2-B635-EC8D16324E67.jpeg

I will go check out the crossing in a few weeks and see if the new gates have been installed. I may not be able to take pictures of them though.

That’s rather interesting, but I personally think this is the beginning of the end of wishbone gates in Australia. Maybe metro could instead save money to do other upgrades instead of replacing all the gates?

[Applehead137]

Damn , that sucks about them being installed, hopefully they won’t pass tests but I doubt it . I might film the crossing when it gets the new gates. Anyway I’ve been looking through this website here and it has some really cool information on Crossing installation dates :http://www.vrhistory.com/Locations/index.htm

Here’s some of the notes I have made:
Somerville road yarraville Boom gates 20/04/1969 grade separated 18/05/1970
Anderson Street Yarraville rotary flashing lights ( not flashing light signals and old gates were still in use) 03/06/1976
Anderson Street yarraville Boom gates 18/06/1995
https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/52 ... 7be5823605
Lara Lakes road Lara Flashing lights installed 25/10/1962
https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/Mc ... 46ff2a2bca
Windermere road and Lara lakes road boom gates 1981
https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/Mc ... 870d78f6f1
North shore road North Shore Flashing lights 02/08/1939 Boom gates 17/09/1984
https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/C1 ... 6786c6ddef
Forest Road North Lara Flashing lights Installed 12/03/1986
https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/27 ... 5506cbfa24
Main road St Albans Boom gates installed 09/11/1986 replacing interlocking gates

Taylor’s road St. Albans Flashing lights 20/04/1967 boom gates 15/01/1986 now grade separated
Melton Highway Sydenham Boom gate installed 22/02/1987 replacing interlocking gates , grade separated

Calder Park Drive Flashing lights installed 01/02/1990 boom gates 2000s?
https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/Ca ... 9e45b544bb
Old Calder Highway boom gates 21/09/1982
https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/44 ... b79a5ade05
Gap road station street Sunbury Flashing lights 1/11/1940 Boom gates 24/02/1983 new signals in 2000s
https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/6- ... b1d2df5baf
Rowe street Castlemaine Flashing lights 28/05/1958 replacing wig wag
https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/6+ ... a40e25a200
Maclise street castlemain Flashing lights 26/03/1952
https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/Ma ... 38f799fce9
McGregor road pakenham Flashing lights 11/12/1974 boom gates 06/09/1986
https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/Mc ... 74ec0d8361
Racecourse road pakenham Flashing lights 12/12/1974 boom gates 23/05/1999
https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/He ... d4f2655054
Main Street pakenham Flashing lights 20/12/1938 2 extra flashing light signals 14/04/1975 boom gates 06/09/1986
https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/Ma ... 04b8295024
Ryan road pakenham boom gates 23/05/1999 signals removed 2013?
Nar nar goon road Nar Nar Goon Flashing lights 05/10/1939 boom gates 2000s?
https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/Na ... 74ec0da7f1
Colman street Warragul Flashing lights 30/10/1945 boom gates 09/08/1988
https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/31 ... a0da759d9b
Larnders road flashing lights 20/08/1950 boom gates 2010
https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/C1 ... 49eae0f2c2
Ashley Rd Trafalgar Flashing lights 23/03/1958 boom gates 23/03/1997
https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/As ... a40e1c8e31
Bank street Traralgon Flashing lights 11/06/1980 boom gates years later
https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/Ba ... b0162cad42

Anyway I recommend you check out the site

[Jack2003]

Unfortunately the original Western Cullen Hayes boom gate mechanisms have been replaced with Siemens gate mechanism at the Holmes Road/Puckle Street level crossing in Moonee Ponds according to Train Hunter Junior's new video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22qdqI2o65o A closeup of it can be seen at 1:38. The rest of this crossing is unchanged. Devon Road, Pascoe Vale has also had it's McKenzie & Holland gate mechanism and WRRS gate mechanism replaced with WCH gate mechs as well. https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.721 ... 312!8i6656 Gaffney Street's Westinghouse/McKenzie & Holland gate mechanism and WRRS gate mechanism still survived in 2017, but Google Street view is out of date so I don't know if they are still there. Does Bell Street, Coburg still have the old Western Cullen Hayes boom gate mechanisms?

[Jack2003]

Today we went down to Melbourne so I could film some crossings and here is what I got filmed:
1. I filmed the display signals underneath the Melton Highway, Sydenham bridge. They don't work and I threw stones at both the hybrid bells to get them to sound.
2. I filmed the Park Street, Moonee Ponds level crossing and the unadjusted Type 1 still survives. I managed to film my first VLine Sprinter going through the crossing in the second shot.
3. I then filmed the Macaulay Road, Kensington crossing and the unadjusted Type 1's still survive.
4. I then filmed the Macaulay Road, North Melbourne crossing and then Arden Street and the hybrids and Westinghouse gate mechs still survive.
5. Lastly I filmed Toorak Road and Glenferrie Road, Kooyong and the hybrids still survive at both crossings. However removal works have started at Toorak Road and the trees have been removed to make way for the new skyrail bridge, some pipes have been put in the ground ready for the supports and the pedestrian crossing on the northern side has been moved south of the crossing and some new temporary traffic light signals have been put in and two of the traffic lights on the old pedestrian crossing have been pulled out and the poles are lying on the ground next to the construction fence. The pedestrian signal button has been removed on one of the signals as well and the bike path has been closed for removal works. Hope you enjoy my YouTube videos.

[freebrickproductions]

However removal works have started at Toorak Road and the trees have been removed to make way for the new skyrail bridge, some pipes have been put in the ground ready for the supports and the pedestrian crossing on the northern side has been moved south of the crossing and some new temporary traffic light signals have been put in and two of the traffic lights on the old pedestrian crossing have been pulled out and the poles are lying on the ground next to the construction fence.

That's certainly a run-on sentence.

[Applehead137]

Great that you filmed those crossings jack. I went past that crossing last week when those works had started but I forgot to post about it . Anyway I found a video showing the McDarmkds road crossings with its new gated signals. But there are 2 safetran bells . But they are safetran type 3 ebells. There’s also the crossing next to violet town station. Cowslip street still has its hybrids! Here’s the video https://youtu.be/8PocttqY1Vk
In other news I found something pretty cool . In this add for comeng from the 1980s or 1990s you see a comeng in The Met colours passing through a gateless Crossing with old CRB cantilevers ! I’m not 100% sure where it is but I think that it might be the Webster street crossing in Dandenong. https://www.google.com/maps/place/12+We ... a875ed5798
The surroundings look pretty similar , and I know that the crossing had 2 older cantilevers before installing 3 tracks . The crossing is at 0:15 in the video . Here’s the video:https://youtu.be/p9TUVAmMZ2E

[Jack2003]

The hybrids still were at Cowslip Street on our way home from NSW.

I also found footage from the Wellington Street level crossing in Kerang from 2004 when it had a teardrop bell. You can hear it at 0:09 in the video:

I've also filmed the crossing too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCrYWMrDAJY&t=7s

There is also footage from the McCallum Street level crossing in Swan Hill from 2010. You can hear the teardrop bell at 0:44 in the video:

My tour video of the crossing in April when new signal bases had been installed as well as new relay box bases and train signal bases: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKQ_vGxGAO0&t=2s
Video of me making the bell sound. Action starts at 1:32: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uT2M8E4wtg&t=2s

Shame the crossing has been upgraded with boom gates now though, they should've spent the money on upgrading passive crossings between Bendigo and Swan Hill instead.

[Applehead137]

Here’s a picture of the old now removed McKinnon road McKinnon also it looks like there’s only 2 tracks not 3!

This one could also be McKinnon or maybe Bentleigh

Here’s Charman road Cheltenham and guess what, it had a Safetran M bell !


Here’s my video of the crossing: https://youtu.be/dh0YX7ImB-k

Latrobe street Mentone when the equipment was fresh!

Warrigal road Mentone with most likely the original 1932 signals. The lights or cross arms may not be the original ones as it would probably have had Unmarked Mck&h crossarms

Here’s another picture although there’s a crash

Here’s my video: https://youtu.be/ZjfioRUCKPE
Lochiel Avenue edithvale with gates , one of the gated signals had a teardrop bell , probably reused. The crossing still had its original median strip signals , I think these were replaced when traffic lights were installed. It also looks like either a crash happend or they were installing the new gated signals. 1983

Edithvale Station box with windows smashed . The crossing would have had wooden interlocking or hand gates at the time . Note destroyed traffic light and old traffic lights sign.

Station street Mordialloc . I’m guessing the gated signals were about to go in or they were installing pedestrian gates . Also the bell looks like it could be a WABCO by looking at the base , but it’s hard to tell with the quality.

Chelsea road Chelsea, I think this is from like the 1990s or 2000s . The crossing had hybrids and old gate mechs.

Argyle Avenue Chelsea. I wounded if the Harmon lights were there at this time . Also the signal in the median strip looks smaller

I think they added another part to the pole for extra lights , probably why one set is Mck&h and one is Westinghouse. Photo is mine

Here’s a picture from when it was gateless . Photo from late 1970s when a smash happened. It looks like the signal that’s now in the median strip was once on the side of the crossing. It was most likely moved when gates were installed

Here’s my video https://youtu.be/D7BAAk70Qw4

Mascot avenue bonbeach. Reused teardrop. Looks like one of the light sets are Mck&h 1985

And finally a gateless Eel Race road Carrum with Mck&h lights

Here’s my video https://youtu.be/KiWgF0pVws4

[chris96]

Great finds Jack ! I’ve ended up finding heaps of old grainy , but amazing pictures of some crossings on the Frankston line . There mostly from around the 1970s - 80s and army good quality but still pretty good finds .
Anyway here are 2 pictures of Wickham Worthing roads on this article about a crossing smash . The article says that the pictures are from 1984 which is odd because by the pictures the crossing still had hand gates and wasn’t a roundabout. Old the gated signals look like a pure 1960s setup . I guess they must have been reused from another crossing.
https://localhistory.kingston.vic.gov.au/articles/292
Here’s what the crossing looks like now

Here’s my video:https://youtu.be/3EU36R7s9BE

Here’s a picture of the old now removed McKinnon road McKinnon also it looks like there’s only 2 tracks not 3!

This one could also be McKinnon or maybe Bentleigh

Here’s Charman road Cheltenham and guess what, it had a Safetran M bell !


Here’s my video of the crossing: https://youtu.be/dh0YX7ImB-k

Latrobe street Mentone when the equipment was fresh!

Warrigal road Mentone with most likely the original 1932 signals. The lights or cross arms may not be the original ones as it would probably have had Unmarked Mck&h crossarms

Here’s another picture although there’s a crash

Here’s my video: https://youtu.be/ZjfioRUCKPE
Lochiel Avenue edithvale with gates , one of the gated signals had a teardrop bell , probably reused. The crossing still had its original median strip signals , I think these were replaced when traffic lights were installed. It also looks like either a crash happend or they were installing the new gated signals. 1983

Edithvale Station box with windows smashed . The crossing would have had wooden interlocking or hand gates at the time . Note destroyed traffic light and old traffic lights sign.

Station street Mordialloc . I’m guessing the gated signals were about to go in or they were installing pedestrian gates . Also the bell looks like it could be a WABCO by looking at the base , but it’s hard to tell with the quality.

Chelsea road Chelsea, I think this is from like the 1990s or 2000s . The crossing had hybrids and old gate mechs.

Argyle Avenue Chelsea. I wounded if the Harmon lights were there at this time . Also the signal in the median strip looks smaller

I think they added another part to the pole for extra lights , probably why one set is Mck&h and one is Westinghouse. Photo is mine

Here’s a picture from when it was gateless . Photo from late 1970s when a smash happened. It looks like the signal that’s now in the median strip was once on the side of the crossing. It was most likely moved when gates were installed

Here’s my video https://youtu.be/D7BAAk70Qw4

Mascot avenue bonbeach. Reused teardrop. Looks like one of the light sets are Mck&h 1985

And finally a gateless Eel Race road Carrum with Mck&h lights

Here’s my video https://youtu.be/KiWgF0pVws4

Wow! What amazing finds Applehead! The old bell at Station street Mordialloc is defiantly a WABCO and it's nice to know that Charman road Cheltenham had a Safetran too. I wonder how many Safetran's were installed on Melbourne's crossings back in the day? Seems like there were far more than originally thought. It's quite strange seeing teardrop bells on crossings with new Westinghouse mechs and lights (I assumed that hybrids would've been installed during these upgrades). Times have centrally changed!

On an unrelated note, I have a story which I'm dying to tell. Unfortunately, I don't have any footage to back this up, so you'll just have to take my word for it. Earlier today I experienced an unbelievable malfunction at the Galvin Rd crossing in Werribee where the gates didn't make it down in time for a train! As some of you on this site may know, the ARTC standard gauge tracks on the Geelong line use predictors to activate the signals. As I drove up to the crossing, I noticed a Melbourne bound freight service approaching and was surprised that the crossing hadn't yet activated. I continued to drive over the crossing (thinking it was still safe) when the driver of the locomotive suddenly blasted the horns and I realized the engine was actually much closer and traveling at a higher speed than I originally thought. At this point the crossing still hadn't activated. Since there were no other cars nearby, I was able to slow down and observe what was happening. The train got closer and closer until the crossing finally activated at the last second. The boom gates had just started to lower when the train rushed through. Had there been other cars in the area, the situation could have been a lot worse. All in all, the crossing only provided about six to eight seconds of warning before the train arrived. I contacted V/line (who according to the sign are responsible for maintaining this crossing) and reported the incident. I would assume that some sort of speed calculation error with the predictor caused the late activation. This crossing is known for going haywire and I've seen it activate and deactivate for no reason on a few occasions. This is the first time I've seen it (or any crossing for that matter) fail to activate though. Does anyone have any ideas what exactly could have caused such a dangerous failure?

Here's the "naughty" crossing:
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.914 ... 312!8i6656

[McK&H.Aust]

According to a recent comment on my YouTube channel, it seems that one of the Westinghouse hybrid bells at Sisely Ave, Wangaratta has been replaced by a Safetran type 3 e-bell. The person also says that work is currently underway to replace the Westinghouse pedestrian gates with swing gates https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-36.360 ... 312!8i6656

There has also been some kind of upgrade at Camden Rd, Douglas Park https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.183 ... 312!8i6656
I travelled past on the train last night and it was difficult to see exactly what has happened, but it appears that the Safetran gate mechs have been replaced by new WCH ones on new masts. Couldn't see much else but I think maybe they've kept the m-bells. I will need to make a visit in daylight to see for sure, hopefully next week.