Mike's Railroad Crossing Forum

ToledoRailfan wrote: Here is a cool old signal. I don't know what it is for but if I had to take a guess, I would say that it is for the lift bridge and the signal activates when the bridge lifts and either goes off when the bridge has been opened for a while, or when there is a train and/or locomotive there, or when the train crew knows ahead of time that the bridge is up. https://www.google.com/maps/@41.4919817 ... 6656?hl=en

Whoops!
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.4917872 ... 6656?hl=en
Also, that signal has the only pair of 12x20 inch lights at the crossing. The rest use 12x24 inch lights.
The crossing also used to have some Safetran 8 inch lights. Looking at previous street views, the lights on this signal (especially the one that's been turned all the way around) get hit quite a lot:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.4917219 ... 6656?hl=en
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.491807, ... 6656?hl=en
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.491825, ... 1664?hl=en
I do like how that industrial area and section of that shortline are secluded though. Has a rather nice feel to it.

Active crossing:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.4953985 ... 6656?hl=en

There used to be a bell here:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.483164, ... 6656?hl=en
Here's what the bell was:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.483164, ... 6656?hl=en

Classic crossing:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.4779333 ... 6656?hl=en

Kind of an odd setup. https://www.google.com/maps/@35.2642291 ... 312!8i6656
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There are blackout sign that say not to turn left/right here nor is there any signage for there being a railroad crossing here! https://www.google.com/maps/@35.2607973 ... 312!8i6656

The only things here are a crossing ID tag (https://www.google.com/maps/@35.260698, ... 312!8i6656)
and advanced warning signs with crossing markers.
https://www.google.com/maps/@35.2607016 ... 312!8i6656 https://www.google.com/maps/@35.2607026 ... 312!8i6656
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For some reason, this crossbuck has a half crossbuck under it indicator that there are two tracks, but there is only one track!
https://www.google.com/maps/@52.226434, ... 6656?hl=en

ToledoRailfan wrote:There is no blackout sign here nor is there any signage for there being a railroad crossing here! https://www.google.com/maps/@35.2607973 ... 312!8i6656

The only things here are a crossing ID tag (https://www.google.com/maps/@35.260698, ... 312!8i6656)
and advanced warning signs with crossing markers.
https://www.google.com/maps/@35.2607016 ... 312!8i6656 https://www.google.com/maps/@35.2607026 ... 312!8i6656

If the FRA had a report feature, I'd totally report those crossings, because I'm pretty sure all of those are violations for improper signaling. There aren't even any "No Left Turn" light-up signs at all, either!

Those crossing might also be in violation of the MUTCD too.

ZachL wrote:

ToledoRailfan wrote:There is no blackout sign here nor is there any signage for there being a railroad crossing here! https://www.google.com/maps/@35.2607973 ... 312!8i6656

The only things here are a crossing ID tag (https://www.google.com/maps/@35.260698, ... 312!8i6656)
and advanced warning signs with crossing markers.
https://www.google.com/maps/@35.2607016 ... 312!8i6656 https://www.google.com/maps/@35.2607026 ... 312!8i6656

If the FRA had a report feature, I'd totally report those crossings, because I'm pretty sure all of those are violations for improper signaling. There aren't even any "No Left Turn" light-up signs at all, either!

Those crossing might also be in violation of the MUTCD too.

There is another one just like it but without traffic signals and there is not crossing ID tag! https://www.google.com/maps/@35.2590844 ... 312!8i6656

freebrickproductions wrote: Whoops!
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.4917872 ... 6656?hl=en
Also, that signal has the only pair of 12x20 inch lights at the crossing. The rest use 12x24 inch lights.
The crossing also used to have some Safetran 8 inch lights. Looking at previous street views, the lights on this signal (especially the one that's been turned all the way around) get hit quite a lot:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.4917219 ... 6656?hl=en
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.491807, ... 6656?hl=en
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.491825, ... 1664?hl=en
I do like how that industrial area and section of that shortline are secluded though. Has a rather nice feel to it.

I think it's pretty cool that this wheelset has been sitting here for at least the last 5 years:
2014: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.4917872 ... 6656?hl=en
2009: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.4917877 ... 6656?hl=en

In the 2014 picture it looks like it's cleaner than before.

freebrickproductions wrote:Not usually a fan of modern set-ups like this one, but I really like this crossing for some reason:
https://www.google.com/maps/@33.9765848 ... 312!8i6656
Also, the wind guards here are mounted rather low as well.

That ped crossing is the cool part for me. I like how part of the switch in incorporated into it. Don't see that too often.

I'm sure he'll put it the right way... but this really makes me laugh.

In this image from 2007 in Melbourne, Australia, it looks like the driver of the street view car got impatient and drove around the gates while they were down:
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.781 ... 64!6m1!1e1

I also found this GS E-Bell installed on what appears to be the old mounting post from a MK&H Teardrop Bell:
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.849 ... 56!6m1!1e1

ToledoRailfan wrote:Here is a pretty cool old signal for a side street at this crossing. https://www.google.com/maps/@37.2719795 ... 6656?hl=en
--------------------------------

This train had a caboose, it is probably a local. https://www.google.com/maps/@37.2727466 ... 6656?hl=en

Neat to see that old NS cupola caboose.

https://goo.gl/maps/EYTvf7GcM9n

Some other neat stuff parked nearby there including a bay window caboose for the NS track evaluation train, plus some coaches and yet another caboose under that shelter.