*originally recorded on 3-28-22*
Signal on the left: 2 pairs of Modern Industries 12x24 inch lights, 2 pairs of Federal Signal 12x20 inch lights, and a dying WRRS mechanical bell.
Signal on the right: 2 pairs of Modern Industries 12x24 inch lights, 1 pair of Federal Signal 12x20 inch lights, 1 pair of WABCO 8 inch lights, and a dying WRRS mechanical bell.
After recording the defect detector in Havana going off, I got set-up and waited for TA-Local to arrive. Didn't have to wait too long though, and here we get to see the local freight returning to Tallahassee with the HLCX GP38-2 now running long-hood forwards.
This crossing is another rather nice one, featuring an early-70s SCL install that's had a few changes to it over the years. It appears that, in the early 1980s, the late-SCL chose to replace the original early Federal Signal 12x20 inch rear overhead lights on the closer signal with the current WABCO 8 inch lights, which is certainly an unusual upgrade to see happen. Then, later on in the 80s or early 90s, CSX replaced all of the mast lights here with the current MI 12x24s. Since then, however, no major changes have occurred here.
This crossing was one of the ones I wanted to get on this trip, due to the fact that it's one of the last three crossings that I'm aware of on the FGAR with 8 inch lights, and the only one on the Bainbridge Sub with any. It appears that the pair here only managed to survive due to being on the rear overhead (matched with some FS 12x20s), which likely caused CSX to miss them when they replaced the rest of the remaining 8 inch lights on their mainlines in the Florida Panhandle a few decades back.
Both signals also still retain their original WRRS bells, which is quite nice to see. Unfortunately, while they both still work, they both do sound like they're on their way out. The far bell seems to start ringing a bit after the closer one, but once it gets going, it sounds much healthier overall, though it does seem to miss the occasional beat. The closer one, while it does seem to start quicker, is definitely in worse shape as it starts clicking much more as the crossing is active. By the time the crossing is about to deactivate, it is struggling heavily and seems to be clicking more than it's actually ringing. Hopefully the FGAR gives these bells some needed TLC.
The closer signal is also noticeably far back from the crossing. It appears that there had originally been a spur track here when these signals were installed, but that has obviously long since been removed.
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