Melton Hwy Level Crossing, Sydenham

[@darrenmiles-morland8038]

This is the first time that I've seen this crossing since the grade seperation commenced. Early this year the crossing had twin double boom gates on both sides. With the westbound carriageway having been built over the train line, these have now been removed, and the crossing is looking very similar to how the Main Road level crossing in St. Albans looked like before it was removed. That motorist near the beginning must have been either speeding or not paying attention. The bells had started flashing long before he got there, and he appeared to have ample time to slow down and stop safely instead of coming to an abrupt halt and almost losing his load.

[@tomhenry6440]

The level crossing is the third one to go on the Sunbury line. The crossing was modified in October 2017, when the bridge was under construction. On a bad day, the traffic can be backed up heading towards the Calder Freeway and back towards Plumpton Road. The road was duplicated sometime between 2003 and 2004, but it had the incandescent traffic lights for some reason When it was owned by V/line, they still had wishbone boom gates (probably if when they duplicated the road, they decided to have it like that if they were gonna electrify the line). The crossing has also been the site of 3 near misses in the 21st century, with 2 of them being when the level crossing was owned by Metro. When it was owned by V/line, it had Westinghouse hybrid bells. If you live in Hillside, this is the main road you'd use to get to places such as Watergardens, the airport and towards the city. If you were going from your house in Hillside to the airport (before the crossing was removed), you would have had to wait 10 or 15 minutes and you would've been in a rush for your plane That motorist must've slowed down too late and had to do it fast so he wouldn't cross over the train line when the boom gates were lowering

[@tomhenry6440]

Just a quick one, crossing starts at 0:37 and that motorist stops at 0:41 which was then the booms were downing

[@McKHAust]

Great video! Certainly some interesting things happening at the crossing, both gated signals have the junction boxes for the lights mounted on the same side as the gate, never seen that before. Then there's the upside down lights on the cantilever. Lol it looks a bit dodgy to have so many pallets on a trailer, almost couldn't stop!

[@stuarthunt101]

Thanks. Yeah it is a bit unusual. When i went to film close ups, like i usually do, I was like 'huh? where's the box?'. I'm sure you've figured out that the upside down lights are only that way because of level crossing works and some weird decision making by employees lol. Yeah it doesn't look safe at all. It was genuinely scary when it screeched to a halt

[@EB-2009]

i lived in sydneham and before moving there we would use the melton highway to get to the airport and watergardens

[@MissStabby]

6 years later it's going good

[@robhampton4929]

Sydenham has a silent "e" and "h" you say Sidnam. :-)

[@stuarthunt101]

Ah sorry, should've looked up how to pronounce it before I made the video

[@nssteampunk4865]

2:42 That train horn almost sounded like a steam locomotive!

[@passeficknayshenallflaiugh9411]

Not in Australia.

[@frankpierce2008]

Gotta love that burnt rubber

[@MissStabby]

0:37 speedy kiwi dingus

[@trainman758]

Lol 0:41

[@tomhenry6440]

Omg