Mike's Railroad Crossing Forum

Posted: **Tue Jan 24, 2017 2:53 am**

McK&H.Aust wrote:Not sure about the Bentleigh crossing, it could have been WRRS.

Just found out that they were actually McK&H. See 0:49 in this video.

Posted: **Tue Jan 24, 2017 6:37 am**

TrickyMario7654 wrote:
McK&H.Aust wrote:Not sure about the Bentleigh crossing, it could have been WRRS.
Just found out that they were actually McK&H. See 0:49 in this video.

Good pickup. It's a nice crossing, shame it's on the hit list. I noticed the video keeps mentioning how the level crossing removals will reduce traffic congestion, that may be partly true but from my experience in Sydney when a road is upgraded it just shifts the bottlenecks to somewhere else (usually to a major intersection further down the road). Interesting how the comments are disabled for the video, maybe they don't want to know what people really think!

Posted: **Tue Jan 24, 2017 9:05 am**

Some interesting variations of bells on new crossing installs in northwest NSW.

This crossing at Boggabri was upgraded from crossbucks to gated signals in May 2009. Looking at the most recent GSV image from February 2010 the crossing has a Westinghouse hybrid bell and a WCH mechanical bell.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-30.698 ... 312!8i6656

The next crossing on the line was also upgraded from crossbucks to gated signals. The work was done about two years earlier in September 2007, but this crossing was equipped with Safetran Type 3 e-bells!
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-30.598 ... 328!8i1664

The next crossing was also upgraded from crossbucks to gates in June 2009, this time both bells are Westinghouse hybrids.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-30.518 ... 312!8i6656

Then six months later in early 2010, another crossing a little further down the line was also upgraded, this time with Safetran Type 3 e-bells. The GSV image shows the crossing mid-upgrade.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-30.328 ... 312!8i6656

I thought it was odd because the entire line is owned by ARTC, and logic would dictate that they used the same suppliers for all of their equipment. Apart from the bells, all crossings have the same equipment (WCH bases, Safetran gate mechs and United Group lights). I guess logic can't always be trusted, but it's nice to see new m-bells being installed

Posted: **Tue Jan 24, 2017 3:41 pm**

McK&H.Aust wrote:
TrickyMario7654 wrote:
McK&H.Aust wrote:Not sure about the Bentleigh crossing, it could have been WRRS.
Just found out that they were actually McK&H. See 0:49 in this video.

Good pickup. It's a nice crossing, shame it's on the hit list. I noticed the video keeps mentioning how the level crossing removals will reduce traffic congestion, that may be partly true but from my experience in Sydney when a road is upgraded it just shifts the bottlenecks to somewhere else (usually to a major intersection further down the road). Interesting how the comments are disabled for the video, maybe they don't want to know what people really think!

Same with McKinnon, too bad Dan The Destructor likes to ruin everything.

They always seem to disable the comments on government videos, I've never understood why. They also seem to say that removing level crossings allows more train services to be run, but when the Napthine government was in power, they never said that removing the crossings at Springvale and Mitcham would allow more trains to be run. Daniel Andrews also likes to call them 'relics of the past'.

Interesting how they installed new M-Bells instead of E-Bells. In Victoria, pretty much any new setup uses E-Bells.

I should also point out that PTUA member Daniel Bowen lives in Bentleigh, so he would know a lot about the crossing. He also got this video of it in 2008.

Finally, the ALCAM also released this list in 2008 assessing what crossings are the most dangerous in Victoria. It's pretty interesting to look at if you have time to spare.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0ByM67Q ... pZaVU/edit

Posted: **Wed Jan 25, 2017 9:12 pm**

This crossing at Moree NSW was upgraded as part of the town bypass road project. The first view from 2008 shows the original crossing, complete with a teardrop bell.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-29.471 ... 328!8i1664
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-29.471 ... 328!8i1664

Moving on to 2010 the crossing has been moved slightly to allow for construction work, the old signals have been re-located to new foundations. Notice how one of the lights is pointing down.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-29.471 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-29.471 ... 312!8i6656

The finished product in 2015, sadly the teardrop bell has gone. The new crossing has been incorporated with new traffic lights.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-29.471 ... 312!8i6656
Stop On Red Signal signs have been placed on some of the traffic lights https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-29.471 ... 312!8i6656
There's also this interesting sign https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-29.471 ... 312!8i6656

Although it's a new crossing, it would be interesting to film some of this equipment in operation.

Posted: **Wed Jan 25, 2017 9:22 pm**

And while we're in the Moree area, this nearby railway bridge has an emergency information sign normally found on crossings

https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-29.467 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-29.467 ... 312!8i6656

Posted: **Wed Jan 25, 2017 9:26 pm**

McK&H.Aust wrote:This crossing at Moree NSW was upgraded as part of the town bypass road project. The first view from 2008 shows the original crossing, complete with a teardrop bell.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-29.471 ... 328!8i1664
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-29.471 ... 328!8i1664

Moving on to 2010 the crossing has been moved slightly to allow for construction work, the old signals have been re-located to new foundations. Notice how one of the lights is pointing down.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-29.471 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-29.471 ... 312!8i6656

The finished product in 2015, sadly the teardrop bell has gone. The new crossing has been incorporated with new traffic lights.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-29.471 ... 312!8i6656
Stop On Red Signal signs have been placed on some of the traffic lights https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-29.471 ... 312!8i6656
There's also this interesting sign https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-29.471 ... 312!8i6656

Although it's a new crossing, it would be interesting to film some of this equipment in operation.

Posted: **Wed Jan 25, 2017 9:30 pm**

McK&H.Aust wrote:And while we're in the Moree area, this nearby railway bridge has an emergency information sign normally found on crossings
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-29.467 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-29.467 ... 312!8i6656

Probably there in case if the bridge gets hit by some idiot's car. They have a few of those signs at the Montague Street bridge in Melbourne.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.829 ... 312!8i6656

They've also had to put gantries in because people keep hitting the bridge.

https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.830 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.829 ... 312!8i6656

Posted: **Wed Jan 25, 2017 10:19 pm**

TrickyMario7654 wrote:Reminds me of these traffic signals I've found with white 'Stop On Red Signal' signs near Nunawadding station.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.821 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.822 ... 312!8i6656

The last example also has an inverted 'SORS' sign on a traffic signal!
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.886 ... 312!8i6656

Those are both interesting setups. Having SORS signs on traffic lights makes me laugh in a way, I mean if someone doesn't know to stop for a red light then there's really not much hope for them :LOL3:

When I was filming the crossing at Wallerawang last year, I found another crossing nearby with an unusual way of mounting the rear facing lights (McK&H lights in this case). Back in 2010 the crossing had a teardrop bell, but it has since been replaced by a WCH mechanical bell (at least it wasn't an e-bell).
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.399 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.400 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.400 ... 312!8i6656

The crossing is on a spur line leading to a local coal mine, trains only run when required so it is difficult to catch the crossing in action. There is also a second track through the crossing which was a siding for the nearby power station (it has since closed). GSV was lucky enough to catch a coal train waiting to depart from the mine.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.400 ... 312!8i6656

Posted: **Wed Jan 25, 2017 10:54 pm**

McK&H.Aust wrote:
TrickyMario7654 wrote:Reminds me of these traffic signals I've found with white 'Stop On Red Signal' signs near Nunawadding station.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.821 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.822 ... 312!8i6656

The last example also has an inverted 'SORS' sign on a traffic signal!
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.886 ... 312!8i6656
Those are both interesting setups. Having SORS signs on traffic lights makes me laugh in a way, I mean if someone doesn't know to stop for a red light then there's really not much hope for them

When I was filming the crossing at Wallerawang last year, I found another crossing nearby with an unusual way of mounting the rear facing lights (McK&H lights in this case). Back in 2010 the crossing had a teardrop bell, but it has since been replaced by a WCH mechanical bell (at least it wasn't an e-bell).
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.399 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.400 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.400 ... 312!8i6656

The crossing is on a spur line leading to a local coal mine, trains only run when required so it is difficult to catch the crossing in action. There is also a second track through the crossing which was a siding for the nearby power station (it has since closed). GSV was lucky enough to catch a coal train waiting to depart from the mine.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.400 ... 312!8i6656

Pretty odd indeed. There's this crossing in Hampton which has the the rear facing lights on one side on a separate mast pole.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.942 ... 312!8i6656

This crossing in Mitcham had an incredibly odd extension arm fitted to one of the lights.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.817 ... 312!8i6656

It also had a Safetran bell!
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.817 ... 312!8i6656

Sadly, this crossing was grade separated in 2014 (ranked the 3rd most dangerous crossing in the ALCAM list I posted before). Here's the site today...
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.817 ... 312!8i6656

I think McGregor Road in Pakenham is also the only crossing in Melbourne to use two different types of pedestrian crossings. One side uses Westinghouse Gate Mechs (probably installed when the gated signals went in)...
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.078 ... 312!8i6656

While the other side has the more modern 'swing gates' (installed around 2012)
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.078 ... 312!8i6656

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