Order no. 12915

Post.—The bell must be placed upon a post of some suitable structural material. If the post is made of wood, it must be of sound timber not less than 8 by 8 ins. and 18 ft. long, and shall be firmly set in the ground to a depth of 4 ft. If it is made of iron or steel, it shall be not less than 4 ins. in diameter, shall extend 14 ft. above the ground, and shall be firmly bolted to a concrete or other foundation constructed below the frost line. If other suitable structural material is used it must be of the length mentioned above, and of sufficient strength to carry the weight placed upon it.

Bell.—The bell shall be either of the locomotive type, the gong type, or the twin-gong type, and it must in each case emit a clear, loud volume of sound under all weather conditions. If the locomotive type is used the bell shall be of standard size (about 18 ins. in diameter); if the gong type is used, the gong shall be at least 12 ins. in diameter; and, if the twin-gong type is used, the gongs shall be at least 10 ins. in diameter.

Sign.—A sign shall be placed upon the same post as the bell, with the word danger upon it in letters of not less than 6 ins. in length, to be illuminated either by direct or reflected light, so as to be plainly visible after sunset. There may be added to the post, if so desired, the railway crossing sign provided for by sec. 243 of the Railway Act.

Operation.—The bell and the illumination of the sign shall be controlled and operated electrically and automatically by the approach of trains, in such manner that only approaching trains shall operate the signal, and the signal must remain in operation until the rear end of each approaching train has passed the crossing. The bell and lamps used for illumination may be operated from any suitable source of electric current that is continually available, or from batteries. If batteries are used they must be either chemical batteries of the caustic potash type, having a capacity of not less than 300 to 400 ampere hours, or storage batteries of the same capacity.