Mike's Railroad Crossing Forum

Hello, i am a new member here. I am a diehard foamer and a fan of railway crossing signals. I would like to know if anyone can identify this oddity i found in brantford ontario, it is basically a pole with a bell on top, it has a typical canadian crossbuck, it also has a small rotating beacon or blinking beacon that flashes when a train comes. It is located on the remains of the CN burford subdivision (now just the burford spur), it sees use once a week on wednesdays only. I have seen it operating in person and i can't figure out what company built it or it's age. It used to have a very old and rusty WRRS bell but it was recently replaced with a griswold mechanical bell, a shame considering it was such a lovely sounding bell. Here it is: https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.1407705, ... 312!8i6656
Here is a video of it in operation (skip to 19:07) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMAyF0XKCqM

Thebrantfordrailfan wrote:Hello, i am a new member here. I am a diehard foamer and a fan of railway crossing signals. I would like to know if anyone can identify this oddity i found in brantford ontario, it is basically a pole with a bell on top, it has a typical canadian crossbuck, it also has a small rotating beacon or blinking beacon that flashes when a train comes. It is located on the remains of the CN burford subdivision (now just the burford spur), it sees use once a week on wednesdays only. I have seen it operating in person and i can't figure out what company built it or it's age. It used to have a very old and rusty WRRS bell but it was recently replaced with a griswold mechanical bell, a shame considering it was such a lovely sounding bell. Here it is: https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.1407705, ... 312!8i6656
Here is a video of it in operation (skip to 19:07) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMAyF0XKCqM

Welcome to the forum!

Looks like the strobe light could serve as a way to let the train crew know that the crossing in functioning properly. It could also serve as an extra warning. Defiantly an oddity. Nice find!

Cool find with that bell-only crossing! Not too many of those out there!
Welcome to the forums, BTW! Looks to be some neat crossings in that area, especially with these classics just up the tracks.

Those crossing signals on dalhousie street are pretty neat too. By the way, is there any way to identify strange crossing signals like this? I know the bell was a WRRS bell. but i have no idea who actually made this signal or it's age, i am going to guess it's from the mid 1950's to early 1960's, maybe even a bit older.

Thebrantfordrailfan wrote:Those crossing signals on dalhousie street are pretty neat too. By the way, is there any way to identify strange crossing signals like this? I know the bell was a WRRS bell. but i have no idea who actually made this signal or it's age, i am going to guess it's from the mid 1950's to early 1960's, maybe even a bit older.

Yea, I'd say about then as well. Bell-only crossings have gone up around the same time as other signals, and even to this day they'll occasionally be installed. Though the best way to find out is to look at the equipment used, such as the bell and base.

Welcome to the forum!

Welcome! Lot's of cool equipment up in Canada. Look forward to seeing more!

Welcome to the forum!