Pennsylvania Rd. Malfunction 2, Wyandotte, MI 1/28/08

[TheMommabeardee]

What is wrong with this railroad crossing

[freebrickproductions]

I hear a mechanical bell. Maybe the one shown DOES work and it is just ringing quietly?

[chuckufarly5]

lol that truck was probly liek "wtf stupid crossing wasted 10 seconds of my time" =P

[chris40539]

does the sign that says the amount of track say 3 or 4 tracks?

[robertgift]

Good catch!

Interesting.

What is the cause?

Did you look at the track to see if something was shunting the rails?

At a crossing of a siding no longer in use, a 20 foot long pile of dirt on the track apparently was creating a conductive path almost to the threshold of activating the crossing signals. I was able to get the signals to operate with ease.

The track crossed a 4-lane road and rails abruptly cut and removed at the sidewalk. I was surprised thathe signals were still active.

[owensri2]

Yes, you are right about the signals. They will turn red if a rail breaks, but this break was just beginning, and wasn't enough to cut off all types of current through it. The crossing system is very sensitive to faults, and it kept sensing it every time a car went over the track. (The broken rail was in the island section of the crossing, right where the cars cross over). The break wasn't that large either, but it was enough to keep the wayside signals functioning properly.

[TWCFanChris]

Does that mechanical bell on the gated signal on the side you were on ring?

[owensri2]

No, it doesn't work. There's a hidden General Signals Type 1 electronic bell on the gate mechanism right behind the cantilever.

[TWCFanChris]

Yeah.

I saw that on Google Street View.

What type of bell was ringing on the first mast to your left

[owensri2]

That would be a General Signals Type 1, but it didn't work at the time. Just the bell on the gate mechanism was ringing.

[Trainking922]

Thats weird how the other mechanical bell on the other cantelever dose ring but the one close to you dosen't.

[elirosen1391]

@owensri2 I hear a mechanical bell ringing in the background.

[travelplus1]

wow how funny

[DrSurprise]

wow, your videos prove that this railroad company uses worn down, dodgy equipment thats a danger to motorists!

[airnational3]

did you call anybody?

[owensri2]

Yes, I called. They were there in 20 minutes. It was a broken rail that caused it.

[airnational3]

brother i have nightmares with crossings trains passing with gates up .signal looking strange 5 tracks to cross .  come to longi sland to the long island rail road their is a sighn at pt jefferson trains wont cross until crossing go down, is that csx railroad or norfolk southern

[BellyLover06]

Strange, why would a broken rail cause malfunctions in the crossbucks?

[owensri2]

It breaks the circuit on the tracks, causing the signals to activate. It is a failsafe because the control box can no longer tell where a train is on the approach.

[JDM3550]

The end of the gate looks like it's nearly touching the ground. Is there a way to adjust the gate's motor so it would be kept from touching the ground?

[Andrewsaxamophone]

Of course. Just open the case, get some screws, and a hammer, and go to town. :)

[owensri2]

Huh?

[Andrewsaxamophone]

nvmd. jokes ovr.

[BellyLover06]

I bet there is, but I don't know how. Maybe look at the insides of this one and one that functions normally and compare?