Glenferrie Rd Level Crossing, Kooyong

Описание: This is the Glenferrie Rd level crossing in Kooyong, on the Glen Waverley line, with footage I took in June 2014, August 2016, January and July 2017 and January 2018.

Glenferrie rd is one of three tram squares in Melbourne (the others being Riversdale Rd in Camberwell and Glenhuntly Rd in Glen Huntly). Tram squares are crossings where train and tram tracks and overhead wires intersect. Trams use different voltage to trains, so whenever a train travels through the crossing the current for the overhead wires must be switched from 600v (suitable for trams) to 1500v (suitable for trains) and then switched back once the train has passed through. As a result, the crossing has to be manually operated by a signalman in a signal-box next to the crossing, who has to change the voltage and activate the crossing whenever a train approaches, as well as change signals for each train to stop and go through the crossing. Trains are also speed restricted to 30km/h at this crossing. The system at this crossing is 104 years old, and has not been updated

You can hear lots of clunking coming from the signalbox, in the footage. This is the workings of the lever frame the signalman has to manage to change the voltage and signals, and activate the crossing.

This crossing has:

Two Westinghouse Hybrid bells. Both bells are programmed to sound continuously until the boom gates rise. The bell on the southern side looks like it has been refurbished. I'm honestly surprised at how healthy these bells sound. Trains are constant at this crossing, and as it's a tram square, the crossing has to be activated for long periods of time

Westinghouse cross-arms. The cross-arms on the upper section of the northern cantilever and the lower section of the southern cantilever are both bolted upside down

Marked Westinghouse lights

Safetran boom gate mechanisms with Westinghouse bases. Each boom gate arm has a folding mechanism at the tip, which extends when the boom gates lower and retracts when the boom gates rise. This is to prevent the arm from contacting with the overhead tram wires. All individual signals have unmarked bases

Both cantilever's have, rather unusually, four sets of lights. The only other crossings I know that have this are Puckle St/Holmes Rd, Moonee Ponds and Boundary Rd, Faulkner

The Monash freeway is visible from this crossing. However, it doesn't have entry and exit ramps