Mike's Railroad Crossing Forum

Posted: **Wed Dec 28, 2016 11:02 am**

ZachL wrote:
freebrickproductions wrote:This one looks like it has LED lights!
Well at least Canada hasn't outlawed new installations of 8" lights on public at-grade crossings, although these appear to be retrofitted.

8 inch lights are still legal here in America (outside of IL and maybe a few other places), as per the MUTCD, but they recommend using the guidelines used for determining traffic signal lens size for new installs (such as it being less than 120 feet from the stop line on a roadway with a posted or statutory speed limit of 30 mph or less).
Sources:
MUTCD Chapter 4, Section 4D.07, Paragraphs 1-4: http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/htm/2009r1r2/part4/part4d.htm
MUTCD Chapter 8, Section 8C.02, Figure 8C-1: http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/htm/2009r1r2/ ... ngdesc.htm
MUTCD Chapter 8, Section 8C.02, Paragraph 8: http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/htm/2009r1r2/part8/part8c.htm

Posted: **Wed Dec 28, 2016 11:08 am**

Very long pedestrian gates on this crossing in Newark, Delaware. There must be a good reason for it.
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.6846242 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.6846242 ... 312!8i6656
This looks like it could be a US&S bell https://www.google.com/maps/@39.6847254 ... 312!8i6656

Found this crossing at Flint, Michigan on youtube. Sounds like it has GS Type 1 e-bells. Nice old WRRS/GRS type D gate mech.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxGV810QBvU&t=45s
The crossing on GSV https://www.google.com/maps/@43.0758601 ... 312!8i6656

Another crossing nearby was upgraded from 8 inch lights to 12x24, but they left the old 8 inch lights at the top. Before the upgrade the crossing also had inverted track count signs.
Before https://www.google.com/maps/@43.1048979 ... 328!8i1664
After https://www.google.com/maps/@43.1048807 ... 312!8i6656

Posted: **Wed Dec 28, 2016 11:43 am**

McK&H.Aust wrote: This looks like it could be a US&S bell https://www.google.com/maps/@39.6847254 ... 312!8i6656

Being on the eastern Seaboard, there's also a very good chance that it's actually an MI bell rather than a US&S bell.

Posted: **Wed Dec 28, 2016 12:38 pm**

freebrickproductions wrote:
ZachL wrote:
freebrickproductions wrote:This one looks like it has LED lights!
Well at least Canada hasn't outlawed new installations of 8" lights on public at-grade crossings, although these appear to be retrofitted.
8 inch lights are still legal here in America (outside of IL and maybe a few other places), as per the MUTCD, but they recommend using the guidelines used for determining traffic signal lens size for new installs (such as it being less than 120 feet from the stop line on a roadway with a posted or statutory speed limit of 30 mph or less).
Sources:
MUTCD Chapter 4, Section 4D.07, Paragraphs 1-4: http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/htm/2009r1r2/part4/part4d.htm
MUTCD Chapter 8, Section 8C.02, Figure 8C-1: http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/htm/2009r1r2/ ... ngdesc.htm
MUTCD Chapter 8, Section 8C.02, Paragraph 8: http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/htm/2009r1r2/part8/part8c.htm

I could have sworn it was stated that the FRA outlawed them at public at-grade crossings somewhere on this site???

Posted: **Wed Dec 28, 2016 12:52 pm**

ZachL wrote:
freebrickproductions wrote:
ZachL wrote:
freebrickproductions wrote:This one looks like it has LED lights!
Well at least Canada hasn't outlawed new installations of 8" lights on public at-grade crossings, although these appear to be retrofitted.
8 inch lights are still legal here in America (outside of IL and maybe a few other places), as per the MUTCD, but they recommend using the guidelines used for determining traffic signal lens size for new installs (such as it being less than 120 feet from the stop line on a roadway with a posted or statutory speed limit of 30 mph or less).
Sources:
MUTCD Chapter 4, Section 4D.07, Paragraphs 1-4: http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/htm/2009r1r2/part4/part4d.htm
MUTCD Chapter 8, Section 8C.02, Figure 8C-1: http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/htm/2009r1r2/ ... ngdesc.htm
MUTCD Chapter 8, Section 8C.02, Paragraph 8: http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/htm/2009r1r2/part8/part8c.htm
I could have sworn it was stated that the FRA outlawed them at public at-grade crossings somewhere on this site???

If that were the case, then Strasburg probably wouldn't have gotten any on the new Paradise Lane crossing signals! :LOL3:

I do know Illinois has banned the installation of any new 8 inch lights, and most railroads standardized 12 inch lights as it's easier (and probably cheaper) to just buy 12 inch lights in bulk and put them up on all new signal installs. But I haven't heard of any FRA bans on them. Maybe someone like Paul could chime in?

Posted: **Wed Dec 28, 2016 1:24 pm**

freebrickproductions wrote:
ZachL wrote:
freebrickproductions wrote:
ZachL wrote:
freebrickproductions wrote:This one looks like it has LED lights!
Well at least Canada hasn't outlawed new installations of 8" lights on public at-grade crossings, although these appear to be retrofitted.
8 inch lights are still legal here in America (outside of IL and maybe a few other places), as per the MUTCD, but they recommend using the guidelines used for determining traffic signal lens size for new installs (such as it being less than 120 feet from the stop line on a roadway with a posted or statutory speed limit of 30 mph or less).
Sources:
MUTCD Chapter 4, Section 4D.07, Paragraphs 1-4: http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/htm/2009r1r2/part4/part4d.htm
MUTCD Chapter 8, Section 8C.02, Figure 8C-1: http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/htm/2009r1r2/ ... ngdesc.htm
MUTCD Chapter 8, Section 8C.02, Paragraph 8: http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/htm/2009r1r2/part8/part8c.htm
I could have sworn it was stated that the FRA outlawed them at public at-grade crossings somewhere on this site???
If that were the case, then Strasburg probably wouldn't have gotten any on the new Paradise Lane crossing signals! I do know Illinois has banned the installation of any new 8 inch lights, and most railroads standardized 12 inch lights as it's easier (and probably cheaper) to just buy 12 inch lights in bulk and put them up on all new signal installs. But I haven't heard of any FRA bans on them. Maybe someone like Paul could chime in?

Hmm, I could have sworn it. However, according to this page, all federally-funded signal installs must use 12" lights.

Posted: **Wed Dec 28, 2016 2:17 pm**

Posted: **Wed Dec 28, 2016 2:30 pm**

ToledoRailfan wrote:Interesting sign.
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.6171443 ... 6656?hl=en

It has been there for a while so its not really "new".
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.6171279 ... 1664?hl=en

More than likely that sign is just a decoy to scare motorists.

ToledoRailfan wrote:What is this for?
https://www.google.com/maps/@36.4096795 ... 6656?hl=en
https://www.google.com/maps/@36.4096795 ... 6656?hl=en

Track labling/naming, if I had to guess!

Posted: **Wed Dec 28, 2016 4:16 pm**

ZachL wrote:
freebrickproductions wrote:
ZachL wrote:
freebrickproductions wrote:
ZachL wrote:
freebrickproductions wrote:This one looks like it has LED lights!
Well at least Canada hasn't outlawed new installations of 8" lights on public at-grade crossings, although these appear to be retrofitted.
8 inch lights are still legal here in America (outside of IL and maybe a few other places), as per the MUTCD, but they recommend using the guidelines used for determining traffic signal lens size for new installs (such as it being less than 120 feet from the stop line on a roadway with a posted or statutory speed limit of 30 mph or less).
Sources:
MUTCD Chapter 4, Section 4D.07, Paragraphs 1-4: http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/htm/2009r1r2/part4/part4d.htm
MUTCD Chapter 8, Section 8C.02, Figure 8C-1: http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/htm/2009r1r2/ ... ngdesc.htm
MUTCD Chapter 8, Section 8C.02, Paragraph 8: http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/htm/2009r1r2/part8/part8c.htm
I could have sworn it was stated that the FRA outlawed them at public at-grade crossings somewhere on this site???
If that were the case, then Strasburg probably wouldn't have gotten any on the new Paradise Lane crossing signals! I do know Illinois has banned the installation of any new 8 inch lights, and most railroads standardized 12 inch lights as it's easier (and probably cheaper) to just buy 12 inch lights in bulk and put them up on all new signal installs. But I haven't heard of any FRA bans on them. Maybe someone like Paul could chime in?
Hmm, I could have sworn it. However, according to this page, all federally-funded signal installs must use 12" lights.

I guess that makes sense.

Posted: **Sun Jan 01, 2017 1:20 am**

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