Australian Railroad Crossing Signals

[chris96]

There's an "&t=1s" in the URL (which tells the player on YouTube itself to start playing the video 1 second in), and anything after the video ID causes the embedder to throw an error and not play the video (which is an issue on YouTube's end, so nothing we can do about it). If any YouTube URL has an "&..." in the URL, then that & and anything after it should be removed for it to work. I've fixed it in your original post.

Thanks for fixing that for me. I'll have to look out for it in the future.

[freebrickproductions]

From a 1997 Australian Road Users' Handbook that was shared in a Facebook Group that I'm apart of, it appears that Hazard Triangles were still installed at crossings over there at least that late:

[McK&H.Aust]

From a 1997 Australian Road Users' Handbook that was shared in a Facebook Group that I'm apart of, it appears that Hazard Triangles were still installed at crossings over there at least that late:

I'm not sure when hazard triangles were removed. Each state has their own road rules and they have been gradually altered to bring them together and make standard road rules right across Australia (I think it's still a work in progress).

Hazard triangles are still in the NSW rules http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/roads/safety- ... sings.html

[McK&H.Aust]

Just returned from a road trip to western NSW. Didn't do much filming (3 crossings) and it was more of an exploration trip to see what was left in the area....

Checked out (and filmed) the crossing at Marrangaroo https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.451 ... 312!8i6656 New gated signals were installed here in early 2016 and surprisingly the gate mechs are Invensys. The original gateless signals still remain although they now have the new SORS signs. As previously posted, the Safetran type 3 e-bells which were on the new signals have recently been replaced by new WCH m-bells.

This crossing at Ben Bullen hasn't changed from the 2015 image and still has it's Westinghouse hybrid bell. Would love to film the crossing but sadly the line only sees occasional use these days. https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.219 ... 312!8i6656

As predicted, this crossing at Dubbo which had Harmon gate mechs has been upgraded https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.242 ... 312!8i6656 The new gated signals have WCH gate mechs, but interestingly they have re-used the old WCH m-bells and put them on the new signals.

The Westinghouse hybrid bell on the crossing at Goonumbla has been replaced by a Safetran type 3 e-bell The crossing has also received the new crossbucks with the red backgrounds. https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.999 ... 312!8i6656

The Blaxland St crossing at Parkes had the wishbone gates replaced by the new flat gates. The old incandescent lights have been replaced by new United Group LED lights and also has the new red background crossbucks. One very surprising thing is both the WCH m-bells have been replaced by Westinghouse hybrid bells, the traffic lights are also now in operation. I filmed this crossing. https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.144 ... 312!8i6656

This crossing at Tichborne remains unchanged and still has a Westinghouse hybrid bell https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.225 ... 312!8i6656

This crossing at Forbes is also unchanged and still has a Westinghouse hybrid bell and a WCH m-bell https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.379 ... 312!8i6656

Amazingly this nice gateless crossing at Forbes remains untouched from the 2010 GSV image! It must be the only crossing in the area which still has the old crossbucks. The WCH m-bell still remains although it sounds quite weak, it was the final crossing that I filmed. https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.390 ... 312!8i6656

[TrickyMario7654]

Thanks for the updates on the crossings in Western NSW, McK&H Aust.

Some interesting upgrades to the crossings at Dubbo, and Parkes. I wonder why they reused the WCH m-bells on the Dubbo?

Also in Parkes, was this crossing with GRS/WRRS Type D mechs, WCH m-bells and GRS Semaphore mechs on the pedestrian crossing.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.141 ... 312!8i6656

But sadly, the gated signals were replaced and the crossing now has WCH e-bells. The GRS Semaphore mechs were also replaced with the usual swing gates.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.142 ... 312!8i6656

Interesting how the old signals used older Queensland SORS signs and that the gateless signal was kept when the crossing was "upgraded".

Also, this crossing near Narromine has had the signal with the WCH m-bell replaced with a brand new signal with a Safetran Type 3 e-bell after the old one was written off in an accident where a truck was hit by a train.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.257 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.atsb.gov.au/media/5771017/r ... _final.pdf

[McK&H.Aust]

Thanks for the updates on the crossings in Western NSW, McK&H Aust.

Some interesting upgrades to the crossings at Dubbo, and Parkes. I wonder why they reused the WCH m-bells on the Dubbo?

Also in Parkes, was this crossing with GRS/WRRS Type D mechs, WCH m-bells and GRS Semaphore mechs on the pedestrian crossing.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.141 ... 312!8i6656

But sadly, the gated signals were replaced and the crossing now has WCH e-bells. The GRS Semaphore mechs were also replaced with the usual swing gates.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.142 ... 312!8i6656

Interesting how the old signals used older Queensland SORS signs and that the gateless signal was kept when the crossing was "upgraded".

Also, this crossing near Narromine has had the signal with the WCH m-bell replaced with a brand new signal with a Safetran Type 3 e-bell after the old one was written off in an accident where a truck was hit by a train.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.257 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.atsb.gov.au/media/5771017/r ... _final.pdf

I'm thinking that maybe they kept the m-bells at Dubbo because of the trouble they've been having with e-bells lately. I've checked most of the crossings between Gulgong - Dubbo - Parkes and the majority of them have been upgraded with new United Group lights. Out of those upgraded crossings, around two thirds of them still have m-bells which is pleasing to see.

Wish I had been able to film the crossing at Parkes before they replaced the GRS semaphore mechs, that crossing had older manually worked gates until 1991 when the GRS/WRRS Type D gates were installed. Must be the newest installation of type D mechs, they would have been re-used from another crossing.

Also heard through YouTube that another crossing with Safetran type 3 e-bells has been replaced with new WCH m-bells. This time it is Woods Rd at Craven (on the North Coast Line). The crossing was passive until 2010 and you can see the upgrade work taking place https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.154 ... 312!8i6656 You can actually see the new gated signals laying on the ground, looks like there is black plastic covering the e-bells https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.154 ... 312!8i6656 Another unusual thing is this sign https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.154 ... 312!8i6656

You can also see the google car in this mirror! https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.154 ... 312!8i6656

[TrickyMario7654]

Thanks for the updates on the crossings in Western NSW, McK&H Aust.

Some interesting upgrades to the crossings at Dubbo, and Parkes. I wonder why they reused the WCH m-bells on the Dubbo?

Also in Parkes, was this crossing with GRS/WRRS Type D mechs, WCH m-bells and GRS Semaphore mechs on the pedestrian crossing.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.141 ... 312!8i6656

But sadly, the gated signals were replaced and the crossing now has WCH e-bells. The GRS Semaphore mechs were also replaced with the usual swing gates.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.142 ... 312!8i6656

Interesting how the old signals used older Queensland SORS signs and that the gateless signal was kept when the crossing was "upgraded".

Also, this crossing near Narromine has had the signal with the WCH m-bell replaced with a brand new signal with a Safetran Type 3 e-bell after the old one was written off in an accident where a truck was hit by a train.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.257 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.atsb.gov.au/media/5771017/r ... _final.pdf

I'm thinking that maybe they kept the m-bells at Dubbo because of the trouble they've been having with e-bells lately. I've checked most of the crossings between Gulgong - Dubbo - Parkes and the majority of them have been upgraded with new United Group lights. Out of those upgraded crossings, around two thirds of them still have m-bells which is pleasing to see.

Wish I had been able to film the crossing at Parkes before they replaced the GRS semaphore mechs, that crossing had older manually worked gates until 1991 when the GRS/WRRS Type D gates were installed. Must be the newest installation of type D mechs, they would have been re-used from another crossing.

Also heard through YouTube that another crossing with Safetran type 3 e-bells has been replaced with new WCH m-bells. This time it is Woods Rd at Craven (on the North Coast Line). The crossing was passive until 2010 and you can see the upgrade work taking place https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.154 ... 312!8i6656 You can actually see the new gated signals laying on the ground, looks like there is black plastic covering the e-bells https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.154 ... 312!8i6656 Another unusual thing is this sign https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.154 ... 312!8i6656

That crossing at Parkes looks to have been upgraded between 2013-2014 according to the LCSC report from the period. It mentions "Upgrade pedestrian level crossing from boom to swing gate and upgrade out of date road booms" on Page 28. I really don't see how the old signals were "out of date"...
https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/sites/ ... report.pdf

Not to mention, there are crossings that are way older than Parkes on the exact same line (Ash Street, Orange & Blayney come to mind).

Within the same page, the crossing at Mirrool is mentioned with the statement of "Remove 2 signals from the centre of the road and install 4 new signals".
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.309 ... 312!8i6656

Also found this out of service crossing at Alleena.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.073 ... 312!8i6656

[McK&H.Aust]

That crossing at Parkes looks to have been upgraded between 2013-2014 according to the LCSC report from the period. It mentions "Upgrade pedestrian level crossing from boom to swing gate and upgrade out of date road booms" on Page 28. I really don't see how the old signals were "out of date"...
https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/sites/ ... report.pdf

Not to mention, there are crossings that are way older than Parkes on the exact same line (Ash Street, Orange & Blayney come to mind).

Within the same page, the crossing at Mirrool is mentioned with the statement of "Remove 2 signals from the centre of the road and install 4 new signals".
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.309 ... 312!8i6656

Also found this out of service crossing at Alleena.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.073 ... 312!8i6656

It certainly doesn't make sense about replacing the gates at Parkes, my guess is because the crossing is on the main road (Newell Hwy) and they think it looks better with shiny new signals.

The signals at Alleena have since been removed, they were installed about 1997 and the track was closed in 2004, so they weren't in use for very long. They were probably re-used on another crossing.

[TrickyMario7654]

That crossing at Parkes looks to have been upgraded between 2013-2014 according to the LCSC report from the period. It mentions "Upgrade pedestrian level crossing from boom to swing gate and upgrade out of date road booms" on Page 28. I really don't see how the old signals were "out of date"...
https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/sites/ ... report.pdf

Not to mention, there are crossings that are way older than Parkes on the exact same line (Ash Street, Orange & Blayney come to mind).

Within the same page, the crossing at Mirrool is mentioned with the statement of "Remove 2 signals from the centre of the road and install 4 new signals".
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.309 ... 312!8i6656

Also found this out of service crossing at Alleena.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.073 ... 312!8i6656

It certainly doesn't make sense about replacing the gates at Parkes, my guess is because the crossing is on the main road (Newell Hwy) and they think it looks better with shiny new signals.

The signals at Alleena have since been removed, they were installed about 1997 and the track was closed in 2004, so they weren't in use for very long. They were probably re-used on another crossing.

You hope they would reuse the signals at Alleena, complete waste otherwise.

Speaking of reusing signals, I found this oddball crossing near Orange which had these signals installed in around 2006-07. Despite this, it has painted masts! Could it be possible that the actual masts were reused from another crossing and they just installed newer equipment onto them?
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.218 ... 312!8i6656

Same with this crossing in Yerong Creek (it even has inverted SORS signs)!
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.387 ... 312!8i6656

[McK&H.Aust]

Speaking of reusing signals, I found this oddball crossing near Orange which had these signals installed in around 2006-07. Despite this, it has painted masts! Could it be possible that the actual masts were reused from another crossing and they just installed newer equipment onto them?
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.218 ... 312!8i6656

Yes those masts and their bases have been reused, you can even see some rust on one of the masts https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.218 ... 312!8i6656 Not sure why they used old masts, the standards specify galvanised masts for new installations as they don't require painting (and repainting in the future).

Same with this crossing in Yerong Creek (it even has inverted SORS signs)!
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.387 ... 312!8i6656

Those masts and the WCH lights have been reused, although the lights are mounted on new Westinghouse brackets. It's also likely that the gateless signal was reused from the original crossing. Certainly is an odd installation, almost filmed it but then I drove a little further to Henty and found the Harmon gate mechs! Maybe another time.