Railroad Crossing Signals in The Netherlands: Similarities to American Signals
Raiload crossings in the Netherlands are very interesting because they have crossing signals that look almost similar to the ones used in North America, having an X-shaped crossing sign, or crossbuck, above the round flashers, which look like 8" lights, and crossing signal bodies similar to those used in North America, including the crossing gate mechanism and the use of three lights per gate arm.
But not only do the Dutch crossing signals look similar to the North American signals, but they act similar to the North American signals too!
Although the signals in the Netherlands look slightly different than the ones in North America, except for the crossing sign that looks almost similar to the ones in neighboring Gemany, they have functionali…
I'm Quitting Wikia
Dear Readers,
I have come to announce that I am quitting as a wikia contributor.
Last night while trying to contribuite on Sound Effects Wikia http://soundeffects.wikia.com/wiki/Sound_Effects_Wiki I got blocked by the Admin WikiExpert, and this is not the first time, this is the second time, and I feel I was unjustly and unfairly blocked, for "not following the rules of the wikia." And after he blocked me again, I got into an altercation with him, well I told him off, telling him he wasn't a nice person and I talked negatively about him on Wikia Community Central.
This is the message I left WikiExpert on Community Central: http://community.wikia.com/wiki/Thread:1363092 in response to this message http://soundeffects.wikia.com/wiki/Thread:6346…
My First Animated Crossing Signal GIF
I've created my very first animated railroad crossing signal GIF image! Without further adu:
I created this animated GIF using http://gifcreator.me/. All I had to do was select two pictures of this signal I made and put them together. But to make the flash speed as you see it, I set it to 900. I hope you like it.
I have one more for you:
This is an older style flashing light crossing signal. It's older because this one has signs, the crossbuck and the STOP ON RED SIGNAL sign with reflector marbles as used in the early 20th century.
Both of my crossing signals are supposed to have 8" incandescent lights (which don't fade in or out as they flash and I have no plans for making them do so) and a mechanical bell.
I plan to post these and other anim…
BNSF through Tucson
While on a train watching trip on March 24, 2017, my last one before this blog, I happened to get a rare treat, a BNSF train on Union Pacific tracks!
Normally all we get are trains with all Union Pacific locomotives or, if we're fortunate, Union Pacifics and others but this train had no UP locomotive on it whatsoever. This westbound train had all BNSF locomotives but one on each end of the train and this train was carrying wind turbines! These wind turbines were laying on two flat cars at a time.
I've seen BNSF locomotives on this track but I've never seen a train like this before! This was probably originally intended to run on the BNSF tracks further north in the state but because of the freight, this train probably had to be rerouted to U…
Black and Yellow Crossing Gates
Dear Readers,
If you want to see real actual black and yellow crossing gates used in America, which have actually existed, just follow the following links. You may not think black and yellow crossing gates have existed and is something you only see on cartoons or on toy trains, and black and white gates were more common and there are plenty of pictures of them, but black and yellow railroad crossing gates really have existed as the links will show (I guess if they didn't exist in real life they might not have existed on cartoons or on toy trains). They were probably rare to find but they have existed.
http://www.antiquesnavigator.com/d-1910067/original-slide-csssb-south-shore-107-departing-gary-for-south-bend-in-1971.html
https://ceramembersb…
General Signals Type 3 Electronic Bell?
As I was looking through Pond 5 to show some of my favorite videos to HenryDuckFan, which can be found on my message wall under "Drawings," I heard an electric crossing bell that sounded like it could be a General Signals type 3 electronic bell, and I heard such a term on Mike's Railroad Crossing Website (if I find out where I heard it I'll post it in this blog)
But these are some videos I found on Pond 5 that have this electronic bell sound that I last heard back in 2007 or 2008 of this particular bell (the sound isn't available on the page http://www.rxrsignals.com/Collections/rrxingrick/Bells/Electronic/GS1/)
But these are the videos
https://www.pond5.com/stock-footage/560681/train-pass-city.html
https://www.pond5.com/stock-footage/947351/t…
Crossing Gate Light/ Gate Arm Light I Wish Existed and Think Should Exist
Although I like the crossing gate lights we use, like the 4" incandescent and L.E.D. lights, the 7" lights, Alstom Aurora gate L.E.D.s, Union Pacific's octagon shaped L.E.D.s, and the Western Cullen Hayes L.E.D.s, there are at least a couple gate lights I wish existed, but I'll talk about one in particular.
Anybody know those school bus STOP sign lights that are L.E.D. This kind:
https://www.minnpost.com/sites/default/files/SchoolBusStopSign640.jpg
from https://www.minnpost.com/community-sketchbook/2013/08/sequestration-cuts-about-1000-children-head-start-minnesota)
https://img.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_1484w/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2015/10/22/Editorial-Opinion/Images/arlbus__5231436386811.jpg?uuid=E9IZrHkSEeW8gJCRAhrraQ
http://media.nbcdf…
My Drawings/Renditions of Tucson Phoenix Passenger Rail
Note (Previously written blog)
Tucson-Phoenix passener rail is something I would like to see take place. Right now though, it's just a fantasy. Whether it becomes reality or not, only time will tell. It probably never will.
Anyway these are a few drawings I've created.
[1]
This is my drawing of what the Tucson-Phoenix passenger train may look like. Though I drew this picture, I didn't design this, actually I'm a copycat. Actually this, if I'm not mistaken, belongs to AZDOT (AriZona Department of Transportation) In fact you can see this train on video on this website http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2015/09/08/adot-narrows-choices-phoenix-tucson-rail-route/71883962/ For the AZDOT website, at least to the Passenger Rail Study pa…
Some LEGO builds to share...
Hello,
This is JPBX 909. As most people on my blog know, (nonsensibletravels.blogspot.com), I am very fond of making LEGO builds. So, anyway, I thought I'd share them with you! First off, we have an LIRR DE30AC. The DE30ACs are a band of electric engines that run on the LIRR, built by EMD. The engines are used on the Ronkonkoma/Greenport, Port Jefferson, Montauk/Babylon, Central, and Oyster Bay lines. Naturally, there is some amount of artistic license in the locomotive's design, such as the slope of the hood, strobe lights, and height, but it otherwise looks like the real deal. (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EMD_DE30AC_and_DM30AC)
Next up we have an 0-6-0 steam locomotive with two tenders, containing the "coal" and "water." (Otherwise known as, bat…
My Favorite Locomotives and Cars
I would like to share my favorite locomotives and cars, namely the ones used in North America. I would also like to talk about my favorite locomotive horns.
Locomotives
Diesel Locomotives
-For Freight trains
My most favorite of diesel locomotives used for freight trains are the following:
-AC4400CW -C40-8
I have no idea which one of these I like better because they're kind of the same, well to me almost the same but these are my two most favorite locomotives used for freight and I'd use these if I had my own freight rail company.
However, though their horns sound okay, I prefer to use the horns typically mounted on the SD90/43MAC locomotives, which, to tell you the truth, aren't really one of my favorite locomotives, the above two I mentioned loo…