Mike's Railroad Crossing Forum

trainman7 wrote:Went passed this crossing at Caledonia Rd, Kearsley https://goo.gl/maps/sUnjFJpoFMC2 a couple days ago and to my surprise, the remaining Safetran Type 3 e-bell has bitten the dust and was replaced by a new WCH mechanical bell! The new bell was installed sometime between April 2018 and now. I took a couple of photos of the crossing although I wasn’t able to get any close ups of the new bell due to heavy traffic and poor lighting.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/139253871 ... ed-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/139253871 ... ed-public/
The new m-bell can be heard operating briefly at 17:50 of this video: https://youtu.be/_DF1HkY-qjs

It’s great to see another mechanical bell being installed in the area especially since so many have been replaced in recent months and years! The other original Type 3 that used to be here was replaced by a WCH e-bell in 2013 or 2014. I also checked Vincent St, Cessnock https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.851 ... a=!3m1!1e3 and the older model Type 3 has been replaced by a newer model one. Not sure when the bell was replaced but I suspect it was sometime in the last few years. Yet more examples of Type 3s poor reliability!

The number of Safetran Type 3 failures is just about laughable now. You would think that most rail companies would wake up to the fact that maybe they should considering switching to a different e-bell, but no, they continue to install faulty e-bells!

On a different note, the LXRA “Yellow Signs” have recently popped up at the McGregor Road crossing. Intrestingly enough, it’s worded differently from all the pervious ones I’ve seen so far. I presume that all other crossings in Pakenham also have them now...

What crossings in Victoria have or had Wabco bells? I know there was Derby Road, Railway Street Maryborough, Edis Street Kyabram and Shanley Street Wangaratta and there is still one at Racecourse Road Donald.

Level crossing trivia

Question 1: Do you prefer mechanical bells or ebells?
Question 2: What is your favourite mechanical bell?
Question 3: What is your favourite ebell?
Question 4: Do you prefer crossbucks or red background crossbucks?
Question 5: What is your favourite level crossing?
Question 6: Do you prefer wishbone gates or flat gates?
Question 7: Do you prefer incandescent or LED lights?
Question 8: What sign do you prefer at a passive crossing?
A. Give Way
B. Stop
C. Hazard Triangle
Question 9: What is you favourite boom gate mechanism?
Question 10: Do you prefer black or white "stop on red signal signs"?
Question 11: What are your favourite lights? (It is not incandescent or LED)
Question 12: What is your favourite level crossing ahead sign?

JBaulch wrote:Level crossing trivia

Question 1: Do you prefer mechanical bells or ebells?
Question 2: What is your favourite mechanical bell?
Question 3: What is your favourite ebell?
Question 4: Do you prefer crossbucks or red background crossbucks?
Question 5: What is your favourite level crossing?
Question 6: Do you prefer wishbone gates or flat gates?
Question 7: Do you prefer incandescent or LED lights?
Question 8: What sign do you prefer at a passive crossing?
A. Give Way
B. Stop
C. Hazard Triangle
Question 9: What is you favourite boom gate mechanism?
Question 10: Do you prefer black or white "stop on red signal signs"?
Question 11: What are your favourite lights? (It is not incandescent or LED)
Question 12: What is your favourite level crossing ahead sign?

Q.1 Definitely mechanical bells!
Q.2 It’s a hard choice but a nice healthy sounding teardrop would have to be my favourite but I like every mechanical bell.
Q.3 WCH e-bells are my favourite.
Q.4 Definitely prefer the normal crossbucks over the red ones.
Q.5 Sadly my favourite level crossing has since been removed but it was Station Ln, Lochinvar: https://goo.gl/maps/MXDKGr5U3DL2 I saw the crossing active almost every weekend when I was younger and I can always remember the sounds of the Federal Signal and WCH m-bells. The crossing was replaced by a bridge in 2012.
Q.6 Wishbone gates, especially the older black and white ones with lantern lights.
Q.7 Incandescent lights.
Q.8 My answer is C hazard triangle.
Q.9 My favourite gate mechanism would be a GRS/WRRS Type B.
Q.10 I prefer the older black SORS sign.
Q.11 My favourite lights are Mckenzie & Holland incandescents.
Q.12 It would be the hazard triangle with “rail crossing” sign such as this: https://goo.gl/maps/MLEu5s6aEYH2

Sorry for changing the topic but I got a bit of a late Christmas present yesterday in the form of the Modern Industries mechanical bell from Brook St, Muswellbrook! https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/19 ... dbcfe53f62
My Dad managed to get it off ARTC through their disposal process after it was replaced. The bell has the serial number of 2213, model number of 21001-01 and appears to have been manufactured on the 4-11-84. I have also had the bell connected to power and it sounded ok but makes a bit of clicking and is a bit slower than what it sounded like in service. It also struggles to get going at times.

This bell is also a bit more unique in that it is mounted on a WCH m-bell base. I’m also going to give the bell a good clean as there is quite a lot of dust and other muck around the coils as well as some lubrication which will hopefully make it ring better. But either way, I am very thankful I have this bell and it would be the rarest (in Australia) I have in my collection!
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/

Here’s some photos of the crossing I took as well as a great video taken by member of the forum, McK&H.Aust of the crossing when it had the MI bell and a WCH m-bell. 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://youtu.be/we_7RF0z85k
Both bells were replaced by WCH e-bells sometime in the few months.

Congrats on getting that MI bell!

freebrickproductions wrote:Congrats on getting that MI bell!

Thanks! I had been wanting an MI bell for a while and now I have one!

JBaulch wrote:Level crossing trivia

Question 1: Do you prefer mechanical bells or ebells?
Question 2: What is your favourite mechanical bell?
Question 3: What is your favourite ebell?
Question 4: Do you prefer crossbucks or red background crossbucks?
Question 5: What is your favourite level crossing?
Question 6: Do you prefer wishbone gates or flat gates?
Question 7: Do you prefer incandescent or LED lights?
Question 8: What sign do you prefer at a passive crossing?
A. Give Way
B. Stop
C. Hazard Triangle
Question 9: What is you favourite boom gate mechanism?
Question 10: Do you prefer black or white "stop on red signal signs"?
Question 11: What are your favourite lights? (It is not incandescent or LED)
Question 12: What is your favourite level crossing ahead sign?

My answers are pretty much the same as trainman7, although it's too difficult to pick a favourite crossing, there are many

trainman7 wrote: Sorry for changing the topic but I got a bit of a late Christmas present yesterday in the form of the Modern Industries mechanical bell from Brook St, Muswellbrook! https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/19 ... dbcfe53f62
My Dad managed to get it off ARTC through their disposal process after it was replaced. The bell has the serial number of 2213, model number of 21001-01 and appears to have been manufactured on the 4-11-84. I have also had the bell connected to power and it sounded ok but makes a bit of clicking and is a bit slower than what it sounded like in service. It also struggles to get going at times.

This bell is also a bit more unique in that it is mounted on a WCH m-bell base. I’m also going to give the bell a good clean as there is quite a lot of dust and other muck around the coils as well as some lubrication which will hopefully make it ring better. But either way, I am very thankful I have this bell and it would be the rarest (in Australia) I have in my collection!
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/

Here’s some photos of the crossing I took as well as a great video taken by member of the forum, McK&H.Aust of the crossing when it had the MI bell and a WCH m-bell. 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://youtu.be/we_7RF0z85k
Both bells were replaced by WCH e-bells sometime in the few months.

Congratulations Must be one of the best Christmas presents you've ever had, certainly beats getting socks

I'm glad the MI bell went to a good home. Thanks to ARTC for not scrapping it, and letting your dad have it. I guess we have ARTC to thank for most of the remaining m-bells and rare equipment in New South Wales, also in Victoria to a certain extent.

I wonder if the crossing at Brook St was the only one in Australia to have a Modern Industries bell paired with a different brand of bell?

McK&H.Aust wrote:

trainman7 wrote: Sorry for changing the topic but I got a bit of a late Christmas present yesterday in the form of the Modern Industries mechanical bell from Brook St, Muswellbrook! https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/19 ... dbcfe53f62
My Dad managed to get it off ARTC through their disposal process after it was replaced. The bell has the serial number of 2213, model number of 21001-01 and appears to have been manufactured on the 4-11-84. I have also had the bell connected to power and it sounded ok but makes a bit of clicking and is a bit slower than what it sounded like in service. It also struggles to get going at times.

This bell is also a bit more unique in that it is mounted on a WCH m-bell base. I’m also going to give the bell a good clean as there is quite a lot of dust and other muck around the coils as well as some lubrication which will hopefully make it ring better. But either way, I am very thankful I have this bell and it would be the rarest (in Australia) I have in my collection!
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/

Here’s some photos of the crossing I took as well as a great video taken by member of the forum, McK&H.Aust of the crossing when it had the MI bell and a WCH m-bell. 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://youtu.be/we_7RF0z85k
Both bells were replaced by WCH e-bells sometime in the few months.

Congratulations Must be one of the best Christmas presents you've ever had, certainly beats getting socks

I'm glad the MI bell went to a good home. Thanks to ARTC for not scrapping it, and letting your dad have it. I guess we have ARTC to thank for most of the remaining m-bells and rare equipment in New South Wales, also in Victoria to a certain extent.

I wonder if the crossing at Brook St was the only one in Australia to have a Modern Industries bell paired with a different brand of bell?

Thanks! Certainly is one of the best presents I’ve ever gotten! And yes it’s better than socks I’m certainly very thankful ARTC kept the bell long enough for my Dad to get it.

Yeah I guess we have to thank them for keeping the more interesting equipment surviving and lasting a while longer. If ARTC was an organisation like V/line or Metro then all the m-bells and other rare equipment would’ve gone years ago.

I think the crossing at Brook St was the only MI bell paired with another brand of bell but you never know what was once out on the network.

After filming the crossing at Parramatta Rd, Granville, I've discovered some interesting things https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.832 ... 312!8i6656

The current gated signals were installed in 2013 when they replaced the Type B gate mechs which dated back to 1961. These new gate mechs were actually recycled as they are painted white and have the old WCH logo https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.832 ... 312!8i6656 I suspect the gate mechs came from this crossing at Birrong which was closed not long after this GSV image from 2009 https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.887 ... 312!8i6656 The signals here were short lived as they were only installed around 2001, so the gate mechs would still have been in good condition. The only other crossing they could have came from is Casula which was closed around the same time, but I doubt those mechs were recycled as they are much older, having been installed in the early 1990's https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.950 ... 312!8i6656

The lights and their brackets on the new gated signals are also recycled, with both having Alstom branding https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.832 ... 312!8i6656

The WCH base on this gated signal is dated June 2005, so I guess it was also recycled, but not sure where from https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.832 ... 312!8i6656

Sadly the demise of this interesting crossing has moved one step closer with the NSW government recently signing contracts for the construction of the Parramatta Light Rail Project. http://data.parramattalightrail.nsw.gov ... ZtR3UM.DXY
Construction is due to begin this year which will see the section of track between Clyde and Camellia closed and the crossing removed. The remainder of the line between Camellia and Carlingford will be converted to light rail. The crossing at Parramatta Rd is the last in NSW to be manually operated from it's own adjacent signal box, it doesn't appear to be heritage listed so could quite possibly be demolished https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.832 ... 312!8i6656

It got me to thinking what other manually operated crossings remain in NSW and I could only think of two. They are at Adamstown https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.933 ... 312!8i6656 and Hamilton https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.918 ... 312!8i6656 although both crossings are remotely controlled from Broadmeadow via CCTV cameras.

Another surviving crossing that was manually operated is at Blackshaw Rd, Goulburn. It was converted to automatic operation some time around 2008 after Goulburn Signal Box was closed https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.753 ... 312!8i6656

You can still see the CCTV cameras which were linked to Goulburn Signal Box https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.753 ... 312!8i6656 https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.753 ... 312!8i6656

Going back to 2007 the crossing had full length gates while it was manually operated https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.753 ... 328!8i1664

They actually weren't the original signals. Found my old photographs from May 1986 showing Type B gate mechs. The lights are possibly Westinghouse and the bells look like older model WCH or FS.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1RwTsU ... Ut7TzrkDFi
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1lF_xr ... cXCQlF4jiX
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1RukjD ... CA-ivqsQXr