*originally recorded on 5-18-22*
Signal on the left: 4 pairs of Modern Industries 12x24 inch lights, an NEG electronic bell, a GRS gate mechanism, and NEG LED gate lights.
Signal on the right: 4 pairs of Modern Industries 12x24 inch lights, an NEG electronic bell, a GRS/WRRS gate mechanism, and RECO LED gate lights.
After I shot the four crossings I wanted to get in Ocean Springs, I continued on east over to Gautier to see about documenting a couple of crossings there and recording at least one of them. While I was documenting this crossing, I saw what seemed to be an approaching train to my west, so I set on up and started recording. Sure enough, I wound-up having this eastbound mixed freight come through not too long after, so I'm glad I did. The power on this train was an ES44AH leading an ES40DC on the head-end and a CM44AC working as the mid-train DPU. Interestingly enough, I'd caught these exact locomotives pulling a southbound mixed freight out of Mobile towards New Orleans the evening prior. After this, I was able to beat the train over to downtown Pascagoula, but it seems it got tied and an approaching westbound were held back from there for whatever reason, so I just went on back to my hotel room after it got dark. Still a pretty successful day over all, IMHO.
This crossing is another rather nice one, and I'm certainly glad to have been able to end my day off with it, more or less. It appears that there was originally a 70s L&N install here (not sure if just with double masts or a pair of cantilevers), but in the 80s, it appears that the SBD or early CSX installed the current pair of cantilevers, which featured at least one Modern Industries mechanical bell. In the late-90s or 2000s, CSX installed a General Signals e-bell on the closer signal, though I'm not entirely sure if it replaced anything. Then, sometime between 2013 and 2016, the MI(?) mechanical bell on the far signal was replaced with the current NEG e-bell. Finally, sometime between 2016 and 2021, CSX replaced the General Signals e-bell on the closer signal with its current NEG e-bell as well. Since then, thankfully, no major changes appear to have occurred here.
Despite the various upgrades that have been given to this crossing, I'm quite glad to see the old GRS Type D gate mechs from the L&N are still in use here. Especially with the one on the closer signal, as I believe it's the last one along the NO&M Sub with the GRS/WRRS branding on it still. The older MI 12x24s are also all quite nice to see, and I'm glad to see they're still incandescent as well. Hopefully CSX leaves this crossing unchanged for many more years to come, but, as always, I'm glad I was able to record it when I did.
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