Level Crossing, Ararat (Western Hwy) VIC, Australia.

The first activation is shown at 3:10
Filmed with Tazzie Transport youtube.com/@TazzieTransport?...
This is the Western Highway (A8) level crossing at Ararat, it is located in western Victoria on the ARTC standard gauge line from Melbourne to Adelaide.
The Western Highway is the main road linking Melbourne and Adelaide, originally it had several level crossings along it’s route. Deviations and grade separations over the previous few decades leaves this as the last remaining level crossing on the road.
These gated signals were installed in 2004 when they replaced the previous gate-less signals. Both signals have unmarked bases, Safetran gate mechanisms, Westinghouse LED lights and Safetran Type 3 electronic bells which replaced the original WC Hayes mechanical bells some time after 2010. The bell on the eastern signal rings from start up until the gates have lowered, while the bell on the western signal rings throughout the entire activation.
The gate-less signal on the western side is a more recent addition, being installed some time between 2008 and 2010. It has an unmarked base and a pair of Westinghouse LED lights.
Train information:
1st train: 6SP4 freight from Sydney to Perth, with locomotives NR77, NR61 and NR84. Filmed on December 30, 2022.
2nd train: 6MP4 freight from Melbourne to Perth, with locomotives NR8 and NR111. Filmed on June 23, 2023.
3rd train: 7731V empty grain from Geelong to Ararat, with locomotives BL26, BL32 and BL27. Filmed on June 23, 2023.
4th train: 4PM1 Aurizon freight from Perth to Melbourne, with locomotives GWB105 and ACD6051, plus G535 mid-train. Filmed on June 23, 2023.

[@trainman758]

Nice video!

[@aussie_trainspotting_videos]

Your videos are absolutely amazing. Love the work you put into it. Also, what camera do you use? I will take a wild guess- Panasonic VX1/VXF1? - Caden

[@jacktherailwayenthusiast3343]

Great video Michael, it’s bizarre this levels crossing activates before Alfred Street for up trains.

[@McKHAust]

Thanks Jack

[@TrickyMario7654]

Vicsig states on the Ararat page that the original gateless signals were installed on May 4th, 1961. These gated signals were provided when the BG track between Ballarat and Ararat was reopened for passenger services in mid 2004. The gateless signal was likely added when the nearby roundabout was constructed in the late 2000s to help improve visibility. BTW, did you notice how I mentioned those cab view DVDs in the replies of the last video? Also, there was a really nasty accident in the yard here in November 1999 which wrote off G517 and G518, both of which were scrapped in 2001.

[@McKHAust]

I noticed you mentioned the cab view DVD’s however the comment seemed to disappear before I could reply

[@TrickyMario7654]

@@McKHAustIt’s still visible to me. Check to see if it’s “Held For Review”. As for the rest of the info I posted in the comment for this video?

[@McKHAust]

The comment is not visible to me anywhere, even in the held for review section. Seems to be happening a lot to me lately, I find it very frustrating and seriously considering just turning off all comments, it’s getting difficult to manage

[@TrickyMario7654]

@@McKHAust Please don’t turn the comments off. BTW, are you gonna respond to what else I’ve said in my main comment on this video?

[@McKHAust]

I did see the information about the original gateless signals on Vicsig but decided not to include it to keep the description as short as possible. One interesting thing about the current setup is it uses the old McKenzie & Holland relay case from the gateless signals, normally new relay cases are installed when crossings are upgraded with gates

[@m.faisholhafiiz28]

Australia Railway Crossing Sounds Like American Railroad Crossing