*originally recorded on 5-18-22*
Signal on the left: 1 pair of Modern Industries 8 inch lights, 2 pairs of Modern Industries 12x20 inch lights, a General Signals Type 1 electronic bell, a Safetran gate mechanism, and NEG LED gate lights.
Signal on the right: 1 pair of Modern Industries 8 inch lights, 2 pairs of Modern Industries 12x20 inch lights, a Safetran gate mechanism, and NEG LED gate lights.
On May 18th, I got up and got on out to Mississippi to see about recording some of the older crossing equipment on the CSX NO&M Sub out around Ocean Springs. I set-up at this crossing first, and after a few hours of waiting, this westbound local freight came through with an SD40-3 for power.
This crossing is a rather nice one, and I'm glad I was able to start my day off with it. The signals here appear to be a 1970s L&N install, but in the 80s, CSX replaced both gate masts and both of the gate mechs were replaced with WCH ones. Then, in the late-90s, CSX replaced the bell here with the current GS Type 1. After that, the crossing would remain largely unchanged for another good while, but between 2008 and 2013, the far signal had its WCH gate mech replaced with the current Safetran one. Then, sometime between 2013 and 2016, the closer signal also had its WCH gate mech replaced with the current Safetran one. Since then, no major changes appear to have occurred to these signals, thankfully.
Honestly, I'm quite glad to see the old L&N cantilevers still remain here, especially since they still retain all of their original lights. I always like seeing crossings with 8 inch mast lights and 12x20 inch overhead lights like this, doesn't seem like they were super common outside of the southeastern US. IMHO, the GS Type 1 here also pairs nicely with these older cantilevers, making for an all around great crossing. Hopefully these signals continue to remain unchanged for many more years to come, but either way, I'm glad to have been able to film them.
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