Australian Railroad Crossing Signals

[TrickyMario7654]

Wouldn’t be surprised if it was done during the signalling upgrade. I do hope they reuse the hybrid although I won’t hold my breath. Certainly sucks we’ve lost more rare equipment. There’s actually another pair of Federal Signals gate mechs left. The second is at Army Camp Rd, Singleton. I am pretty sure the signals were installed in the mid 1970s when the line opened. Here’s a few pictures of the crossing back in 2008 taken by my Dad.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/139253871 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/139253871 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/139253871 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/139253871 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/139253871 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/139253871 ... ed-public/
The Westinghouse incandescents have been replaced with United Group lights. The WRRS m-bells have been replaced with Safetran type 3s. The wishbone gates have been replaced by normal ones Thankfully the Federal Signals gate mechs remain!

That looks over the top for a crossing that leads to an army base, shame the wishbones gates and m-bells have been replaced. Luckily someone photographed them before they were replaced.

[trainman7]

Wouldn’t be surprised if it was done during the signalling upgrade. I do hope they reuse the hybrid although I won’t hold my breath. Certainly sucks we’ve lost more rare equipment. There’s actually another pair of Federal Signals gate mechs left. The second is at Army Camp Rd, Singleton. I am pretty sure the signals were installed in the mid 1970s when the line opened. Here’s a few pictures of the crossing back in 2008 taken by my Dad.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/139253871 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/139253871 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/139253871 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/139253871 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/139253871 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/139253871 ... ed-public/
The Westinghouse incandescents have been replaced with United Group lights. The WRRS m-bells have been replaced with Safetran type 3s. The wishbone gates have been replaced by normal ones Thankfully the Federal Signals gate mechs remain!

That looks over the top for a crossing that leads to an army base, shame the wishbones gates and m-bells have been replaced. Luckily someone photographed them before they were replaced.

I think the signals were installed because it was the original entrance to the army base. Now, there’s another entrance and the crossing is hardly used. I am certainly glad I convinced Dad to take photos!

[McK&H.Aust]

Wouldn’t be surprised if it was done during the signalling upgrade. I do hope they reuse the hybrid although I won’t hold my breath. Certainly sucks we’ve lost more rare equipment. There’s actually another pair of Federal Signals gate mechs left. The second is at Army Camp Rd, Singleton. I am pretty sure the signals were installed in the mid 1970s when the line opened. Here’s a few pictures of the crossing back in 2008 taken by my Dad.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/139253871 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/139253871 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/139253871 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/139253871 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/139253871 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/139253871 ... ed-public/
The Westinghouse incandescents have been replaced with United Group lights. The WRRS m-bells have been replaced with Safetran type 3s. The wishbone gates have been replaced by normal ones Thankfully the Federal Signals gate mechs remain!

That looks over the top for a crossing that leads to an army base, shame the wishbones gates and m-bells have been replaced. Luckily someone photographed them before they were replaced.

I think the signals were installed because it was the original entrance to the army base. Now, there’s another entrance and the crossing is hardly used. I am certainly glad I convinced Dad to take photos!

I really like those pictures, it's very fortunate that you got your dad to take them. Must admit that is one of the crossings that keep slipping my mind, I've been on plenty of road trips up that way and always seem to forget to visit. Being so close to the army base, do you think there would be any issues with filming there? If it still has Federal Signal mechs then I really should try and film it before they are eventually replaced.

[McK&H.Aust]

Yes Nazi Holland strikes again! This years strategy report will likely say they were life expired even though they weren’t. I wouldn’t be surprised if Ash St and Rydal have bitten the dust knowing Nazi Holland

Yes it is quite likely that Rydal and Ash St have new signals. I noticed on John Holland's webiste that the third un-protected track at Ash St has been taken out of service. http://www.jhrcrn.com.au/media/4052/saf ... of-use.pdf

My guess is they have taken the siding out of service to allow the crossing to be upgraded. A stop block has been installed near the crossing which you can see on this diagram http://www.sa-trackandsignal.net/Pdf%20 ... JH1455.pdf

Looking on GSV, you can roughly see where the stop block would be located https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.308 ... 312!8i6656

Also on John Holland's site, the Main St crossing at Wallerawang has been upgraded with axle counters. http://www.jhrcrn.com.au/media/4051/saf ... ossing.pdf

Wonder if they also replaced the old signals and m-bell? It is odd because the crossing is on a siding which doesn't see many trains, hardly worth upgrading really.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.399 ... 312!8i6656

Sadly it seems that ARTC are the only ones who aren't in a hurry to replace all of their vintage equipment, probably because they don't have the funds.

[trainman7]

Wouldn’t be surprised if it was done during the signalling upgrade. I do hope they reuse the hybrid although I won’t hold my breath. Certainly sucks we’ve lost more rare equipment. There’s actually another pair of Federal Signals gate mechs left. The second is at Army Camp Rd, Singleton. I am pretty sure the signals were installed in the mid 1970s when the line opened. Here’s a few pictures of the crossing back in 2008 taken by my Dad.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/139253871 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/139253871 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/139253871 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/139253871 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/139253871 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/139253871 ... ed-public/
The Westinghouse incandescents have been replaced with United Group lights. The WRRS m-bells have been replaced with Safetran type 3s. The wishbone gates have been replaced by normal ones Thankfully the Federal Signals gate mechs remain!

That looks over the top for a crossing that leads to an army base, shame the wishbones gates and m-bells have been replaced. Luckily someone photographed them before they were replaced.

I think the signals were installed because it was the original entrance to the army base. Now, there’s another entrance and the crossing is hardly used. I am certainly glad I convinced Dad to take photos!

I really like those pictures, it's very fortunate that you got your dad to take them. Must admit that is one of the crossings that keep slipping my mind, I've been on plenty of road trips up that way and always seem to forget to visit. Being so close to the army base, do you think there would be any issues with filming there? If it still has Federal Signal mechs then I really should try and film it before they are eventually replaced.

I am certainly glad Dad took photos! You should be ok filming the crossing as long as you don’t get really close to the entrance. I’ve filmed trains there before and never had any issues. There’s a couple of driveways leading to nearby houses so I probably wouldn’t go any further than them.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.601 ... a=!3m1!1e3

[TrickyMario7654]

I really like those pictures, it's very fortunate that you got your dad to take them. Must admit that is one of the crossings that keep slipping my mind, I've been on plenty of road trips up that way and always seem to forget to visit. Being so close to the army base, do you think there would be any issues with filming there? If it still has Federal Signal mechs then I really should try and film it before they are eventually replaced.

There's quite a few crossings in the area I think you should film.

I would suggest Glennies Creek (one of the m-bells has since been replaced by a Safetran Type 3, but this crossing is otherwise unchanged).
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.461 ... 312!8i6656

This one in Scone (another crossing with an m-bell + e-bell combo).
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.045 ... 312!8i6656

I also discovered this gated crossing on the Richmond Vale Tourist Railway with what appears to be Harmon incandescent lights, a hybrid bell, and a WCH m-bell (which replaced another hybrid sometime after 2008).
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.845 ... 312!8i6656

[trainman7]

I really like those pictures, it's very fortunate that you got your dad to take them. Must admit that is one of the crossings that keep slipping my mind, I've been on plenty of road trips up that way and always seem to forget to visit. Being so close to the army base, do you think there would be any issues with filming there? If it still has Federal Signal mechs then I really should try and film it before they are eventually replaced.

There's quite a few crossings in the area I think you should film.

I would suggest Glennies Creek (one of the m-bells has since been replaced by a Safetran Type 3, but this crossing is otherwise unchanged).
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.461 ... 312!8i6656

This one in Scone (another crossing with an m-bell + e-bell combo).
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.045 ... 312!8i6656

I also discovered this gated crossing on the Richmond Vale Tourist Railway with what appears to be Harmon incandescent lights, a hybrid bell, and a WCH m-bell (which replaced another hybrid sometime after 2008).
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.845 ... 312!8i6656

Sadly the signals on the Richmond Vale Railway have been partially removed and replaced with stop signs. Interestingly, they placed the stop signs on the masts and left the bells and gate mechs in place The lights were actually Henkes Harmon with WCH 1st gen LEDs.

There’s another interesting crossing nearby on Vincent St, Cessnock.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.851 ... a=!3m1!1e3
It is a gate-less crossing, with Westinghouse clear LEDs and a Safetran type 3 e-bell. It was also the last new installation (2009) in NSW to use the traditional crossbucks.

[McK&H.Aust]

I am certainly glad Dad took photos! You should be ok filming the crossing as long as you don’t get really close to the entrance. I’ve filmed trains there before and never had any issues. There’s a couple of driveways leading to nearby houses so I probably wouldn’t go any further than them.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.601 ... a=!3m1!1e3

Thanks for the advice, might try to head up that way and film the crossing next time I have some days off.

Sadly the signals on the Richmond Vale Railway have been partially removed and replaced with stop signs. Interestingly, they placed the stop signs on the masts and left the bells and gate mechs in place The lights were actually Henkes Harmon with WCH 1st gen LEDs.

There’s another interesting crossing nearby on Vincent St, Cessnock.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.851 ... a=!3m1!1e3
It is a gate-less crossing, with Westinghouse clear LEDs and a Safetran type 3 e-bell. It was also the last new installation (2009) in NSW to use the traditional crossbucks.

The crossing at Vincent St sure sounds interesting, there certainly weren't many new gateless installations around that time, or since. The Westinghouse LED's also being rare in NSW for whatever reason does make the crossing appealing

I wonder if Richmond Vale Railway fell on hard times and lacked the money or the qualified people to maintain the signals there, I'm sure the recent bushfires didn't help the cause either.

[McK&H.Aust]

I really like those pictures, it's very fortunate that you got your dad to take them. Must admit that is one of the crossings that keep slipping my mind, I've been on plenty of road trips up that way and always seem to forget to visit. Being so close to the army base, do you think there would be any issues with filming there? If it still has Federal Signal mechs then I really should try and film it before they are eventually replaced.

There's quite a few crossings in the area I think you should film.

I would suggest Glennies Creek (one of the m-bells has since been replaced by a Safetran Type 3, but this crossing is otherwise unchanged).
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.461 ... 312!8i6656

This one in Scone (another crossing with an m-bell + e-bell combo).
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.045 ... 312!8i6656

I also discovered this gated crossing on the Richmond Vale Tourist Railway with what appears to be Harmon incandescent lights, a hybrid bell, and a WCH m-bell (which replaced another hybrid sometime after 2008).
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.845 ... 312!8i6656

Yes Glennies Creek would be a nice crossing, I ran out of time on my last trip to the area. The m-bell is still at Scone, at least it was last month. Drove past it on my way to film the crossing at Parkville, only to find the hybrid bells there had been replaced.

[trainman7]

I am certainly glad Dad took photos! You should be ok filming the crossing as long as you don’t get really close to the entrance. I’ve filmed trains there before and never had any issues. There’s a couple of driveways leading to nearby houses so I probably wouldn’t go any further than them.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.601 ... a=!3m1!1e3

Thanks for the advice, might try to head up that way and film the crossing next time I have some days off.

Sadly the signals on the Richmond Vale Railway have been partially removed and replaced with stop signs. Interestingly, they placed the stop signs on the masts and left the bells and gate mechs in place The lights were actually Henkes Harmon with WCH 1st gen LEDs.

There’s another interesting crossing nearby on Vincent St, Cessnock.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.851 ... a=!3m1!1e3
It is a gate-less crossing, with Westinghouse clear LEDs and a Safetran type 3 e-bell. It was also the last new installation (2009) in NSW to use the traditional crossbucks.

The crossing at Vincent St sure sounds interesting, there certainly weren't many new gateless installations around that time, or since. The Westinghouse LED's also being rare in NSW for whatever reason does make the crossing appealing

I wonder if Richmond Vale Railway fell on hard times and lacked the money or the qualified people to maintain the signals there, I'm sure the recent bushfires didn't help the cause either.

I do have a couple of photos of Vincent St although I’ll have to go through my USB drive. Hopefully I can upload them in a few hours. One of the volunteers told me that parts of the signals were stolen and had to be replaced. It wouldn’t surprise me if they couldn’t find the money to replace them.