*originally recorded on 2-26-22*
Signal on the left: 4 pairs of Modern Industries 12x24 inch lights, 1 pair of Safetran 12x24 inch lights, a US&S mechanical bell, a Safetran gate mechanism, and NEG LED gate lights.
Signal on the right: 4.5 pairs of Modern Industries 12x24 inch lights, 2 pairs of US&S 12x20 inch lights, 1 Safetran 12x20 inch light, a US&S mechanical bell, a US&S Model 75 gate mechanism, and RECO LED gate lights.
After catching the two northbound mixed freights, I went over and grabbed myself some lunch at a nearby Publix before going to this crossing to wait. I wound-up having to wait around 5.5 to 6 hours before I saw literally any other trains on this line, during which a fire apparently started in the area and made this area rather smoky. Eventually, however, this northbound local freight came slowly up the A Line and through this crossing with a single ES40DC (running long-hood forwards) for power.
This crossing is a rather nice one, and appears to have had a somewhat unusual equipment history at it. It appears that in the 1980s, the early Seaboard System installed a pair of gated mast signals here with all US&S equipment, typical for the SBD at the time. Then, later-on in the 1980s, it appears that this road was slightly widened on the crossing, and CSX installed a pair of cantilevers here, keeping the US&S signals as the gate masts. The front lights on both US&S signals were kept and re-aimed as side lights for some neighboring intersecting roads, though the rear mast lights on the far signal were replaced with the current pair of MI 12x24s. Then, in the late-90s or 2000s, CSX replaced the original US&S Model 75 gate mech on the far signal with the current Safetran one. Likely around this same time, the left-rear overhead light on the closer cantilever was replaced with the current Safetran 12x24. The crossing remained largely unchanged for several years after that, but then, sometime between 2016 and 2018, CSX replaced the remaining US&S 12x20 inch lights on the far signal with the current Safetran 12x24s, which I believe were re-used given that they are incandescent as well. Since then, however, both signals here have remained entirely unchanged.
Despite these various upgrades, I'm glad to see that both of the original US&S mechanical bells here still remain and sound rather healthy. I'm also glad to see that the closer US&S signal (turned gate mast) here is also still largely original, with all of its original US&S lights and gate mech still as well. Unfortunately, at least one or two of the US&S lights here had a blown bulb, but as you can see, one of them did still work. Hopefully the bulbs get replaced, but CSX leaves the crossing alone otherwise.
And apologies for the signage seen right in the foreground. This was the best angle I had for the crossing here that didn't completely block any of the lights or gate mechs, especially the ones on the closer signal.
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