Australian Railroad Crossing Signals

[McK&H.Aust]

Found some interesting freight-only crossings at around Sydney Airport and the nearby port, but sadly most of them don't exist anymore.

This crossing on General Holmes Drive has gated signals with WCH mechs, Alstom lights, and Safetran Type 3 e-Bells. It also still retains inverted SORS signs.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.933 ... 6656?hl=en

Back in 2009, the crossing had WCH m-bells.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.933 ... 6656?hl=en

Google also caught this crossing active twice.
August 2013: https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.933 ... 6656?hl=en
July 2014: https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.933 ... 6656?hl=en

Sadly the crossing at General Holmes Drive is being replaced by an underpass, IIRC the work is meant to be completed around 2018/19. You can see the underpass being built here https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.933 ... 312!8i6656

Up until about 2004/05 the crossing had Harmon gate mechs which were replaced by the new signals. The crossing is actually one of those that I would like to film next, along with this one at Loftus which still has 2 teardrop bells and incandescent lights https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.049 ... 312!8i6656

Nice finds with the old equipment around Port Botany, won't mention any names but I know a guy who went past these signals quite often in the past and never got around to taking photos

More m-bells have bitten the dust in the Wollongong area in the last month, all three of these crossings now have WCH e-bells...
Railway St, Corrimal https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.374 ... 312!8i6656
Bellambi Lane, Bellambi https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.362 ... 312!8i6656
Park Rd, Woonona https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.349 ... 312!8i6656

The crossing at Corrimal now has 6 WCH e-bells, as there were already 4 on the pedestrian crossing. I actually like the combination of the m-bells and e-bells together and it's sad to see them gone.

[TrickyMario7654]

Found some interesting freight-only crossings at around Sydney Airport and the nearby port, but sadly most of them don't exist anymore.

This crossing on General Holmes Drive has gated signals with WCH mechs, Alstom lights, and Safetran Type 3 e-Bells. It also still retains inverted SORS signs.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.933 ... 6656?hl=en

Back in 2009, the crossing had WCH m-bells.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.933 ... 6656?hl=en

Google also caught this crossing active twice.
August 2013: https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.933 ... 6656?hl=en
July 2014: https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.933 ... 6656?hl=en

Sadly the crossing at General Holmes Drive is being replaced by an underpass, IIRC the work is meant to be completed around 2018/19. You can see the underpass being built here https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.933 ... 312!8i6656

Up until about 2004/05 the crossing had Harmon gate mechs which were replaced by the new signals. The crossing is actually one of those that I would like to film next, along with this one at Loftus which still has 2 teardrop bells and incandescent lights https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.049 ... 312!8i6656

I actually remember reading up about the General Holmes Drive being replaced by an underpass, I just probably forgot to mention that.

Can you also try filming the crossing at Greenacre? In 2014, the crossing still had wishbone gates and incandescent lights. Chances are, they're still there today.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.903 ... 312!8i6656

More m-bells have bitten the dust in the Wollongong area in the last month, all three of these crossings now have WCH e-bells...
Railway St, Corrimal https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.374 ... 312!8i6656
Bellambi Lane, Bellambi https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.362 ... 312!8i6656
Park Rd, Woonona https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.349 ... 312!8i6656

The crossing at Corrimal now has 6 WCH e-bells, as there were already 4 on the pedestrian crossing. I actually like the combination of the m-bells and e-bells together and it's sad to see them gone.

It's official, Sydney Trains now have bell nazis in their organization.

Still, 6 WCH e-Bells are better than 6 GS adjusted Type 1's.

Bit of trivia, the old signals at Park Road, Woonona were actually featured in a NSW Level Crossing safety awareness commercial from 2007.


I also recently discovered that this crossing at Fairey Road, Windsor (on the Richmond line) has also been upgraded.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.619 ... 312!8i6656

You can see the new signals at 10:42.

[McK&H.Aust]

Can you also try filming the crossing at Greenacre? In 2014, the crossing still had wishbone gates and incandescent lights. Chances are, they're still there today.

Yes the crossing still has the wishbone gates and incandescent lights today. I do intend to film it but not sure when, it's a bit of a tricky crossing for me because the public transport in the area is crap and on a weekday it's difficult to get parking nearby owing to all the factories and businesses in the area. I have to work most weekends so it's difficult to do it then (and there are less trains then).

It's official, Sydney Trains now have bell nazis in their organization.

Still, 6 WCH e-Bells are better than 6 GS adjusted Type 1's.

Yes the bell Nazis have invaded Sydney Trains and there are now very few m-bells left on their network (you could probably count the crossings on one hand). It also gets a bit boring because all of their crossings are exactly the same, with WCH bases, WCH gate mechs, United Group lights and WCH e-bells. It's really only the Richmond line where a few older installations survive (hopefully)!

Bit of trivia, the old signals at Park Road, Woonona were actually featured in a NSW Level Crossing safety awareness commercial from 2007.

It's interesting you mention Woonona because it featured in the news recently (along with Bellambi). Both crossings are quite bad for pedestrians crossing against the lights (and gates) and there have been numerous near misses over the years, maybe that's why they chose Woonona for the video.

http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/stor ... 00#slide=3

I also recently discovered that this crossing at Fairey Road, Windsor (on the Richmond line) has also been upgraded.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.619 ... 312!8i6656

You can see the new signals at 10:42.

Nice find there with the video, shame about the crossing though

[McK&H.Aust]

Still, 6 WCH e-Bells are better than 6 GS adjusted Type 1's.

Any idea how many adjusted type 1's are around Melbourne?

A big thumbs down to whoever decided to adjust them

[TrickyMario7654]

Still, 6 WCH e-Bells are better than 6 GS adjusted Type 1's.

Any idea how many adjusted type 1's are around Melbourne?

A big thumbs down to whoever decided to adjust them

I have no idea. I know Murrumbeena has them, but that's it.

On a related note, I think there could be a couple of NEG e-bells in Melbourne as some crossings seem to have quieter e-bells than others.

[McK&H.Aust]

Still, 6 WCH e-Bells are better than 6 GS adjusted Type 1's.

Any idea how many adjusted type 1's are around Melbourne?

A big thumbs down to whoever decided to adjust them

I have no idea. I know Murrumbeena has them, but that's it.

On a related note, I think there could be a couple of NEG e-bells in Melbourne as some crossings seem to have quieter e-bells than others.

Found the NEG web page covering their e-bells, they have a different base from GS bells so should make them fairly easy to spot.
http://www.nationalelectricgate.com/mis ... sing-bell/

Would be interesting to find a different kind of bell in Australia, not as interesting as m-bells though!

[freebrickproductions]

Still, 6 WCH e-Bells are better than 6 GS adjusted Type 1's.

Any idea how many adjusted type 1's are around Melbourne?

A big thumbs down to whoever decided to adjust them

I have no idea. I know Murrumbeena has them, but that's it.

On a related note, I think there could be a couple of NEG e-bells in Melbourne as some crossings seem to have quieter e-bells than others.

Found the NEG web page covering their e-bells, they have a different base from GS bells so should make them fairly easy to spot.
http://www.nationalelectricgate.com/mis ... sing-bell/

Would be interesting to find a different kind of bell in Australia, not as interesting as m-bells though!

Keep in mind that some NEG e-bells have very similar bases to General Signals e-bells:
http://www.rxrsignals.com/Alabama/Pelham/Lee/

However, NEG's bases of that style have different ridges along them (don't know what else to call those raised segments along the base), and are also more blue in color.

[chris96]

Still, 6 WCH e-Bells are better than 6 GS adjusted Type 1's.

Any idea how many adjusted type 1's are around Melbourne?

A big thumbs down to whoever decided to adjust them

I have no idea. I know Murrumbeena has them, but that's it.

On a related note, I think there could be a couple of NEG e-bells in Melbourne as some crossings seem to have quieter e-bells than others.

Found the NEG web page covering their e-bells, they have a different base from GS bells so should make them fairly easy to spot.
http://www.nationalelectricgate.com/mis ... sing-bell/

Would be interesting to find a different kind of bell in Australia, not as interesting as m-bells though!

Keep in mind that some NEG e-bells have very similar bases to General Signals e-bells:
http://www.rxrsignals.com/Alabama/Pelham/Lee/

However, NEG's bases of that style have different ridges along them (don't know what else to call those raised segments along the base), and are also more blue in color.

I think I've found some NEG bells on Church St in Brighton:
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.915 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.915 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.915 ... 312!8i6656

[freebrickproductions]

Still, 6 WCH e-Bells are better than 6 GS adjusted Type 1's.

Any idea how many adjusted type 1's are around Melbourne?

A big thumbs down to whoever decided to adjust them

I have no idea. I know Murrumbeena has them, but that's it.

On a related note, I think there could be a couple of NEG e-bells in Melbourne as some crossings seem to have quieter e-bells than others.

Found the NEG web page covering their e-bells, they have a different base from GS bells so should make them fairly easy to spot.
http://www.nationalelectricgate.com/mis ... sing-bell/

Would be interesting to find a different kind of bell in Australia, not as interesting as m-bells though!

Keep in mind that some NEG e-bells have very similar bases to General Signals e-bells:
http://www.rxrsignals.com/Alabama/Pelham/Lee/

However, NEG's bases of that style have different ridges along them (don't know what else to call those raised segments along the base), and are also more blue in color.

I think I've found some NEG bells on Church St in Brighton:
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.915 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.915 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.915 ... 312!8i6656

If you compare these street view images to this image from the crossing in Alabama, they look identical:

Those do look very similar, but I have seen GS e-bells that were painted dark colors before (such as one on a CSX line painted black). Someone needs to get out there and get good close-ups of those bells and see if they are NEG e-bells. You can also usually tell by the bell the sound as well, even though it's much harder (NEG/Safetran Type 2s seem to have a pop when they start, which, IIRC, the General Signals Type 2s lack, and are usually softer than the General Signals Type 2s).

[ZachL]

(such as one on a CSX line painted black)

Gee, I wonder which CSX line that is?