McK&H.Aust wrote:Nice pictures. I actually like this crossing, and I don't mind the new gate mechs because the original lights and wishbone gates still give the crossing a classic look. I don't mind the shape of the Safetran mechs, throw a coat of paint on them and it makes them look a bit older, but the one thing that really looks out of place is the e-bells
It actually reminds me of the crossing at Junee with the picket fences, except this one has been ruined by crappy e-bells. Why can't they leave things alone
Yeah, I quite like the fencing here, and did remind me of the Junee crossing. I wish they would stop replacing the old bells just in the name of progress.
Here's a cab view of the line between Middle Brighton and Sandringham's stations shot in 2010. You can see that only one crossing had E-Bells.
Re: Australian Railroad Crossing Signals
Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2017 10:10 pm
by TrickyMario7654
I just read up in the Pakenham Gazette that three more crossings on the Puffing Billy line is to be upgraded with boom gates, apart of the Victorian government’s $50 million 'Safer Country Crossings Program'. http://pakenham.starcommunity.com.au/ga ... illy-line/
So that's three more Teardrop bells soon to be history.
Re: Australian Railroad Crossing Signals
Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2017 10:32 pm
by McK&H.Aust
TrickyMario7654 wrote:I just read up in the Pakenham Gazette that three more crossings on the Puffing Billy line is to be upgraded with boom gates, apart of the Victorian government’s $50 million 'Safer Country Crossings Program'. http://pakenham.starcommunity.com.au/ga ... illy-line/
So that's three more Teardrop bells soon to be history.
That's a shame, I think it will look very out of place to have brand new gates with e-bells on a heritage railway. It would be nice if they could get some old gate mechs from the LXRA (either WRRS or McK&H) and use them, and they could re-use the teardrops from the old crossings. That way they would be preserving some of the old equipment from crossings that were being removed, I think it would fit in nicely with the heritage status of the railway.
Re: Australian Railroad Crossing Signals
Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2017 11:22 pm
by freebrickproductions
McK&H.Aust wrote:
TrickyMario7654 wrote:I just read up in the Pakenham Gazette that three more crossings on the Puffing Billy line is to be upgraded with boom gates, apart of the Victorian government’s $50 million 'Safer Country Crossings Program'. http://pakenham.starcommunity.com.au/ga ... illy-line/
So that's three more Teardrop bells soon to be history.
That's a shame, I think it will look very out of place to have brand new gates with e-bells on a heritage railway. It would be nice if they could get some old gate mechs from the LXRA (either WRRS or McK&H) and use them, and they could re-use the teardrops from the old crossings. That way they would be preserving some of the old equipment from crossings that were being removed, I think it would fit in nicely with the heritage status of the railway.
Since they're a heritage railway, I can see them finding a way to re-use the equipment from the old signals, whether it be at crossings that don't currently have signals or re-using the equipment on new signals. I can also see them installing the gates on a separate mast, a la L&N, though the L&N did that as a standard new install rather than adding gates to pre-existing gateless signals. However, I have seen crossings where CSX kept at least one of the pre-existing gateless cantilever signals when they upgraded the crossing(s) to have gates. For example, at this crossing in Tullahoma, TN it appears that when CSX decided to install gates here, they kept the old gateless MI cantilevers that were here before the gates were installed, and just installed the gate mechanisms on short masts in front of them: https://www.google.com/maps/@35.3610527 ... authuser=0
And nearby in Estill Springs, TN, this crossing was gateless with a pair of Modern Industries cantilevers back in 2008: https://www.google.com/maps/@35.291943, ... authuser=0
However, after an accident between a train and a car in 2008, CSX upgraded the crossing with gates, but it appears that they kept the old Modern Industries cantilever on the left: https://www.google.com/maps/@35.2918289 ... authuser=0
Also, in the UK, Network Rail has recently been upgrading existing AOCL (gateless) crossings to AOCL+B crossings by just simply adding gates to the existing signals.
Re: Australian Railroad Crossing Signals
Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2017 12:23 am
by TrickyMario7654
McK&H.Aust wrote:
TrickyMario7654 wrote:I just read up in the Pakenham Gazette that three more crossings on the Puffing Billy line is to be upgraded with boom gates, apart of the Victorian government’s $50 million 'Safer Country Crossings Program'. http://pakenham.starcommunity.com.au/ga ... illy-line/
So that's three more Teardrop bells soon to be history.
That's a shame, I think it will look very out of place to have brand new gates with e-bells on a heritage railway. It would be nice if they could get some old gate mechs from the LXRA (either WRRS or McK&H) and use them, and they could re-use the teardrops from the old crossings. That way they would be preserving some of the old equipment from crossings that were being removed, I think it would fit in nicely with the heritage status of the railway.
I had the same idea in mind too! The good news is that some of the already removed crossings had vintage gate mechs (I'm referring to the ones' at McKinnon [McK&H], Bentleigh [McK&H], and Blackburn [WRRS]). So the three crossings slated for upgrade could 'potentially' re-use them.
Put the signal with the sepearte gate mech mast one the side closest to the main road, and use the same gate mechs from McKinnon Road & the Teardrop bell off the old crossing, and you should be all set. https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.931 ... 6656?hl=en
The upgrade saw additional warning devices fitted. (According to Wikipedia's article on Bentleigh Train Station), Along with the common red pedestrian sign, an LED light box saying "Another Train Coming", which is lit when either an express train is bound on the southbound line, or when a train is expected after another train on the northbound line.
freebrickproductions wrote:I can also see them installing the gates on a separate mast, a la L&N, though the L&N did that as a standard new install rather than adding gates to pre-existing gateless signals. However, I have seen crossings where CSX kept at least one of the pre-existing gateless cantilever signals when they upgraded the crossing(s) to have gates. For example, at this crossing in Tullahoma, TN it appears that when CSX decided to install gates here, they kept the old gateless MI cantilevers that were here before the gates were installed, and just installed the gate mechanisms on short masts in front of them: https://www.google.com/maps/@35.3610527 ... authuser=0
Actually, there's already a few examples of this in Victoria. The Beaconsfield crossing being an example. Flashing light signals were installed 1976, with the crossing upgraded with gates in 1986. One of the existing signals had a separate gate mech mast installed behind it. https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.052 ... 312!8i6656
Re: Australian Railroad Crossing Signals
Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2017 6:24 pm
by TrickyMario7654
Here's something you don't see everyday, a black & white gate replacing a red & white one!
This picture (originally taken by James Hansen) shows the Donnybrook level in 2006, notice how it has two red & white wishbone gates?
Yes, that is a black & white gate! I wonder what happened? I presume that the previous gate was hit by a careless driver and they were out of red & white gates, but they still had an old black & white one lying around and used it instead.
I just found out that some crossings in the US also have one of the bells turn off when the gates come down (although it seems rare compared to Australia).
Here's some videos
Username1 wrote:I just found out that some crossings in the US also have one of the bells turn off when the gates come down (although it seems rare compared to Australia).
Here's some videos
Looks like they are cancelling some of the V/line passenger trains to do the work, I bet that will make the locals happy!
EDIT: After further research I think they may be installing a roundabout at the crossing, hopefully they will just move some of the existing signals.
Re: Australian Railroad Crossing Signals
Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2017 2:20 am
by TrickyMario7654
McK&H.Aust wrote:This was posted on ARTC's website today https://extranet.artc.com.au/docman/Doc ... 1603591583 It seems they are doing some kind of upgrade to the Bank St crossing at Avenel this week https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-36.892 ... 312!8i6656
I'm a bit confused about this, as the crossing already has fairly new looking gated signals. Does anyone know what work could be taking place? Hopefully they don't remove the hybrid bells.
Looks like they are cancelling some of the V/line passenger trains to do the work, I bet that will make the locals happy!
EDIT: After further research I think they may be installing a roundabout at the crossing, hopefully they will just move some of he existing signals.
Hopefully they don't replace the hybrid bells. But anyways, I just drove through the Main Street crossing and I noticed a misprinted crossbuck on one of the signals (the one with the semaphorne pinnacle). The word "CROSSING" was not centered correctly, and it looks really odd. The hybrids bells also remain at this crossing, for the time being.
