Australian Railroad Crossing Signals

[chris96]

According to a recent comment on my YouTube channel, it seems that one of the Westinghouse hybrid bells at Sisely Ave, Wangaratta has been replaced by a Safetran type 3 e-bell. The person also says that work is currently underway to replace the Westinghouse pedestrian gates with swing gates https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-36.360 ... 312!8i6656

There has also been some kind of upgrade at Camden Rd, Douglas Park https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.183 ... 312!8i6656
I travelled past on the train last night and it was difficult to see exactly what has happened, but it appears that the Safetran gate mechs have been replaced by new WCH ones on new masts. Couldn't see much else but I think maybe they've kept the m-bells. I will need to make a visit in daylight to see for sure, hopefully next week.

That's a shame about Sisely Ave, Wangaratta if it's true. I'm willing to bet that the Westinghouse EB Mechs will be replaced while these works are going on too. I guess it's pretty lucky that the Westinghouse pedestrian booms lasted as long as they did.

What's the point of upgrading the gate mechs at Camden Rd, Douglas Park? The Safetran mechs aren't that old and I'm pretty sure replacement parts are still available.

[McK&H.Aust]

According to a recent comment on my YouTube channel, it seems that one of the Westinghouse hybrid bells at Sisely Ave, Wangaratta has been replaced by a Safetran type 3 e-bell. The person also says that work is currently underway to replace the Westinghouse pedestrian gates with swing gates https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-36.360 ... 312!8i6656

There has also been some kind of upgrade at Camden Rd, Douglas Park https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.183 ... 312!8i6656
I travelled past on the train last night and it was difficult to see exactly what has happened, but it appears that the Safetran gate mechs have been replaced by new WCH ones on new masts. Couldn't see much else but I think maybe they've kept the m-bells. I will need to make a visit in daylight to see for sure, hopefully next week.

That's a shame about Sisely Ave, Wangaratta if it's true. I'm willing to bet that the Westinghouse EB Mechs will be replaced while these works are going on too. I guess it's pretty lucky that the Westinghouse pedestrian booms lasted as long as they did.

What's the point of upgrading the gate mechs at Camden Rd, Douglas Park? The Safetran mechs aren't that old and I'm pretty sure replacement parts are still available.

Made a quick visit to Douglas Park today and it seems only the southern signal has been replaced https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.183 ... 312!8i6656

The northern signal is unchanged although sadly the WRRS bell sounds weak compared to my last visit in May 2018. The "new" southern signal is rather odd, it has a new mast with a WCH base and a new WCH gate mech, but the McK&H lights and WCH m-bell from the old signal have been reused on the new signal

The counterweights from the old Safetran gate mech have been reused on the new WCH mech, and a very odd thing is a new "3 Tracks" sign mounted behind (and obscured by) the crossbuck, even though the crossing only has two tracks! The new SORS sign is also a square shape as opposed to the rectangular signs which are normally used. I'm not sure of the reason for this partial upgrade, perhaps the old Safetran gate mech had issues or was damaged, or perhaps the crossing is "mid upgrade", with plans to replace the northern signal in the future. The Safetran gate mechs here are an older model and were installed some time around 1993/94, pretty sure these were the first Safetran mechs to be used in NSW. Most other new installations around that time used WCH or Westinghouse mechs so these may have been a trial of the Safetran equipment.

Here is the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjlp429 ... e=youtu.be

[Applehead137]

That sucks about Wangaratta, I hope the other hybrid and the gate mechs aren’t replaced . It’s odd why Douglas Park got upgraded with a new signal. Maybe the other one got hit . Glad they reused some of the old equipment tho . I found a video which shows trains at various locations on the Barinsdale line and I has some crossings in it . I have some changes to report though. Tynong road Tynong got new SORS signs , Williams drive Fulham still has the old gateless signals from the 1980s-90s which have only been changed with LEDs and Ebells , it also has older SORS signs! Lindenow glenadale road is unchanged from the 2008 street view. Unfortunately the hybrid bell at Fernbank-Glenadale road Fernbank has been replaced with a Type 1 adjusted GS ebell. Somehow the hybrid survived till November 2017 . I went past the crossing then and was very surprised when it was still there.
Here’s the video https://youtu.be/9X31hK-ZgYk

[McK&H.Aust]

It’s odd why Douglas Park got upgraded with a new signal. Maybe the other one got hit . Glad they reused some of the old equipment tho .

The old signal mast from Douglas Park is now in an ARTC storage compound at Mittagong, I saw it briefly from the train. The Safetran gate mech is still attached and didn't appear to be damaged, although I only got a quick look when going past. I suspect the new mast also came from the same place as there were a couple in storage there for quite some time, so possibly it was part of a long term or delayed upgrade. You can just see part of the new masts laying down on the orange stand in this GSV view https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.451 ... 312!8i6656

[Applehead137]

-

[Jack2003]

There is a video of a cab view between Werribee and Flinders Street in 1993, showing the Anderson Street level crossing in Yarraville when the old interlocking gates were still in use. The crossing appears at 4:29 in the video. The Cherry Street level crossing also looks like it had a teardrop bell too. Unfortunately the video is not at it's normal speed and you can't hear the teardrop bell. Here is the video:

[Jack2003]

Since Trickymario7654 hasn't updated the list since March 2018. I've decided to keep the list going.

COLOR KEYS
Crossings in red indicates crossing has been grade separated.
Crossings in blue indicates bell has been replaced with an E-Bell.
Crossings in magenta indicates that one of the bells have been replaced with an ebell.
Crossings in green indicates that I'm unsure if it's still there.

Sandringham Line
•Union Street, Windsor (Westinghouse Hybrid & Safetran Mechanical bell, replaced August 2016)
•Glen Eira Road, Ripponlea (Westinghouse Hybrid & Safetran Mechanical bell, replaced August 2016)
•Hampton Street, Hampton (Westinghouse Hybrid x2, replaced August 2016)
Sadly, the last remaining mechanical bells on the line were replaced by August 2016.

Frankston Line
•North Road, Ormond (Westinghouse Hybrid x2, grade separated June-July 2016)
•Centre Road, Bentleigh (Westinghouse Hybrid x2, grade separated June-July 2016)
•Eel Race Road, Carrum (Westinghouse Hybrid x2, replaced June 2018. Hybrids sounded flat, slated for removal for some reason
•Armstrongs Road, Seaford (Westinghouse Hybrid x2, replaced January 2016)
•Seaford Road, Seaford (Westinghouse Hybrid x2, replaced January 2016, grade separated September 2018)
•Skye/Overton Road, Frankston (Westinghouse Hybrid x2, grade separated June 2018)
The Frankston line is now 100% ebells

Stony Point Line
•Moorooduc Highway, Frankston (Westinghouse Hybrid x2)
•Hillcrest Road, Frankston (Westinghouse Hybrid x2, replaced early 2019)
•Robinsons Road, Langwarrin (Westinghouse Hybrid x2)
•Golf Links Road, Langwarrin South (Westinghouse Hybrid x2)
•Frankston - Flinders Road, Baxter (Westinghouse Hybrid x2, replaced late 2018)
•Eramosa Road West, Somerville (Westinghouse Hybrid x2)
•Frankston - Flinders Road, Tyabb (Westinghouse Hybrid x2)

Dandenong Corridor
•Grange Road, Carnegie (Westinghouse Hybrid x2, grade separated June 2018)
•Clayton Road, Clayton (Westinghouse Hybrid x2, grade separated April 2018)
•Centre Road, Clayton (Westinghouse Hybrid x2, grade separated April 2018)
•Corrigan Road, Noble Park (Westinghouse Hybrid x2, stupidly replaced April 2017, grade separated February 2018. There was also a disused teardrop bell)
•Chandler Road, Noble Park (Westinghouse Hybrid x2, grade separated January-February 2018)
All level crossings on this section of the line have being removed, which means there are no more crossings on the Dandenong Corridor

Pakenham Line
•Webster Street, Dandenong (Westinghouse Hybrid x2, slated for removal)
•South Gippsland Highway, Dandenong South (Westinghouse Hybrid x2, slated for removal)
•Progress Street, Dandenong South (Westinghouse Hybrid x2, replaced by June 2016)
•Hallam Road, Hallam (Westinghouse Hybrid x2, slated for removal, stupidly replaced early 2019)
•Brunt Road, Beaconsfield (Westinghouse Hybrid x2)
•Station Street, Officer (Westinghouse Hybrid x2)
•Cardinia Road, Pakenham (Westinghouse Hybrid x2, slated for removal, replaced June 2016, road duplicated shortly after. Worthless removal in my opinion)
•Main Street, Pakenham (Westinghouse Hybrid x2, slated for removal, replaced December 2017)
•Racecourse Road, Pakenham (Westinghouse Hybrid x2, slated for removal)

Cranbourne Line
•Greens Road, Dandenong South (Westinghouse Hybrid x2, slated for removal. Worthless removal)
•Abbotts Road, Dandenong South (Westinghouse Hybrid x2, grade separated September 2018)
•Thompsons Road, Cranbourne North (Westinghouse Hybrid x2, grade separated June 2018)
•Camms Road, Cranbourne (Westinghouse Hybrid x2, slated for removal. Worthless removal)

Werribee and Willamstown Lines (Between Footscray and Newport)
•Hudsons Road, Spotswood (Westinghouse Hybrid x2)

Werribee Line
•Aviation Road, Laverton (Westinghouse Hybrid x2, slated for removal)
•Old Geelong Road, Hoppers Crossing (Westinghouse Hybrid x2, slated for removal)
•Cherry Street, Werribee (Westinghouse Hybrid x2, slated for removal)

Werribee Line (Altona Loop)
Kororoit Creek Road, Williamstown North (Westinghouse Hybrid x2, grade separated June 2018. Worthless crossing removal in my opinion)
•Maidstone Street, Altona (Westinghouse Hybrid x2, replaced March 2017)
The Altona Loop line is sadly 100% ebells.

Willamstown Line
Both crossings have E-Bells (One from General Signals, also slated for removal, the other from Barker Technics)

Sunbury Line
•Main Road, St Albans (Westinghouse Hybrid x2, grade separated October 2016)
Sadly, the grade separation of this notorious crossing means that the Sunbury line is 100% E-Bells.

Cragieburn Line
•Buckley Street, Essendon (Westinghouse Hybrid x2, grade separated September 2018)
•Glenroy Road, Glenroy (Westinghouse Hybrid x2, slated for removal)

Flemington Racecourse Line
This special events & stabling line only has one crossing (Ascot Vale Road) and it has E-Bells.

Upfield Line
•Arden Street, North Melbourne (Westinghouse Hybrid x2, one of the hybrid bells replaced September 2019)
•Macaulay Road, North Melbourne (Westinghouse Hybrid x2)
•Poplar Road, Parkville (Westinghouse Hybrid x2, replaced early 2019)
•Bell Street, Coburg (Westinghouse Hybrid x2, slated for removal, stupidly replaced in late 2017)
•Boundary Road, Hadfield (Westinghouse Hybrid x2, replaced early 2019)
•Camp Road, Campbellfield (Westinghouse Hybrid x2, grade separated November-December 2017)
CLIFTON HILL GROUP

Mernda and Hurstbridge Lines (Between Jolimont and Clitfton Hill)
Only one crossing on this segment (Ramsden Street) and it has Baker Technics E-Bells.

Mernda Line
•Oakover Road, Preston (Westinghouse Hybrid x2, slated for removal)
•Murray Road, Preston (Westinghouse Hybrid x2, slated for removal. the hybrid which sounds till the gates rose was dead, replaced July-September 2019)
•High Street, Reservoir (Westinghouse Hybrid x2, slated for removal, stupidly replaced between April & July 2017)
•Keon Parade, Reservoir (Westinghouse Hybrid x3, the middle one doesn't sound. The other one in the middle was oddly replaced mid this year with a ebell which doesn't work. The hybrid bell had been knocked off the signal after a truck crashed into it after getting hit by a train)

Hurstbridge Line
•Marshall Street, Ivanhoe (Westinghouse Hybrid & McK&H Teardrop bell, sadly replaced in February 2017)
•Allendale Road, Eltham (Westinghouse Hybrid x2)
•Main Hurstbridge Road, Diamond Creek (Westinghouse Hybrid x2)

Belgrave and Lilydale Lines (Between Camberwell and Ringwood)
100% E-Bells. All of which are from General Signals, with the exception of Mont Albert Road, Mont Albert (which has Barker Technics E-Bells, also slated for removal)

Belgrave Line
•Bedford Road, Ringwood (Westinghouse Hybrid x2)
•Mountain Highway, Bayswater (Westinghouse Hybrid x2, grade separated November-December 2016)
•Hilltop Road, Upper Ferntree Gully (Westinghouse Hybrid x2, replaced late 2017)

Lilydale Line
100% E-Bells

Glen Waverley Line
•Glenferrie Road, Kooyong (Westinghouse Hybrid x2, tramsquare. My favourite Metro crossing also.)
•Toorak Road, Kooyong (Westinghouse Hybrid x2, slated for removal. Hybrid's sound flat.)
•Burke Road, Glen Iris (Westinghouse Hybrid x3, tramsquare, grade separated January 2016)

Alamein Line
Both crossings have E-Bells. Prospect Hill Road uses General Signals' ones, while Riversdale Road uses Barker Technics E-Bells. The latter is also a tramsquare.

Total amount of crossings with M-Bells: 26
Total Unconfirmed: 0
Total at the start of 2016: 62
Total Grade Separated (2016): 5
Total Replaced (2016): 7
Total at the start of 2017: 50
Total Grade Separated (2017): 1
Total Replaced (2017): 7
Total at the start of 2018: 42
Total Grade Separated (2018): 9
Total Replaced (2018): 2
Total at the start of 2019: 31
Total Grade Separated (2019): 0
Total Replaced (2019): 5
Total one of the bells replaced (2019): 1

[chris96]

There is a video of a cab view between Werribee and Flinders Street in 1993, showing the Anderson Street level crossing in Yarraville when the old interlocking gates were still in use. The crossing appears at 4:29 in the video. The Cherry Street level crossing also looks like it had a teardrop bell too. Unfortunately the video is not at it's normal speed and you can't hear the teardrop bell. Here is the video:

Nice find with that video! I've actually found a close up shot of the Cherry Street crossing from 1984, confirming it did indeed have a Teardrop Bell! A lot has certainly changed since this photo was taken. The only equipment still remaining today are the WRRS gate mechs:


Great job updating the M-Bell list too!

[Applehead137]

Great finds and thanks for updating the m bell list . Nice find with the video. Odd that cherry street had lights above the cross buck , kinda reminds me of champion road Newport . Anyway I also found some old photos of cherry street Werribee. There from the station yard and there a bit grainy . I think they were taken sometime in the 1970s .



Im guessing that when they installed the roundabout they moved on of the signals to where it is today . Odd that in that picture from 84 the lights are above the crossbuck. And in the 1993 video it shows the signal in the same position to the 1970s images . Also the cross arms , the bases and some of the signage are also original apart from the gate mechs .
Also I found this picture on Weston Langford’s site of the station yard and the crossing in the early 1960s when it had interlocking gates I think prior to it getting boom gates in 1963

Also in the video from 1993 you see the Hall road spotswood railway crossing used for the Newport Powerhouse Line . Th Line closed in the early 1990s so the signals were probably removed before 2000. You can see on 1 side that there’s a CRB cantilever, like the one at Webster Street, and 2 separate gated signals. Nowadays all that remains are some rails and concrete bases of the signals and cantilever. The crossing got installed with gateless signals in its 1940s and gated ones in the mid 1980s .
Here’s a picture from 1978 which shows one side of the crossing with a gateless Signal with older Mck&h lights and cross arms.

[Jack2003]

Hi guys this list is of VLine and ARTC crossings which still have mechanical bells. The list includes crossings which had them from the start of 2019.

Crossing in green indicates that I'm unsure if it's still there
Crossing in blue indicates that it has been replaced with an ebell
Crossing in orange indicates that the crossing has been upgrade with boom gates
Crossing in magenta indicates that one of the bells have been replaced with an ebell

Mildura Line

- Calder Highway, Irymple (Westinghouse Hybrid and Safetran Type 3 ebell)

Donald Sub Terminal Siding Line
- Racecourse Road, Donald (Wabco x1)

This is the only active crossing on the line. There is a passive crossing past the grain silos which I think is disused. This crossing is the last crossing to have a working Wabco bell in Australia.

Murrayville Line
100% ebells

Serviceton Line
100% ebells

Yaapeet Line
Only one active crossing on this line (Ellerman Road, Dimboola) and it has an ebell

Hopetoun Line
100% ebells

Serviceton Line
100% ebells

Portland Line
- Mortlake - Ararat Road, Maroona (Westinghouse Hybrid x1)
- Delacombe Way, Willaura (Westinghouse Hybrid x1)
- Willaura - Wickliffe Rd, Willaura (Westinghouse Hybrid x1)
- Glenelg Highway, Glenthompson (Westinghouse Hybrid x1)
- Penhurst - Dunkeld Road, Dunkeld (Westinghouse Hybrid x1)
- Glenelg Road, Moutajup (McKenzie And Holland Teardrop x1)
- Mill Road, Strathkellar (McKenzie And Holland Teardrop x1)
- Mill Road, Hamilton (Westinghouse Hybrid x1)
- Tyers Street, Hamilton (McKenzie And Holland Teardrop x1)
- Hamilton - Port Fairy Road, Hamilton (Western Cullen Hayes mechanical bell x1)
- Henty Highway, Branxholme (Westinghouse Hybrid x1)
- Condah - Coleraine Road, Condah (Westinghouse Hybrid x1)
- Henty Highway, Condah (Westinghouse Hybrid x1)
- Woolsthorpe - Heywood Road, Heywood (McKenzie And Holland Teardrop x1)
- Mount Clay Road, Heywood (Safetran mechanical bell x1)
- Henty Highway, Heathmere (McKenzie And Holland Teardrop x1, upgraded to boom gates in April 2018. Worthless upgrade!)
- Gorae Road, Bolwarra (Westinghouse Hybrid x1)
- Westlakes Road, Portland North (Westinghouse Hybrid x1)
- Darts Road, Portland North (Westinghouse Hybrid x1)
- Cashmore Road, Portland (Westinghouse Hybrid x1)
- Cliff Street, Portland (Westinghouse Teardrop x1. Teardrop bell plays up during activation)

Western Standard Gauge Line
- Mahers Road, Inverleigh (Westinghouse Hybrid and Safetran Type 3 ebell)
- Railway Street, Inverleigh (Westinghouse Hybrid x1)
- Inverleigh - Winchelsea Road (Westinghouse Hybrid x1)

Ararat Line
100% ebells

Avoca Line
100% ebells

Warrnambool Line
- Peak School Road, Little River (Dead Westinghouse Hybrid bell and Safetran Type 3 ebell, Hybrid bell replaced July 2019)
- Hunts Road, Moriac (Westinghouse Hybrid x2)

Ballarat Line
100% ebells

Gheringhap Line
- Geelong - Ballan Road, Moorabool (Westinghouse Hybrid and Safetran Type 3 ebell)

Maryborough Line
100% ebells

Sea Lake Line
100% ebells

Manangatang Line
100% ebells

Piangil Line
- Bryan Street, Swan Hill (Westinghouse Hybrid x1)
- McCallum Street, Swan Hill (McKenzie And Holland Teardrop, upgraded with gates June 2019. Worthless upgrade)

Bendigo Line
100% ebells

Deniliquin Line
100% ebells

Kyabram - Toolamba Line
100% ebells

North East Line
- Donnybrook Road, Donnybrook (Westinghouse Hybrid x2. Hybrids sound a bit flat)
- Minton Street - Beverage Road, Beverage (Westinghouse x1. Crossing to be upgraded to gates. Worthless upgrade)
- Epping - Kilmore Road, Heathcote Junction (Westinghouse Hybrid x2)
- Escrites Road, Heathcote Junction (Westinghouse Hybrid x2)
- Dockerys Road, Tallarook (Westinghouse Hybrid x2)
- Sharps And Taylors Road, Tallarook (Westinghouse Hybrid x2)
- Schoolhouse Lane, Hilldene (Westinghouse Hybrid x2)
- High Street, Seymour (Westinghouse Hybrid x2)
- Aerodrome Road, Avenel (Westinghouse Hybrid x2)
- Bank Street, Avenel (Westinghouse Hybrid x3. The only crossing in Victoria to have 3 working hybrids)
- Creighton Siding Road, Creighton (Westinghouse Hybrid x1)
- Balmattum Siding Road, Balmattum (Westinghouse Hybrid x1)
- Cowslip Street, Violet Town (Westinghouse Hybrid x2)
- High Street, Violet Town (Westinghouse Hybrid x1)
- Faithful Street, Benalla (Westinghouse Hybrid x2)
- Arundel Street, Benalla (Westinghouse Hybrid x2)
- Nunn Street, Benalla (McKenzie And Holland Teardrop and Westinghouse Hybrid. My favourite regional Victoria crossing. Last gated crossing in Victoria with a Teardrop bell and also the last in Australia to have a Teardrop bell and a Hybrid bell.)
- Sisely Avenue, Wangaratta (Westinghouse Hybrid x2, one of the hybrids have been replaced and the pedestrian boom gates have been replaced with swing gates)
- McMahons Road, Springhurst (Westinghouse Hybrid x1, upgraded with gates July - August 2019. Worthless upgrade)

Tocumwal Line
100% ebells

Oaklands Line

- Link Road, Benalla (Westinghouse Hybrid x1. Hybrid sounds pretty flat)
- Murray Valley Highway, Yarrawonga (Westinghouse Teardrop x1)

South Dynon Siding Line
Only one active crossing on this line
- Dock Link Road, West Melbourne (Westinghouse Hybrid x2)

??? Line
Only one crossing on this line
- Dock Link Road, West Melbourne (Western Cullen Hayes mechanical bell x2. Last crossing left in Victoria to have 2 Western Cullen Hayes mechanical bells)

Appleton Dock Siding Line
Only one crossing on this line
- Appleton Dock Road, West Melbourne (Westinghouse Hybrid and Western Cullen Hayes mechanical bell. Only crossing left in Victoria with a Hybrid and Western Cullen Hayes mechanical bell)

Bairnsdale Line
100% ebells

Maryvale Paper Mill Siding Line
Both crossings have ebells

Port Of Hastings Line
- Frankston - Flinders Road, Tyabb (Westinghouse Hybrid x2)
- Kippes Lane, Hastings (Westinghouse Hybrid x1. Inaccessible crossing)

Total amount of crossings with mechanical bells: 53
Total unconfirmed: 3
Total at the start of 2019: 57
Total with teardrop bells: 6
Total with hybrids: 44
Total with Western Cullen Hayes mechanical bells: 4
Total with Safetran mechanical bells: 1
Total with Wabco bells: 1
Total replaced in 2019: 1
Total one of the bells replaced in 2019: 1
Total upgraded with gates in 2019: 3