Mike's Railroad Crossing Forum

TrickyMario7654 wrote:

McK&H.Aust wrote:Nice finds with those videos, the happy gatekeeper is probably working for the LXRA now!

Found the teardrop bell at Swan Hill that you mentioned. It would be nice to film, do you know how often trains go out there?
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.338 ... 312!8i6656
This also looks like an old PTC sign at the crossing
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.338 ... 312!8i6656

Thanks! Yeah, he probably is working for them now.

Unfortunately, I have no idea how often that crossing in Swan Hill is used. Also, that is a PTC sign at the crossing. IIRC, they also used to run Melbourne's PT system (under 'The Met'). The Comeng trains seen in that video of the Upfield line were in those green and yellow Met colors until refurbishment in the early 2000's (where they were changed into either Connex or M>Train colors).

That section of the line only sees grain traffic, so it's hard to estimate how often trains use it. However, there are a couple of big silos on the line so I would assume they are served by rail often. Also, the next active crossing along the line on The Murray Valley Hwy had a teardrop bell in 2008. However, a few years ago the crossing was upgraded with boom gates and it was scraped.
2008:
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.325 ... 64!6m1!1e1
2010:
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.325 ... 56!6m1!1e1

Just noticed some more updated GSV images of Melbourne are now available. Here's some highlights...

The crossing in Ripponlea is now shown with E-Bells.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.876 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.876 ... 312!8i6656

These replaced a Safetran M-bell and a Westinghouse Hybrid.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.876 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.876 ... 312!8i6656

They also managed to capture some of the works for the Bayswater level crossing removals at the site of the Scoresby Road crossing.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.843 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.843 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.844 ... 312!8i6656

Here's the now removed crossing.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.844 ... 312!8i6656

After three years, GSV has finally gone through the High Street crossing in Glen Iris again! (Though it's look as if nothing has changed since 2013)
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.859 ... 312!8i6656

Looks like they used a bit off another boom gate in order to strengthen this boom gate on Heatherdale Road!
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.818 ... 312!8i6656

I believe the McK&H lights at this crossing are the earlier design that McK&H Aust. mentioned a while back in the thread.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.818 ... 312!8i6656

Seems that the crossing activated just as Streetview approached it.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.819 ... 312!8i6656

Also, what is this?
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.819 ... 312!8i6656

The Yellow LXRA "Sign of Death"! (That's a joke name I came up with for these signs)
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.819 ... 312!8i6656

TrickyMario7654 wrote:Also, what is this?
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.819 ... 12!8i66566

Taking a guess... I believe it is a camera used to detect traffic. If you notice, that signal appears to be temporary (on a yellow box with sandbags in it).

I've seen those types of cameras used here in construction zones. Here is an example just 2 blocks from where I live:
https://www.google.com/maps/@27.8600927 ... 6656?hl=en.

That camera detects cars in the left lane to trigger the left turn signal on the traffic lights. It will be replaced with a more permanent type of detection once the construction in this area is complete.

For awhile it was mounted here: https://www.google.com/maps/@27.8596068 ... 6656?hl=en. But then they moved it over the summer to the span wire above the road in the first link.

cabman701 wrote:I've seen those types of cameras used here in construction zones. Here is an example just 2 blocks from where I live:
https://www.google.com/maps/@27.8600927 ... 6656?hl=en.

That camera detects cars in the left lane to trigger the left turn signal on the traffic lights. It will be replaced with a more permanent type of detection once the construction in this area is complete.

For awhile it was mounted here: https://www.google.com/maps/@27.8596068 ... 6656?hl=en. But then they moved it over the summer to the span wire above the road in the first link.

There are several traffic signals here on the Tampa side of the bay that have permanent cameras used for traffic signal detection.

ToledoRailfan wrote:

McK&H.Aust wrote:Here's something I never expected to find, a wig wag on a public road The crossing seems to be out of service, it's a miracle the vandals have not trashed it yet.
Cameron Rd, Mount Barker https://www.google.com/maps/@-35.059341 ... 6656?hl=en
https://www.google.com/maps/@-35.059404 ... 6656?hl=en
https://www.google.com/maps/@-35.059498 ... 6656?hl=en
https://www.google.com/maps/@-35.059439 ... 6656?hl=en

AMAZING FIND!

https://www.google.com/maps/@-35.059427 ... 6656?hl=en

At least the wig wag still stands, though!

Think I may have found two more Modern Industries bells on this crossing at Wagga Wagga.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.121 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.122 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-35.122 ... 312!8i6656

It sounds like they are still there in this video from December 2016 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycQ_9FHijO0&t=2s

I have wanted to film this crossing for a while, didn't have the time (or the trains) on my last trip to The Rock and Yarrawonga. I may be able to get down there in the next few weeks.

According to this notice https://extranet.artc.com.au/docman/Doc ... ?837626012 it appears that the Racecourse Rd crossing at Chiltern has been upgraded yesterday (with gates & e-bells I presume). Sadly it's goodbye to another m-bell ARTC seem to have trouble spelling Barnawartha.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-36.160 ... 312!8i6656

Never seen these 'Railway Gate' signs before, this one at Rutherglen was still there a week ago https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-36.055 ... 312!8i6656
Pretty sure that this was gone though, strange to see an upside down hazard triangle https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-36.055 ... 312!8i6656

The crossing, it seems that one gate has been removed.
2007 https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-36.055 ... 328!8i1664
2010 https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-36.055 ... 312!8i6656

McK&H.Aust wrote:According to this notice https://extranet.artc.com.au/docman/Doc ... ?837626012 it appears that the Racecourse Rd crossing at Chiltern has been upgraded yesterday (with gates & e-bells I presume). Sadly it's goodbye to another m-bell
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-36.160 ... 312!8i6656

Never seen these 'Railway Gate' signs before, this one at Rutherglen was still there a week ago https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-36.055 ... 312!8i6656
Pretty sure that this was gone though, strange to see an upside down hazard triangle https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-36.055 ... 312!8i6656

The crossing, it seems that one gate has been removed.
2007 https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-36.055 ... 328!8i1664
2010 https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-36.055 ... 312!8i6656

It seems that the government is doing this just for votes and to annoy us.

From what I've heard, that former level crossing is heritage listed. They've preserved the old hand/interlocking gates at serval crossings that once had them (such as Clifton Hill, Yarraville, and Gisborne).

Speaking of interlocking gates, there's an automated pair of them near Ballarat station. The crossing also has rotating red beacons and a Safetran Type 3 E-Bell. I actually saw a malfunction at that crossing while on holiday last year. Basically, there was a several minute wait at the crossing for a train. During the wait, the gates re-opened! After a while, they closed again and the train went through. I'll post GSV images of it later (my internet is acting up currently).

TrickyMario7654 wrote:
From what I've heard, that former level crossing is heritage listed. They've preserved the old hand/interlocking gates at serval crossings that once had them (such as Clifton Hill, Yarraville, and Gisborne).

Speaking of interlocking gates, there's an automated pair of them near Ballarat station. The crossing also has rotating red beacons and a Safetran Type 3 E-Bell. I actually saw a malfunction at that crossing while on holiday last year. Basically, there was a several minute wait at the crossing for a train. During the wait, the gates re-opened! After a while, they closed again and the train went through. I'll post GSV images of it later (my internet is acting up currently).

It's nice that they have preserved some old gates. I presume this is the one at Ballarat you mentioned https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.557 ... 312!8i6656
It's great that they found a way to keep the old gates in operation but seems a bit out of place to have an e-bell, they should have used a teardrop!