Mike's Railroad Crossing Forum

TrickyMario7654 wrote:Found this crossing going under upgrade in Warral, NSW. This crossing has two Safetran Type 3 e-bells on the gated signals, and two WCH e-bells on the gateless signals!
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-31.159 ... 312!8i6656

Drove past the crossing recently and the gates are now in use. Only 1 track at the crossing and 4 bells, makes perfect sense lol. The crossing is on the John Holland Network and they have been doing lots of upgrades recently, even on "grain only" branch lines which may only see one or two trains per week!

McK&H.Aust wrote:

TrickyMario7654 wrote:Found this crossing going under upgrade in Warral, NSW. This crossing has two Safetran Type 3 e-bells on the gated signals, and two WCH e-bells on the gateless signals!
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-31.159 ... 312!8i6656

Drove past the crossing recently and the gates are now in use. Only 1 track at the crossing and 4 bells, makes perfect sense lol. The crossing is on the John Holland Network and they have been doing lots of upgrades recently, even on "grain only" branch lines which may only see one or two trains per week!

Any chance of a recording?

freebrickproductions wrote:

McK&H.Aust wrote:

TrickyMario7654 wrote:Found this crossing going under upgrade in Warral, NSW. This crossing has two Safetran Type 3 e-bells on the gated signals, and two WCH e-bells on the gateless signals!
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-31.159 ... 312!8i6656

Drove past the crossing recently and the gates are now in use. Only 1 track at the crossing and 4 bells, makes perfect sense lol. The crossing is on the John Holland Network and they have been doing lots of upgrades recently, even on "grain only" branch lines which may only see one or two trains per week!

Any chance of a recording?

I would like to do another visit to the area as there are some other crossings at Tamworth, so could probably record the crossing. It will most likely be at least 2 months before I have the time.

Just got back from a visit to Melbourne and on the way back, I took a few quick pictures of the surviving crossings on the Webb Dock Rail line.

I'll start off with Lorimer Street.


Some items of interest.





The relay case had a man's 'private part' on it, so I've edited the first image. The crossing relay is also missing the cover, exposing the inside elements (although it doesn't appeared to be powered).



This crossing is also missing a signal on the other side, you can see it in this picture by Weston Langford.


Here's where it would of been.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.822 ... 312!8i6656

The next crossing is located at the entrance to a SEC substation. Due to the way we parked the car, I wasn't able to get an overview of it. Instead here's the two signals at this location. The first one is missing the crossbuck, Stop on Red Signal sign, a visor on one of the lights, and the Westinghouse hybrid bell...


Whereas the second signal is only missing the SORS sign.


The relay case has a few unusual features to it. First off, is this bell on the relay case. I have no idea what its purpose was, but it certainly not a crossing bell.


The other feature is the VicRail 'Teacup' logo on the relay cover (which has been taped on, meaning it's been damaged at one point). VicRail had already been replaced with 'The Met' and 'V/line' by the time the line opened.
VicRail logo by TrickyMario7654, on Flickr

The crossing in GSV.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.824 ... 312!8i6656

The final crossing is on Wharf Road.



The Westinghouse light's backgrounds are really rusted at this crossing.


The signal which had the bell has been stripped of all of it's equipment.


Where the Westinghouse hybrid used to be.


Here's it is in Street view before this happened.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.826 ... 312!8i6656

Wikipedia article on the line.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Webb_Dock_railway_line

Here's a signalling diagram of the line, showing off some of the other level crossings on the line.
http://www.signaldiagramsandphotos.com/ ... /14'85.htm

The route as shown in the 1993 edition of Melways.
https://digitised-collections.unimelb.e ... equence=78
https://digitised-collections.unimelb.e ... equence=77
https://digitised-collections.unimelb.e ... equence=91

Weston Langford has got quite a few pictures of the line when it was being built and used and after it had closed.
http://www.westonlangford.com/search/?q ... ry=&state=

I was able to find this picture of the level crossing on Williamstown Road, but it's long gone now (as with most of the crossings on the line due to redevelopment of the area).


Finally, here's some Weston Langford pictures of a few other crossings on the line...

Footscray Road & Piggott Street.


North Wharf Road.


Sorry for the long post.

TrickyMario7654 wrote:Just got back from a visit to Melbourne and on the way back, I took a few quick pictures of the surviving crossings on the Webb Dock Rail line.

Great pictures. It's a shame to see those crossings slowly decaying, but at least you got plenty of photos.

I was actually thinking of asking if anyone could get any photos of the crossings along that line! Glad to see you did though!

I've got more pictures to share, as I went on a train trip to Noble Park and Clayton to check out some of the crossings in the area being removed.

I'll start with Clayton Road, Clayton...

There's been a few changes to the crossing as part of the removal works, here's what the crossing looked like in the video Stuart Hurt took earlier this year..


Here's what it looks like now...



The first (not to mention the most noticeable and weirdest) change is the cantilever signal. The crossing lights have been removed and the overhead portion has been cut off! Looks quite weird if you ask me...


In it's place are two temporary median signals.



I asked some of the construction workers at the site why they did this, and they told me that the overhead portion had to be removed due to it coming into contact with the beam which would carry the new elevated rail if the cantilever arm remained.

The next change is that this signal on the northern side of the crossing has been relocated slightly, and the signal behind it has had it's crossbuck and '2 Tracks' sign removed, thus converting it to a gate mast (the abandoned McK&H lights junction box remains though).


Here's the old arrangement for the two said signals, I think the newer arrangement looks neater in my opinion.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.923 ... 312!8i6656

The third change (and probably the stupidest one) is that all the lights have been upgraded to LED. This would of been a great upgrade, if they weren't removing the crossing altogether. Also note how the lights on this signal have been mounted on a McK&H junction box?


Some other items of interest.





They've started to lay in the pillars which will support the new elevated rail line.


An action shot.


While I was having lunch at a nearby restaurant, I saw the traffic signals at the nearby Clayton Road/Haughton Road intersection flash amber when the crossing activated. I was unable to get any pictures of it though.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.924 ... 312!8i6656

The next crossing I got was Heatherton Road, Noble Park.

Again, I'll start with the video Stuart got earlier this year.


I should also mention that the cantilevers are a standard CRB (Country Roads Board) style that were used at Victorian traffic intersections and pedestrian crossings in the 1960's & 1970's, although they seemed to only be used as level crossing cantilevers in the late 1970's.

Here's what it looked like when I got to it today (this was my second visit to this crossing, BTW).


Yep, one of the cantilevers have been removed! (Probably for the same reasons as the one at Clayton). They've replaced it with the mast you see behind the gated signal.



They've also installed a gateless signal on the other side of the road to replace the removed cantilever.


As seen in the first picture the other cantilever remains, and I can confirm that the mast signal in front of it has a Westinghouse base and a McK&H gate mechanism.




Here's an action shot.


Lastly, here's a 1963 picture taken by Weston Langford showing an 'Up' Gippslander hauled by L-class locomotive 1168 passing through the crossing when it was 'lights only'. You can make out that this crossing had GRS XB/XD lights if you magnify the image.


I also got Chandler Road too, but I'll post those pictures later.

Finally, I would also like to confirm that the following Pakenham line crossings still have hybrid bells.

• Webster Street, Dandenong (shared with the Cranbourne line)
• South Gippsland Highway, Dandenong South (Slated for removal)
• Hallam South Road, Hallam (Slated for removal)
• Brunt Road, Officer (Still missing a crossbuck!)
• Station Street/Officer South Road, Officer
• Main Street, Pakenham

Sorry if this post was long.

TrickyMario7654 wrote:I've got more pictures to share, as I went on a train trip to Noble Park and Clayton to check out some of the crossings in the area being removed.

Great pictures, very interesting (and sad) to see those crossings "in transition" as it were. They are very historical pictures in my opinion.

TrickyMario7654 wrote:I'll start with Clayton Road, Clayton...

The third change (and probably the stupidest one) is that all the lights have been upgraded to LED. This would of been a great upgrade, if they weren't removing the crossing altogether. Also note how the lights on this signal have been mounted on a McK&H junction box?


Some other items of interest.

Brand new lights for a crossing about to be removed, now there's money well spent. Maybe they should paint the masts as well, they do look a bit rusty It's nice that they re-used the McK&H junction box though.

Interesting to see those new looking orange pipes near the McK&H base, looks like they could be going to re-route the cables for the crossing. I wonder if any more changes will be made to the signals in the process.

TrickyMario7654 wrote:The next crossing I got was Heatherton Road, Noble Park.

I should also mention that the cantilevers are a standard CRB (Country Roads Board) style that were used at Victorian traffic intersections and pedestrian crossings in the 1960's & 1970's, although they seemed to only be used as level crossing cantilevers in the late 1970's.

Thanks for the information about those cantilevers. I really like the look of them, certainly much better than the plain looking ones they use today. This is a similar looking one at Benalla which I noticed during my last visit https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-36.555 ... 312!8i6656

TrickyMario7654 wrote:Yep, one of the cantilevers have been removed! (Probably for the same reasons as the one at Clayton). They've replaced it with the mast you see behind the gated signal.

Interesting looking mast for a single pair of lights, it actually looks like the bottom section of a newer traffic light cantilever. I wonder if they used it because it bolted onto the old cantilever foundation?

McK&H.Aust wrote:

TrickyMario7654 wrote:I've got more pictures to share, as I went on a train trip to Noble Park and Clayton to check out some of the crossings in the area being removed.

Great pictures, very interesting (and sad) to see those crossings "in transition" as it were. They are very historical pictures in my opinion.

TrickyMario7654 wrote:I'll start with Clayton Road, Clayton...

The third change (and probably the stupidest one) is that all the lights have been upgraded to LED. This would of been a great upgrade, if they weren't removing the crossing altogether. Also note how the lights on this signal have been mounted on a McK&H junction box?


Some other items of interest.

Brand new lights for a crossing about to be removed, now there's money well spent. Maybe they should paint the masts as well, they do look a bit rusty It's nice that they re-used the McK&H junction box though.

Interesting to see those new looking orange pipes near the McK&H base, looks like they could be going to re-route the cables for the crossing. I wonder if any more changes will be made to the signals in the process.

TrickyMario7654 wrote:The next crossing I got was Heatherton Road, Noble Park.

I should also mention that the cantilevers are a standard CRB (Country Roads Board) style that were used at Victorian traffic intersections and pedestrian crossings in the 1960's & 1970's, although they seemed to only be used as level crossing cantilevers in the late 1970's.

Thanks for the information about those cantilevers. I really like the look of them, certainly much better than the plain looking ones they use today. This is a similar looking one at Benalla which I noticed during my last visit https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-36.555 ... 312!8i6656

TrickyMario7654 wrote:Yep, one of the cantilevers have been removed! (Probably for the same reasons as the one at Clayton). They've replaced it with the mast you see behind the gated signal.

Interesting looking mast for a single pair of lights, it actually looks like the bottom section of a newer traffic light cantilever. I wonder if they used it because it bolted onto the old cantilever foundation?

Can't they just reuse the LED's? I mean, it would be a waste to scrap the equipment including the LED's, but after all. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

NathanFromEngland wrote: Can't they just reuse the LED's? I mean, it would be a waste to scrap the equipment including the LED's, but after all. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

I certainly hope they reuse those lights, it would be crazy to throw away almost new equipment. The Safetran gate mechs don't look very old either, I guess they will have a whole bunch of spare equipment once the level crossing removals are completed.

A signal maintainer once told me of a case where a couple of drunk guys vandalized a gate mechanism. They trashed it so badly that it had to be replaced, which cost $30,000. With prices like that I think they should hold onto as much of the surplus equipment as they can.