The 1st video was taken on March 24, 2019.
Pictures 1-38 and the 2nd video were taken on May 7, 2019.
The 3rd video was taken on August 31, 2019.
The 4th video was taken on July 26, 2021.
The 5th video was taken on October 5, 2021.
The 6th video was taken on November 16, 2021.
The 7th video was taken on May 17, 2022.
The 8th video was taken on February 13, 2023.
Pictures 39-78 and the 9th and 10th videos were taken on November 20, 2023, by freebrickproductions.
Pictures 79-82 were taken on June 17, 2024.
The 11th video was taken on July 6, 2024.
Pictures 83-90 were taken
on August 19, 2024.
Pictures 91-94 were taken on August 26, 2024.
Pictures 95-156 and the 12th video were taken on
September 23, 2024.
Picture 157 was taken on October 25, 2024.
All pictures and videos were taken by Tommy McGowan unless noted.
This crossing is located on the BNSF Mendota Sub.
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Overview of a gated cantilever, gated mast signal, and a special pedestrian gate facing north.
Overview facing south.
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The southern signal. This had a WCH base, 12"x20" Hawker Safetran incandsecents, 4" RECO LEDs, WCH Style 3 gate mechanism and a GS Type 2 E-Bell. The GS Type 2 replaced a WCH mechanical bell sometime after 2010. Click here to see a video of that.
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The northern signal.
This had a Safetran cantilever, WCH base, six 12"x20" Hawker Safetran incandescents and two 12"x20" WCH incandescents, 4" RECO LEDs, and a WCH Style 3 gate mechanism with GSI gate saver, the only WCH mechansim on the Mendota with a gate saver. Both signals somehow still retained incandescent lights, and was the last
crossing on the Mendota Sub mainline to still have incandescents.
Faxon Rd. in Plano has incandescents, but that's on a spur track.
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The
lone pedestrian gate on the south side. This was one of only two
Federal Signal pedestrian gates left on the Mendota Sub, and possibly
in Illinois. The other one was just east of here at Chester St. I'm not sure why there's not another pedestrian gate on the north side, since there is a sidewalk on that side.
Newer wayside signals protecting the crossovers here.
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Action shots from November 2023. Surprisingly, no changes have occured at this point, and the Federal Signal gate still lives on after over 100 years.
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As of June 2024, no changes have occured at the crossing, however that will soon change. A new bungalow and 6 new foundations were seen nearby, presumably all for this crossing. The end is near for the FS gate.
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In August 2024, we see BNSF had begun the work to replace the signals. The relay bungalow and some of the new foundations were installed. BNSF was also resurfacing the crossing.
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As of August 26th, the replacements were finished, and what was likely the last FS Company pedestrian gate in active service in the US is now gone. I didn't get closeups yet, as BNSF was still working here at point.
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I found the old cantilever and WCH gate masts sitting in the nearby signal yard. However, I did not see the pedestrian gate. I have contacted the IRM to see if they can get a hold of it for preservation, but I'm not sure if that'll happen.
By mid September, the road was fully finished and reopened, and the setup was complete, aside from removing the old bungalow.
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Overview of the fully finishd setup facing south.
Overview facing north.
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The new northern signal.
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The new southern signal.
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The new northwestern pedestrian gate.
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The new northeastern pedestrian gate.
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The new southwestern pedestrian gate. This replaced the FS gate.
