Australian Railroad Crossing Signals

[TrickyMario7654]

I'm going to be honest here, when I saw this, I was laughing like crazy for a whole minute.
https://www.google.com/maps/@-31.423274 ... 328!8i1664
https://www.google.com/maps/@-31.423530 ... 328!8i1664

Not only is the crossbuck huge and installed weirdly on two posts, they're backwards too!

Sadly, they're gone now. The crossing now has gates with the newer red backgrounds.
https://www.google.com/maps/@-31.423707 ... 312!8i6656

Here's another crossbuck oddity. While it reads "RAILWAY CROSSING" correctly, the "RAILWAY" board is ontop of the "CROSSING" board.
https://www.google.com/maps/@-33.861292 ... 312!8i6656

Here's a gateless setup with HUGE crossbucks.
https://www.google.com/maps/@-32.015379 ... 328!8i1664

...and another one.
https://www.google.com/maps/@-32.196601 ... 328!8i1664

[McK&H.Aust]

I'm going to be honest here, when I saw this, I was laughing like crazy for a whole minute.
https://www.google.com/maps/@-31.423274 ... 328!8i1664
https://www.google.com/maps/@-31.423530 ... 328!8i1664

Not only is the crossbuck huge and installed weirdly on two posts, they're backwards too!

Sadly, they're gone now. The crossing now has gates with the newer red backgrounds.
https://www.google.com/maps/@-31.423707 ... 312!8i6656

It was a strange installation that's for sure, big crossbuck with little Give Way sign lol. Maybe that explains why the red background design was invented, they can't be installed backwards!

Here's another crossbuck oddity. While it reads "RAILWAY CROSSING" correctly, the "RAILWAY" board is ontop of the "CROSSING" board.
https://www.google.com/maps/@-33.861292 ... 312!8i6656

That crossing was upgraded with gates just last month, was a Sydney Trains installation so it's not difficult to guess what equipment they used. Interesting that the old crossbucks had yellow posts.

Here's a gateless setup with HUGE crossbucks.
https://www.google.com/maps/@-32.015379 ... 328!8i1664

...and another one.
https://www.google.com/maps/@-32.196601 ... 328!8i1664

Hopefully they don't come up with a huge version of the crossbuck with the red background, that would be ugly!

[TrickyMario7654]

Here's a gateless setup with HUGE crossbucks.
https://www.google.com/maps/@-32.015379 ... 328!8i1664

...and another one.
https://www.google.com/maps/@-32.196601 ... 328!8i1664

Hopefully they don't come up with a huge version of the crossbuck with the red background, that would be ugly!

Um, about that...
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-30.345 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-30.345 ... 312!8i6656

[chris96]

Here's a gateless setup with HUGE crossbucks.
https://www.google.com/maps/@-32.015379 ... 328!8i1664

...and another one.
https://www.google.com/maps/@-32.196601 ... 328!8i1664

Hopefully they don't come up with a huge version of the crossbuck with the red background, that would be ugly!

Um, about that...
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-30.345 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-30.345 ... 312!8i6656

What the heck? Why would anyone think they need a sign that big? Plus, there's a regular one on the other side anyway. Let's hope those things don't catch on!

Sorry if I'm kind of chaining the subject here, but I have a few updates from the Geelong line that I would like to share.

First of all, the malfunctioning Westinghouse gate mechanism at McIntyre Rd, Lara has been repaired and is now running better than ever! It raises really quickly and smoothly and even slows down when it nearly reaches the bottom while lowering (just like most American gate mechs). It never did that before!

Also, one of the Safetran mechs at Wests Rd, Werribee has been replaced with a Siemens mech. This is rather odd as V/Line have pretty much stuck with WCH mechs for the past few years and I've never seen them install a Siemens one before. Here's some images:
IMG_1538 by Christian Nolan, on Flickr
IMG_1540 by Christian Nolan, on Flickr
IMG_1537 by Christian Nolan, on Flickr

Finally, the Westinghouse Hybrid Bell at Peak School Rd, Lara is still there!

[McK&H.Aust]

Here's a gateless setup with HUGE crossbucks.
https://www.google.com/maps/@-32.015379 ... 328!8i1664

...and another one.
https://www.google.com/maps/@-32.196601 ... 328!8i1664

Hopefully they don't come up with a huge version of the crossbuck with the red background, that would be ugly!

Um, about that...
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-30.345 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-30.345 ... 312!8i6656

Now that's just ridiculous, although it could be custom made because it's been there since at least 2008 and doesn't seem to have spread to other crossings. Looks like it wouldn't stand up to strong winds very well, they've just created a huge sail

[McK&H.Aust]

First of all, the malfunctioning Westinghouse gate mechanism at McIntyre Rd, Lara has been repaired and is now running better than ever! It raises really quickly and smoothly and even slows down when it nearly reaches the bottom while lowering (just like most American gate mechs). It never did that before!

Also, one of the Safetran mechs at Wests Rd, Werribee has been replaced with a Siemens mech. This is rather odd as V/Line have pretty much stuck with WCH mechs for the past few years and I've never seen them install a Siemens one before.

Finally, the Westinghouse Hybrid Bell at Peak School Rd, Lara is still there!

That's good news about the Westinghouse gate mech being repaired. It goes to show what a little TLC can do, shame they don't have the same approach when it comes to m-bells.

One possible reason for the Safetran mech being replaced by a Siemens is they are basically the same mechanism and would have exactly the same wiring. Different gate mechs can have different wiring between the mechanism and the relay case and changing it could be very complicated. In NSW the signal maintainers have a thick book of circuit diagrams for each crossing printed on A3 pages, even altering one circuit requires the circuit diagrams to be updated and new pages need to be issued for the circuit book. I imagine it would be a similar story in VIC.

Another possible reason could be the mechanism was replaced under warranty, or something like that!

[TrickyMario7654]

One possible reason for the Safetran mech being replaced by a Siemens is they are basically the same mechanism and would have exactly the same wiring. Different gate mechs can have different wiring between the mechanism and the relay case and changing it could be very complicated. In NSW the signal maintainers have a thick book of circuit diagrams for each crossing printed on A3 pages, even altering one circuit requires the circuit diagrams to be updated and new pages need to be issued for the circuit book. I imagine it would be a similar story in VIC.

I think that could also be the reason for the newer WCH mechs being installed at Brunswick Road.

Also, I noticed the Westinghouse gate mechs did that bouncing thing when the gates hit the snubbing point when I got stopped at McGregor Road today.

[McK&H.Aust]

Thought I'd post the locations of all the Westinghouse hybrid bells in NSW that I know of. It's very possible that some of these have already been replaced, and I have left out others that have already gone. I count 16 crossings with a total of 20 hybrid bells, it's interesting that there are 5 crossings with a hybrid and WCH m-bell combination.

Wingello https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.692 ... 328!8i1664 (1 hybrid and 1 WCH m-bell)
Illabo https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.803 ... 312!8i6656 (1 hybrid and 1 WCH m-bell)
Greenacre https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.903 ... 312!8i6656 (1 hybrid and 1 WCH m-bell)
Ben Bullen https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.219 ... 312!8i6656 (1 hybrid bell)
Rydal https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.481 ... 312!8i6656 (1 hybrid and 1 WCH m-bell)
Tichborne https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.225 ... 312!8i6656 (1 hybrid bell)
Goonumbla https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.999 ... 312!8i6656 (1 hybrid bell)
Ivanhoe https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.914 ... 312!8i6656 (1 hybrid bell)
Parkville https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-31.984 ... 312!8i6656 (2 hybrid bells)
Ardglen https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-31.738 ... 312!8i6656 (2 hybrid bells)
Willow Tree https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-31.652 ... 312!8i6656 (1 hybrid bell)
Werris Creek https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-31.366 ... 312!8i6656 (1 hybrid bell)
Kooragang https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.886 ... 312!8i6656 (2 hybrid bells) seems to be out of service.
Boggabri https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-30.698 ... 312!8i6656 (1 hybrid and 1 WCH m-bell)
Baan Baa https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-30.518 ... 312!8i6656 (2 hybrid bells)
Broken Hill https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-31.957 ... 312!8i6656 (1 hybrid bell)

[TrickyMario7654]

Thought I'd post the locations of all the Westinghouse hybrid bells in NSW that I know of. It's very possible that some of these have already been replaced, and I have left out others that have already gone. I count 15 crossings with a total of 19 hybrid bells, it's interesting that there are 5 crossings with a hybrid and WCH m-bell combination.

Wingello https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.692 ... 328!8i1664 (1 hybrid and 1 WCH m-bell)
Illabo https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.803 ... 312!8i6656 (1 hybrid and 1 WCH m-bell)
Greenacre https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.903 ... 312!8i6656 (1 hybrid and 1 WCH m-bell)
Ben Bullen https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.219 ... 312!8i6656 (1 hybrid bell)
Rydal https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.481 ... 312!8i6656 (1 hybrid and 1 WCH m-bell)
Tichborne https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.225 ... 312!8i6656 (1 hybrid bell)
Goonumbla https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.999 ... 312!8i6656 (1 hybrid bell)
Ivanhoe https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.914 ... 312!8i6656 (1 hybrid bell)
Parkville https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-31.984 ... 312!8i6656 (2 hybrid bells)
Ardglen https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-31.738 ... 312!8i6656 (2 hybrid bells)
Willow Tree https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-31.652 ... 312!8i6656 (1 hybrid bell)
Werris Creek https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-31.366 ... 312!8i6656 (1 hybrid bell)
Kooragang https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.886 ... 312!8i6656 (2 hybrid bells) seems to be out of service.
Boggabri https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-30.698 ... 312!8i6656 (1 hybrid and 1 WCH m-bell)
Baan Baa https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-30.518 ... 312!8i6656 (2 hybrid bells)

Nice list. I noticed that you left Bomen off the list (presumably they've closed the crossing now).

You also forgot this one at Broken Hill.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-31.957 ... 312!8i6656

Can I also request that you film the crossing at Wingello? I noticed it had "2 Track" signs above the crossbuck and inverted "DO NOT QUEUE OVER RAILWAY CROSSING" signs.

[McK&H.Aust]

Thought I'd post the locations of all the Westinghouse hybrid bells in NSW that I know of. It's very possible that some of these have already been replaced, and I have left out others that have already gone. I count 15 crossings with a total of 19 hybrid bells, it's interesting that there are 5 crossings with a hybrid and WCH m-bell combination.

Wingello https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.692 ... 328!8i1664 (1 hybrid and 1 WCH m-bell)
Illabo https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.803 ... 312!8i6656 (1 hybrid and 1 WCH m-bell)
Greenacre https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.903 ... 312!8i6656 (1 hybrid and 1 WCH m-bell)
Ben Bullen https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.219 ... 312!8i6656 (1 hybrid bell)
Rydal https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.481 ... 312!8i6656 (1 hybrid and 1 WCH m-bell)
Tichborne https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.225 ... 312!8i6656 (1 hybrid bell)
Goonumbla https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.999 ... 312!8i6656 (1 hybrid bell)
Ivanhoe https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.914 ... 312!8i6656 (1 hybrid bell)
Parkville https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-31.984 ... 312!8i6656 (2 hybrid bells)
Ardglen https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-31.738 ... 312!8i6656 (2 hybrid bells)
Willow Tree https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-31.652 ... 312!8i6656 (1 hybrid bell)
Werris Creek https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-31.366 ... 312!8i6656 (1 hybrid bell)
Kooragang https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-32.886 ... 312!8i6656 (2 hybrid bells) seems to be out of service.
Boggabri https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-30.698 ... 312!8i6656 (1 hybrid and 1 WCH m-bell)
Baan Baa https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-30.518 ... 312!8i6656 (2 hybrid bells)

Nice list. I noticed that you left Bomen off the list (presumably they've closed the crossing now).

You also forgot this one at Broken Hill.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-31.957 ... 312!8i6656

Can I also request that you film the crossing at Wingello? I noticed it had "2 Track" signs above the crossbuck and inverted "DO NOT QUEUE OVER RAILWAY CROSSING" signs.

Thanks for picking up on Broken Hill, I've updated the list and it comes to an even 20 hybrid bells.

Wingello is quite an interesting crossing because those new signals were installed in 2007 and replaced the original signals which had Harmon gate mechs. The new signals both had hybrid bells when first installed and it was only about a year later when the hybrid bell on the western signal was replaced by an older WCH m-bell which came from the previous Harmon signals! Not sure why they did that. I have wanted to film the crossing for a while and still hope to eventually, but I don't get the time very often and that frustrates the hell out of me

BTW I didn't include Bomen because it's meant to close some time this month.