Mike's Railroad Crossing Forum

ColeD wrote:This may not be really "weird" but it is a four way crossing, since the tracks cut across the four way intersection.

https://www.google.com/maps/@27.4377723 ... 312!8i6656

ehh, not too weird. lots of intersections like that, really

ZachL wrote:

ColeD wrote:This may not be really "weird" but it is a four way crossing, since the tracks cut across the four way intersection.

https://www.google.com/maps/@27.4377723 ... 312!8i6656

ehh, not too weird. lots of intersections like that, really

A few of the lights are a bit weirdly oriented though, so that's something at least.

This might not be weird so forgive if not. But have anyone seen a crossing with a cantilever signal but no gate arms? Since this crossing here is like that. You would think if it's busy enough to need a cantilever it would have an arm. Also if you look to the right, there's a light shining at the track. I think it's because there's a switch there in the track.

https://www.google.com/maps/@27.4505114 ... 312!8i6656

ColeD wrote:This might not be weird so forgive if not. But have anyone seen a crossing with a cantilever signal but no gate arms? Since this crossing here is like that. You would think if it's busy enough to need a cantilever it would have an arm. Also if you look to the right, there's a light shining at the track. I think it's because there's a switch there in the track.

https://www.google.com/maps/@27.4505114 ... 312!8i6656

Gateless cantilevers are somewhat common, especially on lesser-used lines, and not really weird at all. All that cantilevers get installed for is visibility reasons, such as a crossing with multiple lanes of traffic or physical obstructions blocking the view of the mast lights. The Huntsville & Madison County Railroad only uses gateless crossings, and has plenty of gateless cantilevers, for example.

And the light on the relay case is just to let crews and maintainers know that it's on. Steady means it's on and receiving AC/external power, flashing means that it's on but not receiving AC/external power, and off means that it's off. A bit unusual that it's a gate light, but again, not too strange.
https://www.google.com/maps/@27.4503937 ... 312!8i6656

freebrickproductions wrote:

ColeD wrote:This might not be weird so forgive if not. But have anyone seen a crossing with a cantilever signal but no gate arms? Since this crossing here is like that. You would think if it's busy enough to need a cantilever it would have an arm. Also if you look to the right, there's a light shining at the track. I think it's because there's a switch there in the track.

https://www.google.com/maps/@27.4505114 ... 312!8i6656

Gateless cantilevers are somewhat common, especially on lesser-used lines, and not really weird at all. All that cantilevers get installed for is visibility reasons, such as a crossing with multiple lanes of traffic or physical obstructions blocking the view of the mast lights. The Huntsville & Madison County Railroad only uses gateless crossings, and has plenty of gateless cantilevers, for example.

And the light on the relay case is just to let crews and maintainers know that it's on. Steady means it's on and receiving AC/external power, flashing means that it's on but not receiving AC/external power, and off means that it's off. A bit unusual that it's a gate light, but again, not too strange.
https://www.google.com/maps/@27.4503937 ... 312!8i6656

I should have been more specific. Since I was referring to that flood light there, that's aimed at the switch. Maybe that's more common than not though.

I guess it just seemed unusual to me, since most other two lane roads in the area have gates but no cantilever. And I don't really see any visibility obstructions, other than there's a curve up the road. Sorry I was just going on what I've seen, which isn't that much.

ColeD wrote:

freebrickproductions wrote:

ColeD wrote:This might not be weird so forgive if not. But have anyone seen a crossing with a cantilever signal but no gate arms? Since this crossing here is like that. You would think if it's busy enough to need a cantilever it would have an arm. Also if you look to the right, there's a light shining at the track. I think it's because there's a switch there in the track.

https://www.google.com/maps/@27.4505114 ... 312!8i6656

Gateless cantilevers are somewhat common, especially on lesser-used lines, and not really weird at all. All that cantilevers get installed for is visibility reasons, such as a crossing with multiple lanes of traffic or physical obstructions blocking the view of the mast lights. The Huntsville & Madison County Railroad only uses gateless crossings, and has plenty of gateless cantilevers, for example.

And the light on the relay case is just to let crews and maintainers know that it's on. Steady means it's on and receiving AC/external power, flashing means that it's on but not receiving AC/external power, and off means that it's off. A bit unusual that it's a gate light, but again, not too strange.
https://www.google.com/maps/@27.4503937 ... 312!8i6656

I should have been more specific. Since I was referring to that flood light there, that's aimed at the switch. Maybe that's more common than not though.

I guess it just seemed unusual to me, since most other two lane roads in the area have gates but no cantilever. And I don't really see any visibility obstructions, other than there's a curve up the road. Sorry I was just going on what I've seen, which isn't that much.

I've seen that as well in downtown Madison for the switches at the ends of the storage track there, but that's it as far as switch lights that I've seen in person. Certainly not common.

Going back from the crossing a bit shows that the mast lights are hard to see, due to the trees near the crossing:
https://www.google.com/maps/@27.4518922 ... 312!8i6656

It also seems like years ago, many railroads, especially here in the southeast, loved to install cantilevers, even if they didn't need them.

I wouldn't say this crossing was weird at all, except that it doesn't seem to have any sort of bell that I can find. I've never seen a crossing with lights but no bells.

https://www.google.com/maps/@27.5958783 ... 312!8i6656

ColeD wrote: Tue Apr 23, 2019 5:38 pm I wouldn't say this crossing was weird at all, except that it doesn't seem to have any sort of bell that I can find. I've never seen a crossing with lights but no bells.

https://www.google.com/maps/@27.5958783 ... 312!8i6656

Bell-less crossings are not that uncommon, but I would say right here is an odd instance of one since the road looks like it has good traffic, whereas these bell-less crossings tend to be in areas with light traffic.

Hello, I'm back with more weirdness!

Weird placement... https://www.google.com/maps/@38.4477565 ... 6656?hl=en

An extra signal! https://www.google.com/maps/@38.4394064 ... 6656?hl=en

Short signals and bell on relay case. https://www.google.com/maps/@38.3930627 ... 6656?hl=en

Same as last, just at different crossing. https://www.google.com/maps/@38.390964, ... 6656?hl=en

Street running!! https://www.google.com/maps/@40.5907553 ... 6656?hl=en

At the end of street running... https://www.google.com/maps/@40.5779173 ... 6656?hl=en

I couldn't find a railroad crossing here, but I found a crossing railroad! https://www.google.com/maps/@40.3051688 ... 6656?hl=en

Bonus! Activation! https://www.google.com/maps/@40.2689437 ... 6656?hl=en

PlyingKibbles89 wrote: Thu Apr 25, 2019 1:20 pm Hello, I'm back with more weirdness!

Weird placement... https://www.google.com/maps/@38.4477565 ... 6656?hl=en

An extra signal! https://www.google.com/maps/@38.4394064 ... 6656?hl=en

Short signals and bell on relay case. https://www.google.com/maps/@38.3930627 ... 6656?hl=en

Same as last, just at different crossing. https://www.google.com/maps/@38.390964, ... 6656?hl=en

Street running!! https://www.google.com/maps/@40.5907553 ... 6656?hl=en

At the end of street running... https://www.google.com/maps/@40.5779173 ... 6656?hl=en

I couldn't find a railroad crossing here, but I found a crossing railroad! https://www.google.com/maps/@40.3051688 ... 6656?hl=en

Bonus! Activation! https://www.google.com/maps/@40.2689437 ... 6656?hl=en

None of those are really weird except for the first one you posted