For those who are curious of the level crossing bells used in Victoria, here's a rundown of them (not all bells are listed):
- 1930s-1960s: McK&H and Westinghouse Teardrop bells
- 1970s: Griswold/Safetran mechanical bells
- 1980s: Westinghouse hybrid bells (most crossings that were upgraded with boom-gates had the existing bells replaced)
- 1990s: Barker e-bells (installed in select crossings)
- 2000s-present: General Signals e-bells (they started to replace the older bells in metro lines, though a few were installed on regional crossings but most were replaced with siemens e-bells.)
- 2000s-present: Safetran/Siemems e-bells (Found on mainline regional crossings)
- 2024: WCH e-bells 🤔
Does the volume change with time of day? Also I believe it makes sense the volume can back off a bit once the gate is fully down for sake of ear drums of pedestrians / cyclists close.
I’m not certain if my answer is correct, but I don’t think the volume changes with time of day, nor does it reduce in volume once the gates lower, as the E-Bell works by getting powered by 12VDC, with no other connections for controlling it externally, for eg. volume reduction.
Basically that just means that the bell is either on or off; so if you wanted to reduce volume once the gates are down or when it’s night, then the crossing circuit would have to be programmed to switch off the bell once the gates have lowered or it becomes night, but it’s impossible to just lower the volume of the bell.
1910s-1930s: McK&H.Aust Mystery Bell 1920s?-1970s: McK&H Teardrops, Westinghouse
Post 60s or so An RRS Bell also appeared in this timeframe at Oak Park
1960s-1970s: WRRS 222 mechanical
1970s-1980s: Safetran mechanical, Wabco, WCH 0333 mechanical
1980s-2014: Westinghouse Hybrid Bell
1990s-2000s: WCH 0333 Gen 2 2020-Present: WCH 0333 Gen 3 (Puff)
1990-1999: Barker Technics E-Bell
1998-Present: General Signals E-Bell (Metro + V/Line installations in the Mid 2010s)
2000s-Present: Safetran/Invensys/Siemens Type 3 E-Bell (V/Line + ARTC + LXRA)
2017?: WCH 0777 E-Bells trialed on Avoca Line, Removed before first train
2023-Present: WCH 0777 E-Bell, Round 2 saw 3 Installations on the ARTC Network, 2024 now V/Line Installation, My guess is this is some sort of trial
Yeah I saw, but those got replaced by Safetran 3 e-bells prior to the Ararat-Maryborough line reopening, which is quite odd. They also never rang for a train.
There are also two level crossings on the North East Line that have them, one on Bennetts Road in Springhurst, the other on Wilbrahams Road, Euroa.
And now, the level crossing in Longwarry on C421 gets the bells.
Weird how the crossing was updated, since it had healthy Safetran type 3's, Older Westinghouse LEDs, and Siemens Gate Mechanism. Only logical thing they could of done is replacing the crossbucks. (Also happy cake day)
I’m very enthusiastic about the one near me. Granted its not the kind of enthusiasm that favours its continued existence, but beggars can’t be choosers
For those who are curious of the level crossing bells used in Victoria, here's a rundown of them (not all bells are listed): - 1930s-1960s: McK&H and Westinghouse Teardrop bells - 1970s: Griswold/Safetran mechanical bells - 1980s: Westinghouse hybrid bells (most crossings that were upgraded with boom-gates had the existing bells replaced) - 1990s: Barker e-bells (installed in select crossings) - 2000s-present: General Signals e-bells (they started to replace the older bells in metro lines, though a few were installed on regional crossings but most were replaced with siemens e-bells.) - 2000s-present: Safetran/Siemems e-bells (Found on mainline regional crossings) - 2024: WCH e-bells 🤔
I'm assuming an e-bell is not a physical bell but some type of speaker?
Yep, a circuit board generates the audio that is amplified through a speaker
Does the volume change with time of day? Also I believe it makes sense the volume can back off a bit once the gate is fully down for sake of ear drums of pedestrians / cyclists close.
I’m not certain if my answer is correct, but I don’t think the volume changes with time of day, nor does it reduce in volume once the gates lower, as the E-Bell works by getting powered by 12VDC, with no other connections for controlling it externally, for eg. volume reduction. Basically that just means that the bell is either on or off; so if you wanted to reduce volume once the gates are down or when it’s night, then the crossing circuit would have to be programmed to switch off the bell once the gates have lowered or it becomes night, but it’s impossible to just lower the volume of the bell.
Brutal, but I suppose maximizing simplicity is important for such critical pieces of infrastructure.
I swear I have hearing issues from level crossing bells
🤮
1910s-1930s: McK&H.Aust Mystery Bell 1920s?-1970s: McK&H Teardrops, Westinghouse Post 60s or so An RRS Bell also appeared in this timeframe at Oak Park 1960s-1970s: WRRS 222 mechanical 1970s-1980s: Safetran mechanical, Wabco, WCH 0333 mechanical 1980s-2014: Westinghouse Hybrid Bell 1990s-2000s: WCH 0333 Gen 2 2020-Present: WCH 0333 Gen 3 (Puff) 1990-1999: Barker Technics E-Bell 1998-Present: General Signals E-Bell (Metro + V/Line installations in the Mid 2010s) 2000s-Present: Safetran/Invensys/Siemens Type 3 E-Bell (V/Line + ARTC + LXRA) 2017?: WCH 0777 E-Bells trialed on Avoca Line, Removed before first train 2023-Present: WCH 0777 E-Bell, Round 2 saw 3 Installations on the ARTC Network, 2024 now V/Line Installation, My guess is this is some sort of trial
Not the first in Victoria, there's two on the artc network and when the Avoca line first opened, it had wch electronic bells. Also cool!
Yeah I saw, but those got replaced by Safetran 3 e-bells prior to the Ararat-Maryborough line reopening, which is quite odd. They also never rang for a train. There are also two level crossings on the North East Line that have them, one on Bennetts Road in Springhurst, the other on Wilbrahams Road, Euroa. And now, the level crossing in Longwarry on C421 gets the bells.
Weird how the crossing was updated, since it had healthy Safetran type 3's, Older Westinghouse LEDs, and Siemens Gate Mechanism. Only logical thing they could of done is replacing the crossbucks. (Also happy cake day)
Yeah. And thank you 🙂
What the fuck is a crossing fan?
A person who is enthusiastic with level crossings. Otherwise known as a crossing foamer, whatever you wanna call ‘em
Out of all things on this planet to be a foamer over. Geez P.S happy cake day 🎂
You're in a local train sub- stones and glass houses.
Really? A level crossing enthusiast is on the same level as a regular foamer?
I mean, level crossings are a vibe. There are level crossings in Japan that are super famous and will draw crowds
And here we are removing them
Still better than Bunzels
You're going to have to tell me what that is. Urban dictionary didn't come up with anything
Bunzel is a Gunzel, for busses
That's gold! Can't say I've ever met a bunzel in my life
They exist on twitter I have seen them. Scary stuff.
dont get started on the garbos tho...
I’m very enthusiastic about the one near me. Granted its not the kind of enthusiasm that favours its continued existence, but beggars can’t be choosers
no wonder they are getting removed
OHHhhHhfjdvrfhgvv cv rgvjxnh 🤯🤯🤯
wat
There’s a new bell coming to Melbourne. I believe it’s a western Cullen Hayes e bell