This is the Junee Rd crossing at Temora, located in southern NSW, Australia. The signals here were installed in January 1969 and there have been some changes in recent years. Originally there were two tracks at the crossing but the second track was removed in 2009, although a short section still exists in the crossing. The original gate mechs were WRRS/GRS type D, but were replaced by Safetran mechs a few years ago.
This crossing is one of the few left in Australia to have two teardrop bells. The bell on the southern signal rings continuously from start up until the gates begin to rise, while the bell on the northern side only rings until the gates have lowered. I love the sound of both teardrops ringing together when the crossing first activates.
The crossing also has a new relay bungalow on the opposite side of the tracks from the original one. It is amazing that the teardrop bells have survived, as usually when a new relay bungalow is installed the opportunity is taken to install new signals as well.
Nice! I noticed that one of the Teardrops sound like a hybrid bell for some reason. Why is this?
Re: Temora, Australia.
Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2016 4:37 am
by freebrickproductions
TrickyMario7654 wrote:Nice! I noticed that one of the Teardrops sound like a hybrid bell for some reason. Why is this?
Maybe the gong was replaced?
Re: Temora, Australia.
Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2016 5:18 am
by McK&H.Aust
TrickyMario7654 wrote:Nice! I noticed that one of the Teardrops sound like a hybrid bell for some reason. Why is this?
There has always been lots of variations in the gongs on the McK&H teardrops, it can be difficult to find two that sound exactly the same. Having said that, you can still tell the sound of a teardrop regardless of the gong that it has.
Re: Temora, Australia.
Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2016 5:23 am
by McK&H.Aust
freebrickproductions wrote:
TrickyMario7654 wrote:Nice! I noticed that one of the Teardrops sound like a hybrid bell for some reason. Why is this?
Maybe the gong was replaced?
It's more likely just the variation between the gongs, McK&H teardrops have many different sounding gongs. It's actually very difficult to remove, so I doubt the gong would have been replaced.
Re: Temora, Australia.
Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2016 5:00 pm
by freebrickproductions
McK&H.Aust wrote:
TrickyMario7654 wrote:Nice! I noticed that one of the Teardrops sound like a hybrid bell for some reason. Why is this?
There has always been lots of variations in the gongs on the McK&H teardrops, it can be difficult to find two that sound exactly the same. Having said that, you can still tell the sound of a teardrop regardless of the gong that it has.
TrickyMario7654 wrote:Nice! I noticed that one of the Teardrops sound like a hybrid bell for some reason. Why is this?
Maybe the gong was replaced?
It's more likely just the variation between the gongs, McK&H teardrops have many different sounding gongs. It's actually very difficult to remove, so I doubt the gong would have been replaced.
I've noticed that a lot of the hybrid bells in Melbourne have different sounding gongs. Here's some of the ones I've noticed...
Oakover Road, Preston (Hybrid x2)
Hampton Street, Hampton (Hybrid x2, since replaced)
Racecourse Road, Pakenham (Hybrid x2)
Blackburn Road, Blackburn (Hybrid +Teardrop, since replaced & being grade separated)
Glenferrie Road, Kooyong (Hybrid x2)
Which one of these sound the healthiest?
Re: Temora, Australia.
Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2016 6:41 pm
by McK&H.Aust
McK&H.Aust wrote:There has always been lots of variations in the gongs on the McK&H teardrops, it can be difficult to find two that sound exactly the same. Having said that, you can still tell the sound of a teardrop regardless of the gong that it has.
Yes that's right, I have also noticed variations with WCH m-bells and WRRS ones. I guess because the gongs were mass-produced that even a slight variation during manufacturing could result in different sounds. It's one of the things that makes m-bells more interesting, a bit of variety in the sounds they make. Nice videos btw, some of them I haven't seen before
Re: Temora, Australia.
Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2016 7:31 pm
by McK&H.Aust
TrickyMario7654 wrote:Which one of these sound the healthiest?
They all sound healthy to me, just different. It's one of the things that make m-bells more interesting, the huge variety of sounds. I specially like it when there are two different sounding m-bells bells on the same crossing, it sounds amazing.
You just don't get that kind of variety with e-bells, all of the Safetran type 3 sound the same, along with the General Signals type 2. They become boring after a while.
