Westinghouse Hybrid Bell

[@vibezwithando1041]

Great video! Cool hybrid bell

[@McKHAust]

Thanks!

[@haroldfannin9554]

Conrail was a huge purchaser of these bells,most were replaced with e bells while still working perfectly.

[@kyleb06]

They purchased Safetran Hybrid bells which were lot different sounding. These Westinghouse ones were made and only used in Australia while Safetran hybrid bells were made and only used in North America.

[@TheSearleFamily123]

There's 2 of these still at Macaulay station level crossing in Melbourne

[@TrickyMario7654]

Nice video! It's a shame that these are disappearing in favor of electronic bells. The Westinghouse bells have that lovely sound to it which I'll always associate with level crossing bells. The good news is that two crossings in my local township (Main Street and Racecourse Road) still have hybrids on them (the current signals were installed in 1986 & 1999 respectively). The bad news is that I have no idea how much longer they'll remain though.

[@McKHAust]

Yes it sure is sad to see them disappearing. They are one of my favourite bells, apart from teardrops. They are getting quite hard to find in NSW, the annoying thing is that most of the ones that were replaced were in good working order when they were removed, and probably tossed into the scrap bin. What a waste.

[@TrickyMario7654]

McK&H Aust Same thing here, they just toss them in the scarp bin even if they're working perfectly fine.

[@robbiewales3007]

There's a few guy I know that do track work for V/Line. They saved some Westinghouse hybrids. One installed a set in his garage in Yarraglen. Because the sound vibrates, his neighbours think there is an active crossing.

[@maxstrainsfanssmash687]

Robbie Wales ahaha that would be funny, today i just bought a hybrid bell of ebay and i am going to use it as part of my backyard railway

[@TexasRailfan2008]

TrickyMario7654 if you see them removing the bells make SURE to ask them for one because I saw the, removing a relay case that was loaded with glass relays in my town but I didn’t ask them and i seriously regret it.

[@PlyingKibbles89]

Great video! You should try to obtain a Safetran Hybrid Bell, if it's possible.

[@McKHAust]

Thanks! I actually have a Safetran Hybrid bell, it needs some restoration work. Eventually I will do a video comparing both of them.

[@PlyingKibbles89]

@@McKHAust Quick question, what and how many bells do you have?

[@McKHAust]

I have 14 mechanical bells, those being a WRRS, WRRS Mini, Federal Signal, 2 WCH m-bells, 2 Westinghouse Hybrids, a Safetran Hybrid, Safetran m-bell, Griswold/RACO, Modern Industries, McKenzie & Holland Teardrop, US&S Teardrop and a WABCO. I also have 4 e-bells which are a General Signals Type 2, General Signals Type 3, Safetran Type 3 and a WCH e-bell.

[@kyleb06]

@@McKHAust Nice!

[@CraigBaker96837]

I've noticed that Westinghouse hybrid bells tens to ring slower than Safetran hybrid bells. I wonder why that is the case...

[@McKHAust]

The ringing speed is controlled by whatever is inside the white box, and cannot be changed. I guess the Safetran ones used different components.

[@robbiewales3007]

Excellent video. On my line, the Seymour line, there are still several crossings with hybrid bells. There are also three crossings north of Seymour that have them as well.

[@Chris-xk3bp]

You purchased this bell from an antique store and had a flasher wired to the solenoid? That's exactly what happened with mine! It had a small 12v LED flasher relay installed in it. I guess it must have been "restored" by the same person! Mine had the positive wire running through the flasher and the negative lead directly connected to the white box. I ended up cutting the positive wire before it reached the flasher and wiring it directly to the positive input terminal on the white box. It then worked perfectly! Perhaps the person selling these bells didn't realise the white box controls the pulse and thought they needed an extra relay to do the job?

[@McKHAust]

Yeah mine was painted white just like yours but I repainted it to an aluminium colour. It must have been the same place, can't remember the name but it was near Geelong I think. I found them through e-bay, they also had a teardrop bell, I wonder if it sold because they wanted heaps for it.

[@Chris-xk3bp]

You're right, it was the same place! It's called How Bazaar. The teardrop bell must have sold because it wasn't there when I purchased my hybrid bell.

[@McKHAust]

That's the place. I feel lucky to have one, for a bell that was very common it's surprising that so few come up for sale.

[@Chris-xk3bp]

I just got a couple more from The Level Crossing Removal Authority that I believe were removed from the Main Rd crossing in St Albans. Most of the crossings up for removal have Hybrid bells so hopefully more are saved and put up for sale.

[@McKHAust]

Thats great news, nice to see some of the old equipment being saved. They could be making good money from selling old equipment, certainly more than the scrap value.

[@skyman2002]

Very nice video! Do you happen to know what the gong is made of?

[@McKHAust]

I'm fairly certain that the gong is steel, it's about twice as thick as a normal WCH or Safetran gong.

[@CoreythelordoftheIsles]

@@McKHAusthence the deeper tone

[@willvaszocz2469]

the white box is mounted different in mine.

[@McKHAust]

Yes, I suspect that mine is an older model. I have noticed that the older ones only have one hole where they bolt onto the top of the mast, while the newer ones have two holes.

[@willvaszocz2469]

+McK&H Aust mine is a newer one, its never been used.

[@michal98ify]

Quality video :)

[@McKHAust]

Thanks

[@Amtrak90222]

The sound is like a glass full of water

[@dyl46225]

This has gotta be the smallest mechanical bell mechanism i have ever seen!

[@McKHAust]

It's a very simple design, only has one moving part so there's less maintenance.

[@dyl46225]

Hahah, the engineers would be slacking off! LOL

[@passeficknayshenallflaiugh9411]

Because it's a hybrid bell

[@joshuastanbury3166]

Hey I have a few good level crossing suggestions Pine Road Level crossing Fairfield Rawson Road level crossing Woy Woy those are my suggestions of were to do film at

[@McKHAust]

Thanks, I want to do Woy Woy because the crossing will be closed in the next couple of years. Might as well do Koolewong while I'm in the area.

[@joshuastanbury3166]

Can you do Pine Road level crossing in Fairfield

[@McKHAust]

Sure, it looks like a neat crossing. Don't know when yet, but sooner or later.