Mike's Railroad Crossing Forum

McK&H.Aust wrote: The next crossing has a teardrop bell https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.479 ... 312!8i6656 https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.479 ... 312!8i6656

Is it just me, or is this a hand-puppet on top of the other signal?
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.478 ... 312!8i6656

freebrickproductions wrote:

McK&H.Aust wrote: The next crossing has a teardrop bell https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.479 ... 312!8i6656 https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.479 ... 312!8i6656

Is it just me, or is this a hand-puppet on top of the other signal?
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.478 ... 312!8i6656

Yes it looks like a teddy bear or some sort of stuffed toy. It's not there now, just a pinnacle on the top.

There was a crossing in Docklands, Melbourne that was only protected by standard traffic lights. Unfortunately, they are long gone now:
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.809 ... 64!6m1!1e1
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.809 ... 64!6m1!1e1
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.809 ... 64!6m1!1e1

Just down the road, this crossing has WCH mechanical bells, rare for Victoria:
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.808 ... 56!6m1!1e1
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.808 ... 56!6m1!1e1

A few other interesting setups in the area (most of these located inside the rail yards):

A five track crossing:
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.804 ... 56!6m1!1e1
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.804 ... 56!6m1!1e1

It's hard to see in these images, but between the striped bollards in the middle of this car park is a weird signal with a WCH mechanical bell and Westinghouse lights. These are used to alert workers of train movement in the area (as there are tracks in the pavement): https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.802 ... 56!6m1!1e1
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.802 ... 56!6m1!1e1

Some more weird signals with a Hybrid Bell, what appear to be industrial indicator lights or strobes and a hand operated gate:
https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/Do ... 46!6m1!1e1

Some passive crossings:
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.808 ... 56!6m1!1e1
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.808 ... 56!6m1!1e1
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.808 ... 56!6m1!1e1
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.807 ... 56!6m1!1e1
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.806 ... 56!6m1!1e1

This crossing in Geelong is only protected with strobe beacons:
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.111 ... 56!6m1!1e1
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.111 ... 56!6m1!1e1

Yet another strange signal:
http://www.hobbiesplus.com.au/signspott ... ig0234.JPG

Found this old image from when Melbourne's suburban trains still had some passive crossings:
http://www.hobbiesplus.com.au/signspott ... iX0227.JPG

Unusual signal with a fire alarm bell:
http://www.hobbiesplus.com.au/signspott ... ig0426.JPG

Old mechanically operated boom gates:
http://www.hobbiesplus.com.au/signspott ... aX0414.JPG

A rare pre-1950's passive crossing sign:
http://www.hobbiesplus.com.au/signspott ... g0153e.jpg

A flashing light crossing setup with Westinghouse lights at a traffic school:
http://www.hobbiesplus.com.au/signspotters/Rail0029.JPG

chris96 wrote:There was a crossing in Docklands, Melbourne that was only protected by standard traffic lights. Unfortunately, they are long gone now:
Some passive crossings:
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.808 ... 56!6m1!1e1
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.808 ... 56!6m1!1e1
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.808 ... 56!6m1!1e1
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.807 ... 56!6m1!1e1
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.806 ... 56!6m1!1e1

Heh, several of those crossbucks are backwards!
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.808 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.808 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.808 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.807 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.806 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.806 ... 312!8i6656

Who knew that you could cross the railway company itself?

chris96 wrote: Yet another strange signal:
http://www.hobbiesplus.com.au/signspott ... ig0234.JPG

I've seen a picture of that signal before.

chris96 wrote:
Found this old image from when Melbourne's suburban trains still had some passive crossings:
http://www.hobbiesplus.com.au/signspott ... iX0227.JPG

Aw yeah, the days of when the Comeng trains were unrefurbished and the overhead went all the way to Warrigal. Nowdays, the overhead only goes as far as Pakenham and the Comengs have been refurbished and some carriages are nearly 35-years old! (I still love them though!)

Speaking of unusal and noteworthy signals, here are some more...

Talk about basic protection: http://www.hobbiesplus.com.au/signspott ... ns0044.JPG

Take a look at these ones, they look a lot like the ones in the UK: http://www.hobbiesplus.com.au/signspott ... ms0217.JPG

Very weird interlocking boom gates that were controlled by a wheel (like the more traditional interlocking swing gates) at McKinnon, VIC: http://www.hobbiesplus.com.au/signspott ... es0004.JPG
These were replaced with boom barriers when they added the third line in 1976, the whole crossing itself was replaced recently with a road overpass via dropping the rail line in a trench (thanks Daniel Andrews...)

Really old-style wooden crossing sign: http://www.hobbiesplus.com.au/signspott ... ng0032.JPG

Probably the weirdest crossing ever, note revolving light below the sign: http://www.hobbiesplus.com.au/signspott ... ng0165.JPG

Another odd one: http://www.hobbiesplus.com.au/signspott ... l0468e.jpg

Now onto Street View finds, this one has a mix of the traditional crossbuck signage and one set on a red target background: https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.093 ... 312!8i6656

freebrickproductions wrote: Heh, several of those crossbucks are backwards!
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.808 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.808 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.808 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.807 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.806 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-37.806 ... 312!8i6656

I didn't notice that! Ironic considering they're located right next to the Metro offices!

chris96 wrote:
I didn't notice that! Ironic considering they're located right next to the Metro offices!

Sums up Metro being voted the worst rail network again!

Ok, Here's a list of crossings in Metropolitan Melbourne I know off that still have mechanical bells. I would like to know if anymore had them or if any of them have had E-Bells installed (Chris96, you might be able to help me with this...)

• Camms Road, Cranbourne (Westinghouse Hybrid)
• Main Street, Pakenham (Westinghouse Hybrid)
• Racecourse Road, Pakenham (Westinghouse Hybrid)
• Eel Race Road, Seaford (Westinghouse Hybrid, on Government's LX-ing removal list)
• Syke/Overton Road, Frankston (Westinghouse Hybrid, on LX-ing removal list)
• Glenferrie Road, Kooyong (Westinghouse Hybrid, tramsquare)
• Buckley Street, Essendon (Westinghouse Hybrid, on LX-ing removal list)
• High Street, Reservoir (Westinghouse Hybrid, on LX-ing removal list)
• Keon Parade, Reservoir (Westinghouse Hybrid)
• Cherry Street, Werribee (Westinghouse Hybrid, on LX-ing removal list)
• Toorak Road, Kooyong (Westinghouse Hybrid, on LX-ing removal list, Hybrid's sound horrible on this crossing.)
• Marshall Street, Ivanhoe (Westinghouse Hybrid & McK&H Teardrop bell)
• Ruthven Street, Macleod (Westinghouse Hybrid)
• Poplar Road, Parkville (Westinghouse Hybrid)
• Macaulay Road, Kensington (Westinghouse Hybrid, Upfield Line crossing)
• Bell Street, Coburg (Westinghouse Hybrid, on LX-ing removal list)
• Thompsons Road, Lyndhurst (Westinghouse Hybrid, on LX-ing removal list)
• Station Street, Officer (Westinghouse Hybrid)
• Brunt Road, Officer (Westinghouse Hybrid)
• Hallam South Road, Hallam (Westinghouse Hybrid, on LX-ing removal list)
• South Gippsland Highway, Dandenong (Westinghouse Hybrid, on LX-ing removal list)
• Abbotts Road, South Dandenong (Westinghouse Hybrid, on LX-ing removal list)
• Chandler Road, Noble Park (Westinghouse Hybrid, on LX-ing removal list)
• Corrigan Road, Noble Park (Westinghouse Hybrid, on LX-ing removal list, there's also a disused teardrop bell visible at this crossing)
• Centre Road, Clayton (Westinghouse Hybrid, on LX-ing removal list)
• Clayton Road, Clayton (Westinghouse Hybrid, on LX-ing removal list)
• Grange Road, Caulfield (Westinghouse Hybrid, on LX-ing removal list, an Mk&H Teardrop bell was previously on one side of the crossing, but was replaced with a Westinghouse Hybrid sometime after June 2013)
• Mountain Highway, Bayswater (Westinghouse Hybrid, on LX-ing removal list)
• Main Road, St Albans (Westinghouse Hybrid, on LX-ing removal list)
• Glenroy Road, Glenroy (Westinghouse Hybrid, on LX-ing removal list)
• Boundary Road, Hadfield (Westinghouse Hybrid)
• Camp Road, Campbellfield (Westinghouse Hybrid, on LX-ing removal list)
• Aviation Rd, Laverton (Westinghouse Hybrid, on LX-ing removal list)
• Maidstone Street, Altona (Westinghouse Hybrid, Altona branch crossing)
• Kororoit Creek Rd, Williamstown (Westinghouse Hybrid, on LX-ing removal list)
• Murray Road, Preston (Westinghouse Hybrid, unsure on this one...)
• Old Geelong Road, Hoppers Crossing (Westinghouse Hybrid)

I thought this was quite interesting even though it is not for a level crossing. This bascule bridge in Birkenhead uses level crossing signals.
posting.php?mode=reply&f=13&t=3045 https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.837 ... 312!8i6656 https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.838 ... 312!8i6656 https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.838 ... 312!8i6656

Looks like the bells are Level crossing E-Bells without the outer protection.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.838 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.838 ... 312!8i6656

There are also mechanical bells here.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.838 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.838 ... 312!8i6656

This bridge uses Western-Cullen Hayes mechanical bells.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.842 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.842 ... 312!8i6656

This bridge also uses semaphores for waterway traffic, I thought that was pretty interesting.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.841 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.842 ... 312!8i6656