*originally recorded on 5-19-22*
Signal on the left: 1 pair of WCH 12x24 inch lights, 2 pairs of Federal Signal 12x20 inch lights with Dialight Ball LEDs, a dead WRRS mechanical bell, a General Signals Type 2 electronic bell, a Safetran-branded Siemens gate mechanism, and NEG LED gate lights.
Signal on the right: 1 pair of Federal Signal 8 inch lights, 4 pairs of Modern Industries 12x20 inch lights, a dead General Signals electronic bell, a GRS gate mechanism, and NEG LED gate lights.
After getting the westbound mixed freight, I walked over to this crossing on the other side of the ped crossing and set-up here for my next train. Didn't have to wait too long this time, as just a few minutes later, this eastbound ballast train came rolling through with an ES40DC for power.
This crossing is another nice one, featuring yet another 70s L&N install, though it seems to be just slightly older than the one at Magnolia Street. It appears that in the 80s, the SBD replaced the mast lights on the Federal Signal cantilever with the current WCH 12x24s, but chose to leave the mast lights on the MI cantilever alone for some reason. Next, in the early 2000s (I believe), CSX replaced both bells here with the current General Signals e-bells, but left the original WRRS bell on the FS cantilever on top of it disconnected, and installed the replacement e-bell on the gate mast, likely due to not having the proper adapter for an FS-style cantilever. Then, sometime between 2008 and 2013, the Federal Signal 12x20s here were upgraded to LED, but the MI 12x20s were left incandescent. Finally, sometime between 2016 and 2019, CSX replaced the GRS gate mech on the FS cantilever with the current Safetran-branded Siemens gate mech. Since then thankfully, no further major changes appear to have occurred here.
Even with these modernizations, this is still a fairly neat crossing, with a good mix of older and newer equipment. Of course, the main reason for me coming here was the 8 inch lights and GRS gate mech on the closer signal, but it's still a neat crossing overall. Honestly, I'm just kinda amused that the far signal's the one that's been upgraded the most over the years, while the closer one is almost entirely original still, even though the overhead lights don't seem to be all that bright. Noticed all of the 1st Gen MI 12 inch lights on the NO&M around here are like this as well, no idea why. Guess CSX just hadn't done too much to keep the reflectors and lenses in good shape.
Hopefully CSX leaves this crossing largely alone, other than improving the dim lights, for many more years to come. Either way though, this is certainly another crossing I'm glad I was able to record.
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