Old Wooden Railway Level Crossing Gate ... What timber should be used?

My good neighbour has historical restored (and fully operating) rail signal boxes, flag signals and a full level crossing in his yard, complete with those large levers and wheels for opening and closing the main huge wooden swing gates and the signals.



The pedestrian gate (about 1M wide and 1.4M high) has 7 pickets and has iron bracing. The present one is well over 70 years old and has severe rot at the rail and style joints. It is painted white with black capping ... it is very heavy ... and the frame is around 80mm square, the pickets are some 30mm thick. You might recall them ... they slam close on metal stops.



My question is ... does anyone know what timber was traditionally used for such gates ... or what timbers would you recommend for restoring such historically accurate gates.



Thanks



Rob