Crossing Stick Repairs

[bill937ca]

Chikizuki video of grade crossing repairs on the Tokyu Ikegami line. I believe the crossing arms are made of bamboo and that is why they can be cut with a knife.  Something you don't see every day.

 

Edited May 26, 2017 by bill937ca

[katoftw]

PVC pipe cuts with a knife.

[Jcarlton]

That was a saw, not a knife.  I think that the crossing gate rods are PVC, but to tell you the truth I've never looked that close when I had the opportunity.

[Jcarlton]

Bamboo poles would be kind of cool though, but I suspect that they would break more often than the PVC poles do. 

[railsquid]

Definitely some kind of plastic tubing. Wouldn't surprise me if bamboo was used in the dim and distant past though.

[cteno4]

Yes plastic with that telescopic fit, nicely engineered to easily just replace the section broken and not have to replace the whole thing. Might have a wrap of fiberglass as just a thin wrap of that can stiffen plastic tubing a huge amount but still be pretty thin and tough but saw easily once you get started. The poles sag very little for the 10 - 12' reach of them!

 

I too would guess that not too long in the distant past bamboo was used! Cheap and easily replaceable and strong!

 

Loved the onsite storage locker for repair bits, that's brilliant, just send out a guy with a wrench and a pocket saw, dome!

 

Cheers

 

Jeff

[railsquid]

According to Wikipedia: "遮断桿は主に竹が使われてきたが、近年では繊維強化プラスチック (FRP) を使ったものが主流となっている。"

-> used to be from bamboo, now fibre-reinforced plastic.

[westfalen]

I remember seeing plenty of bamboo crossing gates on past trips to Japan, wouldn't surprise me if there are still the odd one or two out in the sticks on some impoverished private line.

[railsquid]

Here's one on the Meitetsu Tsushima Line:

 

https://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/kimentension/40307733.html

I must admit it's something I've never looked out for previously, but no doubt from now one, I'll be checking every level crossing boom I see...

Edited May 27, 2017 by railsquid

[kvp]

It seems to me they have repaced the whole crossing arm (this is why someone tightens the base mouning screws) but the new arm was too long so they had to shorten it. The other weathered one across was also cut and taped. These arms are relatively soft so if someone crashes into it or if it comes down on someone running under it, it breaks without causing too much damage. They also seem to be modular with twist lock so you can stack them, like some tent rods and and photo tripods i've seen.

[VentureForth]

Here's one on the Meitetsu Tsushima Line:

 

https://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/kimentension/40307733.html

I must admit it's something I've never looked out for previously, but no doubt from now one, I'll be checking every level crossing boom I see...

Funny how much that one sags. I've seen plenty back in the day where there was a small bracket for it to sit on.

 

Speaking of crossings, are three any more that are lowered horizontally like they used to have west of Mitaka before they elevated the line?

 

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[Kiha66]

Re watched the video, love the heavy rain!  Most of my time in Japan was durring typhoon season, so it brings up a lot of memories.  Hope the workers didn't get too wet.  I'm surprised they didnt just leave the barrier down to fix it, but I guess enough trains came through that they never had to wait too long.  Downside is now I really want a 7000 series, and kato is coming out with one later this year....  Noooo, now I have more trains to buy!

[Socimi]

Funny how much that one sags. I've seen plenty back in the day where there was a small bracket for it to sit on.

 

Speaking of crossings, are three any more that are lowered horizontally like they used to have west of Mitaka before they elevated the line?

 

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One was used until 2012 at Jingumae on the Meitetysu Nagoya Main Line.

[VentureForth]

One was used until 2012 at Jingumae on the Meitetysu Nagoya Main Line.

 

Cool!  Google Maps still shows it, with the image from 2012, but only from the West.  The image from the East shows the new road.  I can totally see why they closed it.  8 tracks?!?

Edited May 30, 2017 by VentureForth

[kvp]

Interesting! It looks like in the past you could access the platforms from the crossing, so people could actually stand between the tracks at the end of large platform. (there is a history view in street view mode, so you can walk across the old crossing if you rewind to 2012)

 

ps: The station building from this side totally looks like an old greenmax kit... (2133 overhead station)

[Socimi]

Another horizontal wire-crossing was the famous curved one just before (or after) Keikyu-Kamata on the Handeda Airport Line.

It was in use up into the 1990s, but then it was replaced with conventional barries.

 

Video by sintosya

 

 

At 11.35, taken in 1995 (even if it looks very 1960ish)

[bill937ca]

Speaking of crossings, are there any more that are lowered horizontally like they used to have west of Mitaka before they elevated the line?

 

 

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