*originally recorded on 3-30-22*
Signal on the left: 2 pairs of Safetran 12x20 inch lights with GE Uniform Look LEDs, a General Signals Type 3 electronic bell, a WCH gate mechanism, and NEG LED gate lights.
Signal on the right: 3 pairs of Modern Industries 12x24 inch lights, 1 pair of WCH 12x24 inch lights, a WCH mechanical bell, a WCH gate mechanism, and RECO LED gate lights.
This was the last crossing I caught TA-West at on this evening. On my way to this crossing, I had to stop to use the bathroom real fast, so I wasn't sure if I'd beaten the train here or not. Thankfully, it turned out I had by a few minutes, so I was able to set-up and record this crossing in plenty of time. After this, I let the FGAR go, since it was starting to get late and some strong/severe storms were due to come through before too long.
This crossing is another nice one, and certainly a good one to end off this chase with. The signals here were originally installed by the SBD back in the 1980s, though apparently CSX replaced the relay case later on in the 80s or in the 90s with the current one. Despite the relay case replacement though, the signals here remained practically untouched for a few decades after they were installed, retaining all of their original equipment from the SBD. Unfortunately, sometime after the FGAR got the line in 2019, the far signal here got replaced with the current one, likely due to being wiped-out by a car. The new FGAR signal honestly reminds me a lot of signals with WCH gate mechs that NS briefly trialed up in the midwest over the past few years, so I will admit I'm not entirely sure if this signal was one done to the FGAR's or RailUSA's specs, or if it was meant for an NS crossing but sold to the FGAR when NS decided to not continue using WCH gate mechs. Seeing as the bell on that signal rings until the gates rise, I suspect that any modern FGAR signal installs, especially if they fully replace a crossing, will feature a similar bell operation.
Thankfully, the old SBD cantilever here still remains and is also still fully original. The remaining WCH mechanical bell here still sounds fairly decent, if a bit rough and flat, and it does noticeably struggle when the gates begin to lower. Hopefully the FGAR gives it some TLC so it can remain around here for years to come. Either way though, this is a rather nice crossing, and I'm glad I was able to get it.
Also, as a side note real fast, while the FGAR did patch over the phone numbers on the ENS signs here (like they did at the rest of their crossings), they apparently forgot to patch over the CSX branding on them, so the ENS signage here still says "CSX" on it.
http://www.rxrsignals.com/Florida/Marianna/Jefferson/
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