Scissors Crossing

Scissors Crossing

1 in 8 (AS 60RB) Scissors Crossover ex Wagin

Formerly located in front of the Wagin goods shed, this particular crossover was removed by Westrail in early 1987 and purchased by WALRPA in July of that year.

The logistics of relocation to Whiteman park included the exclusive use of a semi with a 40ft trailer for 12 hours and a mobile crane at each site for loading and unloading.

Once at Whiteman park, the rebuilding of the scissors crossover could be compared to the putting together of a jigsaw puzzle. Of course there was also the additional problem of regauging from 3ft 6in to 2ft. Each individual rail length had to be calculated.


Whiteman Village Junction prior to installation of Scissors Crossover

Special attention was also required to ensure a correct final location of the crossover at Whiteman Village Junction station. Because of the situation of the Mussel Pool branch line and the converging 150 metre radius curve of the loop, exact placement was critical to maintain mainline standards. This was also resolved mathematically before conversion commenced.

A further aspect of the rebuilding of the scissors crossover was that it had to be assembled at Mussel Pool and then dismantled for transportation to the site on BBR's regauged ex Westrail QBB flat top.

Components loaded onto BBRs - QBB flat top wagon for transportation

The turnouts used in the scissors crossover are known as 1 in 8 turnouts - seen here in the pictures below.

Installation of the turnouts and crossing at Whiteman Village Junction station took place during February and March 1989 when the station was then known as "Central" station.


Installation of the Scissors Crossover June 1989		Scissors Crossover 2006

The entire exercise took 18 months and is possibly the only application of a scissors crossover on a tourist railway in Australia.

Webmaster N. Blinco