Beaconsfield-Emerald Rd Level Crossing, Emerald (Before & After Upgrade)

This is the Beaconsfield-Emerald Rd level crossing in Emerald, on the Puffing Billy railway, with footage I took in December 2017, July 2018, January and October 2019, August, September and October 2022, January, February, March, June, July, August and September 2023, and January and April 2024
In 2017 to 2019, this crossing had:
- A McKenzie & Holland teardrop bell
- Westinghouse cross-arms
- Marked and unmarked Westinghouse lights, both LED and incandescent
- Unmarked bases on all signals
In late 2018, Puffing Billy announced it would be installing updated equipment at this crossing, alongside two others (School Rd in Menzies Creek & Healsville-Koo-Wee-Rup Rd in Cockatoo). These upgrades were to include boom gates, LED lights and fencing, and were to be completed by November 2019
The works were completed on time by November 2019, and the new crossing now has:
- A Western Cullen Hayes mechanical bell. This is an unusual installation, as most level crossings with boom gates have two bells. However, all boom gate upgrades on the Puffing Billy railway post 2017 have one bell installed (except for Healsville - Koo Wee Rup Rd). It is also unusual as it is a brand new mechanical bell. The only brand new mechanical bells for level crossings manufactured these days are Western Cullen Hayes bells. I'm assuming this bell was chosen to keep with the heritage feel of the railway AND to adhere to the modern standards of new crossings. The bell was also installed on the signal on the southern side, rather than the northern side where the previous bell used to be
- Westinghouse cross-arms
- Marked LED Westinghouse lights
- Western Cullen Hayes boom gate mechanisms with unmarked bases
I filmed both before, during, and after the ban on legs dangling out the sides of Puffing Billy was implemented in 2018 following the previously mentioned collision, and then subsequently removed in 2021, so you'll see some occasions where passengers have their legs out, and other occasions where they don't. One bit of consistency you WILL see, however, is the waving passengers. It is customary at Puffing Billy that you wave to the passengers on the train as it travels past. It's a good little bit of fun and brightens up everyone's day!

[@TheiLikeTrainsGuyIsMe]

hey stuart! i've come to let you know that warrigal rd in mentone and parkers rd parkdale level crossing is in the middle of a level crossing upgrade so i hope you dont mind checking it out

[@stuarthunt101]

I tried to have a look recently, and there were too many workmen around to film it unfortunately. I've got other crossings in the works to upload soon though

[@tomhenry6440]

The bell sounds a bit like Johnstone Street in Castlemaine, but a little slower

[@stuarthunt101]

Sure does