Very surprising to me with how busy this line is, yet how old all of infrastructure design is. No level boarding, no grade crossing elimination, only way to cross the tracks is at grade. Always will love the racetrack tho
At least it’s a brand new bell. Hopefully it’ll last it’s sad that all the mechanical bills are disappearing on the BNSF race track line at least WCH is the last signal company that still manufactures mechanical crossing bells as they still make their two railroad crossing bell models 0333 and 0666 as well as their motorized Bell Model I forget the model number, however, but more common to be found at auto drawbridge crossings, most commonly seen on the drawbridges in Chicago
I wish there were more WCH Electronic Bells on the racetrack. Sadly, they are very hard to find at BNSF crossings. Why don’t they ever use WCH e-bells?
@@coleallen3895 They produce a very loud sound which can be annoying. WCH bells are my favorite tho cuz they dont go ding ding ding they go derr derr derr. I like How loud it is tho cuz it can catch someone’s attention but the problem is. In the suburban of Illinois on like the BNSF racetrack its a complete quiet zone. WCH E bells mixing with that loud engine and those traction motors can be extremely annoying to people around neighborhood s near the railroads. Thats why they only use GS Type 2 and GS type 3 E bells because they produce the sound thats just right.
@@RMG_9000 WCH e-bells make a more alarming noise with the ability to ring at a faster pitch. In my opinion, they should use high-pitch bells like WCHs at crossings with high speed limits (60 MPH or higher) and GS e-bells should be used at crossings with slower trains. Also, it's not just the racetrack. Nearly EVERY crossing on the BNSF network has GS E-bells only (with the exception of Kansas which still has a lot of mechanical bells from the ATSF days). There are very few BNSF crossings with WCH e-bells - there is one at Harlem Avenue in Berwyn as well as at a crossing in Escalon, CA. Does BNSF just not like WCH?
@@RailBrothersProductions RR doesn't really care about cheap to buy, though. Especially when there's already $130000+ going into a signalized crossing.
Odd that BNSF would go through the trouble of putting in LED gate lights and not replace the bell. What protection did it have before the LED gate lights? Incandescent gate lights?
To warn people getting on/off the metra platform that a train is coming. Too many people have been hit getting off a metra by carelessly not realizing another train may be in their blind spot
Well that's a pretty dumb thing to say. First of all, it's completely functional, and second, it's not going to short circuit or go sick because of changes in the weather unlike an E bell. Seriously?
It's pretty sad to see these mechanical bells be replaced by new ones but some where I live are still active
mechanical bells sound much better than electric speakers
Speakers?
They definitely do.
@@Railfan_2010 e bells are basically speakers.
IKR
I couldn't agree more. I love the iconic sounds of the bells that adds amazing enticement to watching trains roll by.
Baby railroad crossings that's is so cute 🥰
They should honestly make modern mini bells for crossings like these. Nice catch!
Definitely
You mean like at amusement parks?
I love the combination of old-timey mechanical bells and modern LED lights
using gate lights as the crossing lights moment here
@@SW99836 Fr
Very surprising to me with how busy this line is, yet how old all of infrastructure design is. No level boarding, no grade crossing elimination, only way to cross the tracks is at grade. Always will love the racetrack tho
It is kind of surprising, not sure how long this crossing will be like this but I guess it has to do with the fact it's more of a flag stop.
This Was Added In Early 2021 So Apparently It’s New And Not Old Cuz It’s Not That Rusty
Probably refurbished. Railroads hold on old equipment for decades.
WCH still makes Mechanical Bells.
Railroad Crossings Had Theirs Kids
A healthy-sounding bell!
There’s one in my city it’s near a newer crossing gate with an e bell
At least it’s a brand new bell. Hopefully it’ll last it’s sad that all the mechanical bills are disappearing on the BNSF race track line at least WCH is the last signal company that still manufactures mechanical crossing bells as they still make their two railroad crossing bell models 0333 and 0666 as well as their motorized Bell Model I forget the model number, however, but more common to be found at auto drawbridge crossings, most commonly seen on the drawbridges in Chicago
They are in favor of drawbridges now, especially here in Florida
I wish there were more WCH Electronic Bells on the racetrack. Sadly, they are very hard to find at BNSF crossings. Why don’t they ever use WCH e-bells?
@@coleallen3895 They produce a very loud sound which can be annoying. WCH bells are my favorite tho cuz they dont go ding ding ding they go derr derr derr. I like How loud it is tho cuz it can catch someone’s attention but the problem is. In the suburban of Illinois on like the BNSF racetrack its a complete quiet zone. WCH E bells mixing with that loud engine and those traction motors can be extremely annoying to people around neighborhood s near the railroads. Thats why they only use GS Type 2 and GS type 3 E bells because they produce the sound thats just right.
WCH E Bells are my favorite is what I mean.
@@RMG_9000 WCH e-bells make a more alarming noise with the ability to ring at a faster pitch. In my opinion, they should use high-pitch bells like WCHs at crossings with high speed limits (60 MPH or higher) and GS e-bells should be used at crossings with slower trains.
Also, it's not just the racetrack. Nearly EVERY crossing on the BNSF network has GS E-bells only (with the exception of Kansas which still has a lot of mechanical bells from the ATSF days). There are very few BNSF crossings with WCH e-bells - there is one at Harlem Avenue in Berwyn as well as at a crossing in Escalon, CA. Does BNSF just not like WCH?
mini crossings
This is so cool, I’m making a LEGO model of this
Awesome, these are the perfect signals for a LEGO set up.
*IM NOT BEING A SAD OLD GIT* I love my 5K iMac - but for everything else, give me electro mechanical, it works for ever and its so much NICER.
Wow, it's a bell alright
It was brand new
lol @ the most discount chain design. They do look a little weird.
Cool
Thx
Haha that's so cool !
Luckily, southwest service exists
Mechs all the way
Great job. 👍
Thanks
That's from the gates lol
Nice
I’m now just wondering why e-bells are popular?
There Cheaper to make.
@@RailBrothersProductions No, they're cheaper to maintain. No moving parts. Much fewer problems.
@@jovetj actually they're both cheaper to make and maintain.
@@RailBrothersProductions RR doesn't really care about cheap to buy, though. Especially when there's already $130000+ going into a signalized crossing.
@@jovetjwack
I mein wtf sorry the crossing...
How come it ain't got the bigggg lights and crossbuck on it? That's hard to see on account of it being so small
BNSF moment
My only speculation is that there is a clearance issue. Not enough space between the tracks, hence the gate lights.
M bell
Odd that BNSF would go through the trouble of putting in LED gate lights and not replace the bell.
What protection did it have before the LED gate lights? Incandescent gate lights?
@@FishKepr Actually it did have a GS Type-2 E bell till 2021, but for some reason it was replaced to a WCH Mechanical bell.
IKR
Where is that crossing?
Highlands train station in Hinsdale IL.
At the beginning of the video, what train is this?
It was an Amtrak Siemens charger, I'm not sure what number the Locomotive was though.
😲🔥💯
Oh that's a tiny little crossing. Is the M-bell still there?
I believe so
That was cool and alittle weird. Never seen one like that. The bell sounds useful but what exactly are the gates suppose to hold back?
It's the pedestrian crossing at one of the metra stations.
What gates??
What station is that?
Highlands Metra stop in Hinsdale, IL.
Highlands
They are dumb looking, I agree. And why are they set between tracks, instead of on either side, like a street crossing?
To warn people getting on/off the metra platform that a train is coming. Too many people have been hit getting off a metra by carelessly not realizing another train may be in their blind spot
I don't think they're that dumb looking. They're where they are to make them visible both off of and on the crossing.
I Mean Mean
What did the 500$ find say?
Anyone who trespassed on the train tracks would be fined $500.
@@RailBrothersProductions oh
Auf sorry
This bell needs to be replaced with a GS Type 3.
Wrong, they should keep it mechanical.
Well that's a pretty dumb thing to say. First of all, it's completely functional, and second, it's not going to short circuit or go sick because of changes in the weather unlike an E bell. Seriously?
@@TheRailfan360that's my opinion on mechanical bells (except WCH 3rd generation)
Besides, BNSF doesn't use mechanical bells anymore
@@TPNWR10 Well your opinion isn't very well supported.
Nice video! I am a new subscriber and I noticed that we are very close together in subs
Thanks! You're now at 625.