Mike's Railroad Crossing Forum

nickrink wrote:Which do you like best? Older Style Railroad Crossing Signals Or Newer Style Railroad Crossing Signals?

It really depends on your definitions for both older and newer style crossing signals (or if there's some kind of cut-off date between the two), but generally, I like any and all signals, even the more boring "modern" ones with 12 inch lights, LEDs, and GS Type-2s or Safetran Type-2s/NEG e-bells. Heck, 12x24 inch lights might actually be my favorite light size, though just slightly.

Well, mechanical bells are still produced, y'know?

I prefer the older equipment... it just seems that some of the newer equipment is not being built as well and will eventually fail faster than the stuff that's been around for decades.

I do also prefer LED's over incandescent. Less failures (for the most part)... and the older equipment can be "upgraded" to make it better than it was originally.

nickrink wrote:Yeah, but they are not really on newer signals.

While that may seem true, it's actually not. There are several short lines (and even some main lines) that still order WCH mechanical bells to this day and use them on new installs.

ZachL wrote:

nickrink wrote:Yeah, but they are not really on newer signals.

While that may seem true, it's actually not. There are several short lines (and even some main lines) that still order WCH mechanical bells to this day and use them on new installs.

NJ Transit uses only mechanical bells. The only crossing on their line with an e-bell is one that is shared with Conrail, and Conrail had installed an e-bell on their signal.

Long Island Railroad also seems to only use mechanical bells as far as i have seen!

Newer all the way! All "old style" signals need to be scrapped!

Swedish Crossings wrote:Long Island Railroad also seems to only use mechanical bells as far as i have seen!

I've found three crossings on Google Street View on the LIRR with General Signals e-bells.

ToledoRailfan wrote:Newer all the way! All "old style" signals need to be scrapped!

(Am triggered rn)

Anyway.
I don't see a difference between newer or older, i like both.

I like both, although I do prefer older signals. I actually quite like crossings with a mixture of old and new equipment, but it's nice to have variety.