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The 903100A (MP: 500.65) DOT number goes with the 1-track crossing. The 921639Y (MP: 15.84) DOT number goes with the 4-track crossing.
The ACTA, PHL, BNSF, and UP all use the 4-track crossing. UP and PHL use the 1-track crossing only.
The Watson Sign is long gone. Taken in 1989.
Pictures 1-4 were taken in 1990.
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These 4 photos you see above are all from one train crossing. The upper two were flashing because the train was going to pass between them. The lower one that you see above is flashing prevents truckers from getting stuck on the tracks seen by the signals above. Although there is no gate seen on the third picture, it was knocked down, probably from impatient 18-wheelers. |
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CLICK THE ICON TO THE LEFT TO HEAR THE ABOVE CROSSING IN ACTION. (RECORDED 1990) |
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The gate in picture 5 is going down. In picture 7, a train just finished crossing the other crossing. These were taken in 1987. Notice another truck getting impatient with the gates. You can see it laid down on the ground. When it is activated, the gate is programmed to stay up and act just like a signal without gates. |
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Note the 4 tracks at this crossing. Taking this road will lead you back to Lomita Blvd crossings by the BNSF Watson Yard area. When you approach the crossing it smells like fresh tar was just laid on the ground. That's due to this area being a refinery for gasoline. The rear crossing on picture 10 is the only photograph of the other signal flashing. Note: The gates are going up. Picture 11 a different view of the 1-track crossing. |
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I dug out some more photos on Watson Rd. Here's two different SP trains that went through Watson Rd. back in 1987. Locomotive 2546 doesn't seem to be in very good condition Today. |
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My grandfather got these pictures of the updated Watson Rd. on July 20, 2002.
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Approaching the crossing... |
12x20" lights! Two new lights added. The crossbuck has been turned to face North. |
The other signal. |
Here's the other crossing. It looks a lot "cleaner" than it did years ago. |
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A closer look at the lenses. Note the 4-tracks sign below the lights. |
This crossing has been fixed. There were only 2 tracks that worked. Nice job! Looking South. |
Another look. |
The lights look too far apart. The old 8" rear lights looked very poor as well. |
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Looking North. |
Look at all the red lights! |
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Look at all the changes that has happened here. The only thing that hasn't changed is the smell. Check out picture 28 for the fireball. Unfortunately, I didn't get a train here. I wanted to, but there were no trains around, plus, the traffic is heaver than it used to be. If you look closely, the 4 tracks sign on pictures 26 and 29 are different. The number 4 was painted on by stencil! The tracks word is genuine, but not the number. Now I know this is a rush job. |
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Action Shots! A BNSF train went through here. The train was moving to the right. Just after this train ended, another BNSF crossed. I regret not getting here soon enough for a double train video. These two pictures were shot by me on September 3, 2003.
When trains passed on the 4-track crossing, the double crossing pattern was lost. It may have been intentional due to the 1-track crossing going out of service for a short time. Even if it was done for that purpose, it was not reinstated even to this day, which I feel is an accident waiting to happen. |
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I'm suspecting the SP loco was stopped right by the crossing, and kept the signals going. If you look closer, the SP loco is actually a PHL loco #51. |
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This is on the 1-track crossing. |
I've said this already...There's no excuse for this. This is the relay box for the 4-track crossing. |
Here's the inactive 1-track crossing. Note the 12"x24" LED upgrade I talked about before. I don't know if the detached light is on or not though. |
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Note: The milepost number of 16.1 is incorrect for this crossing. The correct milepost number is listed above.
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Here's Watson Rd. as of November 9, 2005. The signal on pictures 40 and 41 has changed yet again! It almost looks like the older 8" signal, except without side lights, and 12"x24" lights. The crossbuck has even been moved to the front, from it's side pattern. I think this is a brand new signal IMO. It even has a mechanical bell on it! It was raining at the time these pictures were taken.
This new 12"x24" signal has L.E.D. lights, while the other signal appears to be the same, the last time it was seen in 2003. |
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It's nice to see this line getting used again, after the 2 year reconstruction resulting in a temporary closure of this line due to the Pacific Coast Highway project. The tracks were torn out about 1/2 mile South, resulting in no train traffic could use this line. The tracks were rebuilt in late 2004, upon completion of the project.
As far as I know, the furthest signal on the 4-tracks crossing did not react to the train crossing. The double crossing feature should be fixed IMO. The furthest gate light in picture 42 is hanging upside down, under the gate. |
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