Mike's Railroad Crossing Forum

On the western edge of Middleton, Wisconsin (a city to the immediate west of Madison), an industrial park spur bends north off of the Wisconsin and Southern Railroad's line from Madison to Prairie du Chien and crosses University Avenue (US Highway 14). Until sometime in late 2007, the divided roadway crossing had four gateless mast signals with 8" incandescent lights and at least one, possibly two mechanical bells. All four signals had EXEMPT signs on them, due to light (spur) train traffic plus the crossing being right next to a signal-controlled intersection on a 45 MPH, divided road. One of the signals is seen in the mirror in the linked photo:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... ?id=188002

A little less than two years ago, those signals received new 12" x 24" L.E.D. lights. I would have thought that would be the end of it for a spur crossing, but last month I drove down that road and found four brand new signals in place with new 12" x 24" L.E.D. lights, as well as a General Signals electronic bell and gate mechanisms, but no gate arms yet. All four new signals had new EXEMPT signs as well.

Well, a month later (late last week) I came through there again, and the signals were still missing their gates! I mentioned this on a WSOR forum, and opined that this upgrade was probably an unnecessary waste of money for a spur crossing, and promply got my @$$ chewed off by several WSOR conductors who didn't like protecting shoves through the ungated crossing on the busy, 45-MPH road. So I guess if the train crews like it, I'm OK with it, although that still doesn't answer why the gates aren't actually there yet. I was by there again earlier today, and still no gate arms.

Meanwhile trains still have to use the crossing. I wonder if the gate motors work and the stubby little gate holder and counterweight arms rotate down into position when the signals are activated.

As an addendum, Google Street View shows the crossing when it had its ungated 12" x 24" lights:

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=43.0 ... 29,,0,0.12

There was only one mechanical bell, on the eastbound median signal. The new gated signal with the only bell (GS electronic) is the westbound shoulder signal, which replaced the rightmost signal in the linked view.

Nothing wrong with the old setup. Despite what the WSOR conductors said, there was really no need to upgrade there IMO.

I would think they'd put 2 bells at the crossing instead of one (in both setups), especially since it's a divided highway.

AndyWS wrote:Meanwhile trains still have to use the crossing. I wonder if the gate motors work and the stubby little gate holder and counterweight arms rotate down into position when the signals are activated.

Whenever I have seen a new crossing signal without the actual gate installed yet... the gate motors do not do anything. The signals work like regular signals w/o gates. The bells also ring the full time the signal is active.

weatherdan882002 wrote:I would think they'd put 2 bells at the crossing instead of one (in both setups), especially since it's a divided highway.

At least on the older setup the bell was on the median signal, was at least a little closer to the other lanes of traffic then the new one.

Here's the OCR article that ordered this upgrade:

http://ocr.wi.gov/recent%20decisions/91 ... %20100.pdf

You can see the new lights working here, although the camera is somewhat reluctant to focus. The gate arms still aren't on, the mechanisms aren't hooked up, and the conductor walks the train across the highway.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0p5aUJoFuA

Wonder what's holding things up?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zV-p7bmluJA

The signals finally have gates, and a "No Left Turn" signal was added as well. Plus, a crossing activation indicator wayside signal was installed along the tracks.

I counted about 12 seconds from startup to when the gates begin to lower. Seems a bit much to me, but then again, being a highway, I guess it's needed...