Mike's Railroad Crossing Forum

I've also noticed that with 'those type' of Westinghouse gate mechanisms, they all slam the gate into the down position, sometimes making the gate vibrate and bounce up and down quite violently. Quite a few crossings on the Frankston line between Mordialloc and Carrum have them, and they all bounce around like crazy when they reach the down position, unlike the McK&H and American gate mechs that all slow the gates decent when it's about to reach the ground position.

This crossing in between Aspendale and Edithvale stations does it the worst. I often get stopped at this crossing, and the gate bounces almost a quarter of the way back up. I'd hate to see what would happen to someone if they happened to be standing under it...
https://goo.gl/maps/GhzfpVi2HjN2

Btw this is what I mean about the gate dropping thing (it happens at 15 seconds in). https://youtu.be/ElYUrqXmkPc
This is one of the better ones that I've seen though.

chris96 wrote:

McK&H.Aust wrote: Got my first camera about 1987 and talked my mum into driving me around to photograph crossings in the Wollongong area where I lived at the time, it was a cheap camera and the pictures were grainy but I still have most of them including a picture of Albion Park Rail in 1987 when it was gateless with a teardrop bell.

Would it be possible to upload some of those pictures? I'd love to see them!

BTW, on an unrelated topic, I witnessed one of the Westinghouse gate mechs on McIntyre Rd in Lara have a serious malfunction today. When raising the gate, it got stuck half way and remained in that position for about ten seconds until it slowly crept up further before becoming stuck again in a higher position. It then moved extremely slowly (with short little stops and starts) until it eventually reached the top. Overall, it took almost a minute to fully raise the gate! Another train soon followed and it did the same thing. I called Vline to report the problem, so it will be interesting to see what happens to the gate now. Hopefully they can repair the gate on site and not have to replace it.

Here is the gate in question:
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.011 ... 6656?dcr=0
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-38.011 ... 6656?dcr=0

I fully intend to upload some of my old photos in the future, first I need a decent scanner as the pictures really aren't the best quality. Apart from that, all I need is the time to do it

Sad to see the older style Westinghouse gate mechs having problems, hopefully they can be repaired rather than replaced, although I wonder if spare parts are still available?

Been on a road trip around Sydney today, photographing a couple of defunct crossings and filming the still active (and fully incandescent) crossing at Greenacre. Didn't film the two defunct crossings but will send the pictures to David for inclusion in the December update (I think that's the next update for Australia?). Here's a bit of a preview....

First crossing visited was Anzac St, Chullora https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.897 ... 312!8i6656
The crossing looks exactly the same as in the GSV image, it was last used around 2005 and has a mixture of incandescent WCH and Westinghouse lights. The biggest surprise was the m-bell turned out to be a very rare Federal Signal one!

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B91GI ... jY2UmxpWjA

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B91GI ... TUweGNfSkk

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B91GI ... VNvd3dWTDQ

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B91GI ... GNGS2FjYU0


The next crossing visited was Grand Ave, Rosehill (known as Sandown by the railways) https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.820 ... 312!8i6656 The signals here are still intact, although showing signs of wear. The teardrop bell is still in place and is a McK&H.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B91GI ... DFnemlWOHM

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B91GI ... GNicURINHc

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B91GI ... zVJOXFGYkE

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B91GI ... UthNUg5VUU


Last crossing visited was Greenacre (Enfield Yard) https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.903 ... 312!8i6656
Apart from one of the Westinghouse hybrid bells being replaced by a WCH m-bell about 10 years ago, all of the equipment is original and I think was installed around 1996. The wishbone gates still survive and have the old style incandescent gate lights (now very rare). Included is picture of the advance waring sign (on Wentworth St) with the rather odd wording of "on side track" rather than the usual "on side road".

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B91GI ... 29UZVFqdE0

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B91GI ... khGdjZxQ2c

McK&H.Aust wrote:Been on a road trip around Sydney today, photographing a couple of defunct crossings and filming the still active (and fully incandescent) crossing at Greenacre. Didn't film the two defunct crossings but will send the pictures to David for inclusion in the December update (I think that's the next update for Australia?). Here's a bit of a preview....

Nice pictures, so we know of two installations with Federal Signals m-bells in NSW (the other being at Nubba).

Great to see that the crossing at Greenacre still has the wishbone gates. Those style of gate lights were originally used on crossings in Victoria, but were replaced with the below gate mountings in 1969 or 1970. I also noticed that they stickered over the older black & white stripes.

TrickyMario7654 wrote:

McK&H.Aust wrote:Been on a road trip around Sydney today, photographing a couple of defunct crossings and filming the still active (and fully incandescent) crossing at Greenacre. Didn't film the two defunct crossings but will send the pictures to David for inclusion in the December update (I think that's the next update for Australia?). Here's a bit of a preview....

Nice pictures, so we know of two installations with Federal Signals m-bells in NSW (the other being at Nubba).

Great to see that the crossing at Greenacre still has the wishbone gates. Those style of gate lights were originally used on crossings in Victoria, but were replaced with the below gate mountings in 1969 or 1970. I also noticed that they stickered over the older black & white stripes.

Thankyou! It was nice to find another FS bell. The old style gate lights were used on some new installations right up until about 1999, this is now the last crossing in NSW to have them. I would say that those wishbone gates are the original ones, they probably faded so instead of replacing them they put the stickers on.

Another level crossing in Sydney is set to disappear next year. The line from Clyde to Carlingford will be closed as part of the Parramatta light rail project http://parramattalightrail.nsw.gov.au/ Basically the section of track between Camellia and Carlingford will be converted over to light rail, while the surplus portion of the line between Clyde and Camellia will be removed completely.

The crossing at Parramatta Rd will be removed "from a date to be announced in 2018 reducing the traffic impacts on Parramatta road". https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.832 ... 312!8i6656

Two pedestrian crossings at Dundas and Telopea will also be removed. They both have Magnetic Autocontrol swing gates and United Group "don't walk" lights.
Dundas https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.804 ... 312!8i6656
Telopea https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.794 ... 312!8i6656

McK&H.Aust wrote:Another level crossing in Sydney is set to disappear next year. The line from Clyde to Carlingford will be closed as part of the Parramatta light rail project http://parramattalightrail.nsw.gov.au/ Basically the section of track between Camellia and Carlingford will be converted over to light rail, while the surplus portion of the line between Clyde and Camellia will be removed completely.

The crossing at Parramatta Rd will be removed "from a date to be announced in 2018 reducing the traffic impacts on Parramatta road". https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.832 ... 312!8i6656

Two pedestrian crossings at Dundas and Telopea will also be removed. They both have Magnetic Autocontrol swing gates and United Group "don't walk" lights.
Dundas https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.804 ... 312!8i6656
Telopea https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.794 ... 312!8i6656

I remember reading up about this project. Seriously, they're going to make the same mistake as they did with the Newcastle line.

Are you going to film the crossing on Parramatta Road before it's removed?

Also, I noticed that the gated signals were replaced between 2010 and 2013.
2010: https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.832 ... 312!8i6656
2013: https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.832 ... 312!8i6656

A bit of a waste, considering that the line would be closed only a few years later.

Finally,I found some old RAIL CROSSING signs with Hazard Triangles further down the road.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.833 ... 312!8i6656

TrickyMario7654 wrote:

McK&H.Aust wrote:Another level crossing in Sydney is set to disappear next year. The line from Clyde to Carlingford will be closed as part of the Parramatta light rail project http://parramattalightrail.nsw.gov.au/ Basically the section of track between Camellia and Carlingford will be converted over to light rail, while the surplus portion of the line between Clyde and Camellia will be removed completely.

The crossing at Parramatta Rd will be removed "from a date to be announced in 2018 reducing the traffic impacts on Parramatta road". https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.832 ... 312!8i6656

Two pedestrian crossings at Dundas and Telopea will also be removed. They both have Magnetic Autocontrol swing gates and United Group "don't walk" lights.
Dundas https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.804 ... 312!8i6656
Telopea https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.794 ... 312!8i6656

I remember reading up about this project. Seriously, they're going to make the same mistake as they did with the Newcastle line.

Are you going to film the crossing on Parramatta Road before it's removed?

Also, I noticed that the gated signals were replaced between 2010 and 2013.
2010: https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.832 ... 312!8i6656
2013: https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.832 ... 312!8i6656

A bit of a waste, considering that the line would be closed only a few years later.

Yes I will film the crossing before it is closed, although I wish I had filmed it before the old gated signals were removed. The old m-bells were WRRS, and it's interesting that they left the old median signals (probably waiting for them to be wiped out like Tanyinna). Wastage doesn't seem to bother Sydney trains, it was only a few years before it closed that they upgraded the Newcastle line with concrete sleepers and most of the signals were converted to LED.

I actually drove along Parramatta Rd yesterday but turned off before reaching the crossing, thought I noticed some hazard triangles further ahead, at least I wasn't seeing things lol.

McK&H.Aust wrote:]Wastage doesn't seem to bother Sydney trains, it was only a few years before it closed that they upgraded the Newcastle line with concrete sleepers and most of the signals were converted to LED.

Same with Metro, they'll put e-bells on crossings being removed.

TrickyMario7654 wrote:

McK&H.Aust wrote:]Wastage doesn't seem to bother Sydney trains, it was only a few years before it closed that they upgraded the Newcastle line with concrete sleepers and most of the signals were converted to LED.

Same with Metro, they'll put e-bells on crossings being removed.

Yes and LED lights in some cases (was it Murrumbeena?). Guess you don't have to be very careful with money when the tax payers are picking up the bill.

McK&H.Aust wrote:

TrickyMario7654 wrote:

McK&H.Aust wrote:]Wastage doesn't seem to bother Sydney trains, it was only a few years before it closed that they upgraded the Newcastle line with concrete sleepers and most of the signals were converted to LED.

Same with Metro, they'll put e-bells on crossings being removed.

Yes and LED lights in some cases (was it Murrumbeena?). Guess you don't have to be very careful with money when the tax payers are picking up the bill.

Actually, it was Clayton Road which had the LED upgrade. But in July, the Murrumbeena crossing also had an LED upgrade and some strange modifications done to it. I posted pictures I've found of them on Page 73 of this thread.