Mike's Railroad Crossing Forum

Here's an odd private crossing in Braunstone, New South Wales. From what I've heard, there's two green lights which turn off when a train is coming.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-29.792 ... 312!8i6656

Some more interesting things in Melbourne.

I noticed that at the Ripponlea crossing in 2007, the signal with the hybrid bell looked to of had a completely different bell! The image is completely blurry so I'm unable to tell what it is. (Though it looks like a Teardrop bell!)
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.876 ... 328!8i1664

Posted this before, but the other signal had a Black and White gate too!
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.876 ... 328!8i1664

At the really busy crossings, there can be more than two bells at the crossing! For instance, the old Springvale crossing had three bells! In 2007, it had two Safetran Mechanical bells plus a Hybrid bell.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.949 ... 328!8i1664
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.948 ... 328!8i1664
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.948 ... 328!8i1664

Fast forward to 2009, and one of the Safetran bells has been replaced with a Hybrid bell.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.949 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.948 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.948 ... 312!8i6656

Google also caught the crossing active at this time.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.948 ... 312!8i6656

By 2013, the other Safetran bell was replaced.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.949 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.948 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.948 ... 312!8i6656

I believe Keon Parade has the record for the most amount of bells at a single level crossing in Melbourne. There's four hybrid bells in use at this crossing!
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.694 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.694 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.695 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.695 ... 312!8i6656

These LXRA signs at Eel Race Road, Carrum are blatant lies. Only 500 cars cross here in the morning peak!
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.082 ... 312!8i6656

TrickyMario7654 wrote:Some more interesting things in Melbourne.

I noticed that at the Ripponlea crossing in 2007, the signal with the hybrid bell looked to of had a completely different bell! The image is completely blurry so I'm unable to tell what it is. (Though it looks like a Teardrop bell!)
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.876 ... 328!8i1664

I've had a look from a few angles and I'd say it was another Safetran bell.

TrickyMario7654 wrote:These LXRA signs at Eel Race Road, Carrum are blatant lies. Only 500 cars cross here in the morning peak!
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.082 ... 312!8i6656

The sign should probably read something like this......
We won't tell you the real reason, but we have decided to remove this level crossing. Now we are manufacturing a case to make our decision seem justified. We all know that level crossings are the work of The Devil himself, so what does it matter anyway?

I've been looking at your pictures from the Christmas Update of the McK&H gate mechs at Narre Warren and the Westinghouse ones at Murrumbeena (nice pics btw) and I have noticed that those mechs share the same model number (Type 3564) as the WRRS ones. Maybe McK&H obtained the mechs from WRRS and then put their own badge on them? They certainly must have had some kind of deal with WRRS. The counterweight arms on the McK&H and Westinghouse mechs are cast slightly different to the WRRS ones, they have a raised circle cast around the outside of where the arm bolts onto the main shaft of the gate mech.

Back to Eel Race Rd. The gate mechs there could also be McK&H, as they have the circle on the counterweight arms
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.082 ... 312!8i6656

McK&H.Aust wrote:I've been looking at your pictures from the Christmas Update of the McK&H gate mechs at Narre Warren and the Westinghouse ones at Murrumbeena (nice pics btw) and I have noticed that those mechs share the same model number (Type 3564) as the WRRS ones. Maybe McK&H obtained the mechs from WRRS and then put their own badge on them? They certainly must have had some kind of deal with WRRS. The counterweight arms on the McK&H and Westinghouse mechs are cast slightly different to the WRRS ones, they have a raised circle cast around the outside of where the arm bolts onto the main shaft of the gate mech.

Back to Eel Race Rd. The gate mechs there could also be McK&H, as they have the circle on the counterweight arms
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.082 ... 312!8i6656

Good pickup, I presume this was also the case with the crossings that used to be at McKinnon and Bentleigh (Both crossings had the signals installed in 1974).
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.911 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.918 ... 312!8i6656

As for the Westinghouse branded ones, I'm pretty sure that the two Mitcham crossings (Rooks Road & Mitcham Road) had them too. Much like Murrumbeena, the crossing signals were installed in 1979.

Mitcham Road:
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.817 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.817 ... 312!8i6656

The Gate Mechs.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.817 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.817 ... 312!8i6656

One of the bells was a Safetran bell too!
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.817 ... 312!8i6656

Here's a video I found of the crossing on YouTube.


Rooks Road:
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.818 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.819 ... 312!8i6656

Again, here's the gate mechs.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.819 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.818 ... 312!8i6656

This Safetran Bell got replaced with a hybrid bell.
2008: https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.818 ... 328!8i1664
2009: https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.818 ... 312!8i6656

The crossing in action.


I think the Croydon crossing had them too. (Another 1979 install)...
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.794 ... 312!8i6656

But they've been replaced.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.794 ... 312!8i6656

TrickyMario7654 wrote:

McK&H.Aust wrote:I've been looking at your pictures from the Christmas Update of the McK&H gate mechs at Narre Warren and the Westinghouse ones at Murrumbeena (nice pics btw) and I have noticed that those mechs share the same model number (Type 3564) as the WRRS ones. Maybe McK&H obtained the mechs from WRRS and then put their own badge on them? They certainly must have had some kind of deal with WRRS. The counterweight arms on the McK&H and Westinghouse mechs are cast slightly different to the WRRS ones, they have a raised circle cast around the outside of where the arm bolts onto the main shaft of the gate mech.

Back to Eel Race Rd. The gate mechs there could also be McK&H, as they have the circle on the counterweight arms
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.082 ... 312!8i6656

Good pickup, I presume this was also the case with the crossings that used to be at McKinnon and Bentleigh (Both crossings had the signals installed in 1974).
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.911 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.918 ... 312!8i6656



I think the Croydon crossing had them too. (Another 1979 install)...
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.794 ... 312!8i6656

But they've been replaced.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.794 ... 312!8i6656

If my theory is correct then the McKinnon crossing certainly had McK&H mechs. Not sure about the Bentleigh crossing, it could have been WRRS.

The Croydon crossing definitely would have been Westinghouse mechs, you can see the raised ring cast onto the counterweight arms and the small makers plate on the mech cover. Interesting how the Safetran mechs which replaced them are now also obsolete. I really like the cantilevers on this crossing, they look to be the same style as the ones at Murrumbeena.

Is there any chance you can get to Eel Race Rd before it gets removed? It's a really nice crossing.

McK&H.Aust wrote:The Croydon crossing definitely would have been Westinghouse mechs, you can see the raised ring cast onto the counterweight arms and the small makers plate on the mech cover. Interesting how the Safetran mechs which replaced them are now also obsolete. I really like the cantilevers on this crossing, they look to be the same style as the ones at Murrumbeena.

Is there any chance you can get to Eel Race Rd before it gets removed? It's a really nice crossing.

The cantilevers at Croydon (not to mention at Mitcham & Bentleigh) are slightly different to those at Murrumbeena.

Notice how the cantilever arm is curved on the Croydon crossing?
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.794 ... 312!8i6656

Where as at Murrumbeena, the arm runs diagonally upwards.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.889 ... 312!8i6656

Corrigan Road in Noble Park has the same style cantilevers as Murrumbeena (this is also the same crossing with that Teardrop bell that's been left behind, which you posted long ago in the thread. Unfortunately, this crossing is also on the Dandenong corridor, and is being removed as part of the same 'Skyrail' project. )
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.961 ... 312!8i6656

I'm not too sure if I can get the Eel Race Road at this time, as I'm currently focusing on the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines. Once I'm done with that, I might move onto the Frankston line. The good news is that construction on the project isn't meant to start until 2018. So there's still plenty of time to get it.

For some reason, several of the crossings that our government's removing have vintage setups. Take a look at this GIF made by the premier, it just goes to show that he NEVER shuts up about it.

TrickyMario7654 wrote:Here's an odd private crossing in Braunstone, New South Wales. From what I've heard, there's two green lights which turn off when a train is coming.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-29.792 ... 312!8i6656

That crossing use to look more strange.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-29.792 ... 328!8i1664

ToledoRailfan wrote:

TrickyMario7654 wrote:Here's an odd private crossing in Braunstone, New South Wales. From what I've heard, there's two green lights which turn off when a train is coming.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-29.792 ... 312!8i6656

That crossing use to look more strange.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-29.792 ... 328!8i1664

Good pickup. I have to agree, that does look weirder than the current crossing.

Here is a hazard triangle (sadly the bottom sign is missing) from an advanced warning sign for a level crossing at Wollongong NSW. The only problem is that the crossing was closed in 1989 but this sign still exists today!
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.417 ... 312!8i6656

The former location of the crossing. The relay bungalow still survives, it is the brown building on the right. At the time of closure the crossing had Harmon gate mechs, WCH m-bells and GEC incandescent lights.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.416 ... 312!8i6656

A more recent view from the opposite side. You can still see the concrete pathway on the left which led to the pedestrian crossing, which had GRS semaphore mechs.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.416 ... 312!8i6656

McK&H.Aust wrote:Here is a hazard triangle (sadly the bottom sign is missing) from an advanced warning sign for a level crossing at Wollongong NSW. The only problem is that the crossing was closed in 1989 but this sign still exists today!
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.417 ... 312!8i6656

Why was the crossing closed, and how did you know what the equipment was?

Also, I've noticed that some Westinghouse Gate Mechanisms look slightly different. Take a look at this crossing in Officer, VIC.

Here's the gate mechanism on one side of the crossing. As you can clearly see, the logo is on the bottom of the case.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B8Y7t ... c0ajhwdFJR

Here's the other one, notice how the logo is on the top of the case?
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B8Y7t ... NCSVV3ZEow

Also, this signal is missing the crossbuck!
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B8Y7t ... cyQTFVTkJV

It was there in 2014.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.061 ... 312!8i6656

Not to mention, the lights on the signal are crooked.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B8Y7t ... hfSFRQZmRv

Same thing in 2014.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.061 ... 312!8i6656

Some action shots.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B8Y7t ... RaT2Y2UFJZ
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B8Y7t ... MydHdndFpR
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B8Y7t ... tQeTI1c2RV

Finally, I've noticed that sometime in 2016, new relay cases appeared at many of the crossings on the Pakenham line between Dandenong and Pakenham. Take a look at the ones I've found.

Progress Street, Dandenong South.
2015: https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.006 ... 312!8i6656
2016: https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.006 ... 312!8i6656

Hallam South Road, Hallam. (This one's slated for removal, so I have no idea why they installed it.)
2015: https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.017 ... 312!8i6656
2016: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B8Y7t ... BqamgxSWxr

Webb Street, Narre Warren.
2015: https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.027 ... 312!8i6656
2016: https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.027 ... 312!8i6656

Clyde Road, Berwick. (The signals here are still fairly new, so I have no idea why they put this in. Plus, this crossing is also slated for removal.)
2015: https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.037 ... 312!8i6656
2016: https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.037 ... 312!8i6656

Station Street/Kenilworth Avenue, Beaconsfield.
2014: https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.052 ... 312!8i6656
2016: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B8Y7t ... hpY2RrUDRN

Brunt Road, Officer.
2014: https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.061 ... 312!8i6656
2016: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B8Y7t ... hZOEdKREJr

Any idea on why they did this? Sorry for the long post, by the way!