Username1 wrote:Are there any WCH E-bells in Victoria? There's a few of their mechanical bells around but no E-bells. I've noticed that they use them quite a bit in NSW, a few crossings have them in S.A and almost every crossing has them in Tasmania. Strange. I'm starting to get sick of Safetran type 3s and General Signals types 2s.
I don't think so, which is a shame because they are by far the most interesting E-Bells around (as they have their own distinct sound and feature speed/tone adjustment controls).
That's a real bummer because I love the sound of WCH e bells. All of the others kinda sound too similar. I hope Metro starts using them in the near future. I don't know why the don't use them because unlike General Signals, WCH E-bells are made with a lot more quality (made of metal), while General signals is made of PVC pipe. And Safetran E-bells,,, well apart from the type one they all sound like trash (although their mechanical bells are by far my favourite). Is Semens still around?? Maybe if they've died aswell V-line might start picking up WCH bells. Just like how they now only use WCH gate motors now.
Re: Australian Railroad Crossing Signals
Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2016 5:11 am
by TrickyMario7654
Username1 wrote:
chris96 wrote:
Username1 wrote:Are there any WCH E-bells in Victoria? There's a few of their mechanical bells around but no E-bells. I've noticed that they use them quite a bit in NSW, a few crossings have them in S.A and almost every crossing has them in Tasmania. Strange. I'm starting to get sick of Safetran type 3s and General Signals types 2s.
I don't think so, which is a shame because they are by far the most interesting E-Bells around (as they have their own distinct sound and feature speed/tone adjustment controls).
That's a real bummer because I love the sound of WCH e bells. All of the others kinda sound too similar. I hope Metro starts using them in the near future. I don't know why the don't use them because unlike General Signals, WCH E-bells are made with a lot more quality (made of metal), while General signals is made of PVC pipe. And Safetran E-bells,,, well apart from the type one they all sound like trash (although their mechanical bells are by far my favourite). Is Semens still around?? Maybe if they've died aswell V-line might start picking up WCH bells. Just like how they now only use WCH gate motors now.
The most annoying part about E-Bells is the fact that they're making mechanical bells harder to find. I've actually made a list of what crossings still have them in Melbourne.
I can see a slight difference in the casting on the counterweight arms and possibly a difference in the cable entry at the bottom of the mechanism, but without detailed close-ups they do look pretty much the same. You would also need to see the insides as they could be completely different. It's possible that McK&H had some kind of deal with WRRS to make them locally, or maybe McK&H purchased the rights to make them once WRRS switched to using GRS mechs.
Re: Australian Railroad Crossing Signals
Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2016 7:22 am
by McK&H.Aust
Username1 wrote:That's a real bummer because I love the sound of WCH e bells. All of the others kinda sound too similar. I hope Metro starts using them in the near future. I don't know why the don't use them because unlike General Signals, WCH E-bells are made with a lot more quality (made of metal), while General signals is made of PVC pipe. And Safetran E-bells,,, well apart from the type one they all sound like trash (although their mechanical bells are by far my favourite). Is Semens still around?? Maybe if they've died aswell V-line might start picking up WCH bells. Just like how they now only use WCH gate motors now.
Looking at the price of e-bells probably explains a lot.
The General Signals e-bells are more popular because they are the cheapest at around $200 US.
Siemens now owns Safetran and they have re-branded the Safetran type 3 as the Wayguard Level Crossing bell. Their price is around $400 US. They don't show any other types of bells on their website.
I don't know the price of the WCH e-bells, but I know their mechanical bells are about $500 US so their e-bells are probably not far behind.
Re: Australian Railroad Crossing Signals
Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2016 4:39 pm
by freebrickproductions
McK&H.Aust wrote:
Username1 wrote:That's a real bummer because I love the sound of WCH e bells. All of the others kinda sound too similar. I hope Metro starts using them in the near future. I don't know why the don't use them because unlike General Signals, WCH E-bells are made with a lot more quality (made of metal), while General signals is made of PVC pipe. And Safetran E-bells,,, well apart from the type one they all sound like trash (although their mechanical bells are by far my favourite). Is Semens still around?? Maybe if they've died aswell V-line might start picking up WCH bells. Just like how they now only use WCH gate motors now.
Looking at the price of e-bells probably explains a lot.
The General Signals e-bells are more popular because they are the cheapest at around $200 US.
Siemens now owns Safetran and they have re-branded the Safetran type 3 as the Wayguard Level Crossing bell. Their price is around $400 US. They don't show any other types of bells on their website.
I don't know the price of the WCH e-bells, but I know their mechanical bells are about $500 US so their e-bells are probably not far behind.
Last I checked, the WCH mechanical bells were about $275 [USD] (or $245 [USD]) and the WCH electronic bells were about $245 [USD] (or $275 [USD]). But that was a few years ago though.
I can see a slight difference in the casting on the counterweight arms and possibly a difference in the cable entry at the bottom of the mechanism, but without detailed close-ups they do look pretty much the same. You would also need to see the insides as they could be completely different. It's possible that McK&H had some kind of deal with WRRS to make them locally, or maybe McK&H purchased the rights to make them once WRRS switched to using GRS mechs.
It appears that WRRS and GRS were in some kind of corporate partnership, as all of the "pure" GRS installs I've seen here have used WRRS mechanical bells and some gate mechanisms feature both the GRS and WRRS logos, along with the ones that only feature one company's logo looking exactly the same as the other company's gate mechanism. It's possible that McK&H (and later Westinghouse for a brief time) was apart of the supposed partnership as well.
Re: Australian Railroad Crossing Signals
Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2016 5:03 pm
by TrickyMario7654
freebrickproductions wrote:It appears that WRRS and GRS were in some kind of corporate partnership, as all of the "pure" GRS installs I've seen here have used WRRS mechanical bells and some gate mechanisms feature both the GRS and WRRS logos, along with the ones that only feature one company's logo looking exactly the same as the other company's gate mechanism. It's possible that McK&H (and later Westinghouse for a brief time) was apart of the supposed partnership as well.
Most of the original equipment at the crossing still survives today. (Impressive for a crossing that's nearly 50 years old.) Both gates mechs are McK&H, all of the lights (except for the set on the additional warning signal, which is from Westinghouse). The newest thing on the crossing (aside from the pedestrian crossing or the red and white wishbone gates, which probably replaced the original Black and White gates) are the GS E-Bells (which replaced a McK&H Teardrop and presumably a RACO mechanical bell. The latter probably also replaced a Teardrop bell years ago.)
Also, when Chris said that the Ivanhoe crossing was "really old". He wasn't kidding! According to Vicsig, the crossing signals were installed in 1960! They're probably among the oldest still in use in Melbourne!
Re: Australian Railroad Crossing Signals
Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2016 8:10 pm
by McK&H.Aust
freebrickproductions wrote:Last I checked, the WCH mechanical bells were about $275 [USD] (or $245 [USD]) and the WCH electronic bells were about $245 [USD] (or $275 [USD]). But that was a few years ago though.
I received a quote for a WCH m-bell last year from RSI and it was $490 (not including shipping), even without their mark-up it would still be at least $400. Prices seem to go up every year and it's probably closer to $500 now, although I'm sure the railroads would buy in bulk and get a better price. I tried to get a price directly from WCH but they never answered my email. I also remember reading somewhere else that they are very expensive and you don't get much change from $500.
RSI no longer sell WCH equipment.
Re: Australian Railroad Crossing Signals
Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2016 8:35 pm
by chris96
TrickyMario7654 wrote:
Also, when Chris said that the Ivanhoe crossing was "really old". He wasn't kidding! According to Vicsig, the crossing signals were installed in 1960! They're probably among the oldest still in use in Melbourne!
Yeah, and pretty much all of it is still original! The only new additions are the Hybrid bell, red and white booms and pedestrian gates (but the bell and booms are from the late 90's and the pedestrian gates are from the early 2000's, so even they are far from "brand new").
Apparently, this line is now back in service. But considering the fact that the re-installation of lights to the left of the crossing would have been necessary, I (unfortunately) think it's safe to assume that the whole crossing got a "touch-up" and the WABCO bell is now history.
Re: Australian Railroad Crossing Signals
Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2016 2:53 am
by TrickyMario7654
chris96 wrote:Apparently, this line is now back in service. But considering the fact that the re-installation of lights to the left of the crossing would have been necessary, I (unfortunately) think it's safe to assume that the whole crossing got a "touch-up" and the WABCO bell is now history.
I never noticed that! But yeah, there's probably a good chance they trashed the crossing.
Hopefully they didn't remove the Teardrop bells on the rest of the line.
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