Vermont Ave. (Independence, MO)

MP: 273.96

Updated November 2024

Total Accidents: 0
Crossing DOT #: 441935J
TOTAL DAILY TRAINS: 18 (AS OF 2022)

Page originally created by: freebrickproductions

>>>>>>>>>>>>>	Signal #1	Signal #2
Bell:	WCH mechanical bell	Dead WCH mechanical bell
Base:	Safetran	Safetran
Light Frames:	2 - 12x20" Safetran w/ WCH 2nd Generation LEDs 1 - 12x20" Safetran w/ Electro-Tech LEDs 1- 12"x20" Safetran w/ GE Dotted LEDs	4 - 12x20" Safetran w/ GE Dotted LEDs
Gate Lights:	3 - Electro-Tech 4" LEDs	3 - Electro-Tech 4" LEDs
Gate Mechanism:	Late-70s Safetran	Mid-70s Safetran
Gate Striping:	Vertical Striping	Vertical Striping

Pictures 1-78 and the 1st video were taken by Freebrickproductions on September 1, 2022.
The 2nd video was taken by KCMO Railfan on September 27, 2024.
The 3rd video was taken by KCMO Railfan on October 6, 2024.

Pictures 19-131 and the 4th video were taken by KCMO Railfan on October 26, 2024.

This crossing is located on the UP Sedalia Subdivision with Amtrak, and MNA having trackage rights over it.

1	2
Overviews of the crossing.

13	14	15
The first signal.

24	25	26	27
The second signal.

28	29	30	31
The relay bungalow.		Looking northwest towards Claremont Avenue.	Looking southeast towards Scott Avenue #1.

Some wayside signals stand near the crossing.

33	34	35	36
The crossing activates!

37	38	39	40
	A westbound coal train comes through with an AC44CW leading an ES44AH.

72	73	74
An AC45CCTE works as the train's DPU.

75	76	77	78
The bells here ring again as the gates rise!

A return visit by KCMO Railfan on October 26, 2024, shows some changes that occurred to the crossing since October 1, 2022.

79	80
Overview facing north.	Overview facing south.

81	82
Front view of the northern signal.	A look at the front lights on the northern signal.

83	84	85
The crossbuck on the northern signal was replaced with a newer crossbuck with the ugly font. This was done around May of 2023.	The remaining Electro-Tech LED on the left front light on the northern signal is now a GE Dotted LED. This change was also done back in May of 2023.	Close up at one of the GE Dotted LEDs in one of the front lihgts on the northern signal.

86	87	88	89
The ENS sign on the northern signal in picture 20 was rotated to be more visible to oncoming traffic. This was done back in late 2023.	The signal base on the northern signal is from Safetran.	The lights on the northern signal are all from Safetran. The light bracket is also from Safetran.	Close up at one of the Safetran lights on the northern signal.

90	91	92	93
The gate mechanism on the northern signal is from Safetran as well.	The 1st gen WCH Mechanical Bell in pictures 25, and 26 was replaced with a 2nd Gen WCH Mechanical Bell. This change was done on September 26, 2024 as the bell finally died. Fortunately the old bell was saved from scrap as it was aquired by KCMO Railfan, and he was able to get it working again.	Front view of the "new" WCH Mechanical Bell. This bell was reused from Ridgeview Drive in Warrensburg, MO as the maintainer had the bell in storage for 3 years after it was replaced in 2020. Sadly this bell is now dead as it was sounding pretty weak when it was initally installed.	The gate on the northern signal still features the older Vertical Striping while the gate lights are all from Electro-Tech.

94	95	96	97
Close up at one of the Electro-Tech gate lights.	A look at the rear lights on the northern signal.	The remaining Electro-Tech LED on the right rear light on the northern signal is also now a GE Dotted LED.	Back view of the northern signal.
The northern signal.

98	99	100
Ftont view of the southern signal.	A look at the front lights on the southern signal.	The front lights on the northern signal still feature WCH 2nd Gen LEDs in the light frames.

101	102	103	104
Close up at one of the WCH 2nd Gen LEDs in one of the front pair of lights on the southern signal.	Like the northern signal, the ENS sign in picture 7 was also rotated to be more visible to oncoming traffic.	The signal base on the southern signal is from Safetran.	The gate mechanism on the southern signal is from Safetran.

105	106	107	108
The light bracket on the southern signal is from Safetran as well.	The lights on the southern signal are all from Safetran.	Close up at one of the Safetran lights on the southern signal.	The 2nd Gen WCH Mechanical Bells in pictures 13, and 14 remains untouched thankfully.

109	110	111	112
Front view of the WCH Mechanical Bell.	The gate on the southern signal still retains the older Vertical Striping while the gate lights are from Electro-Tech.	Close up at one of the Electro-Tech LEDs.	A look at the rear lights on the southern signal.

113	114	115	116
The right rear light on the southern signal now features a GE Dotted LED. This replaced the previous Electro-Tech LED at around the same time the bell on the northern signal was replaced, while the left light still has an Electro-Tech LED.	Close up at the new GE Dotted LED on the southern signal.	Close up at the remaining Electro-Tech LED on the southern signal.	Back view of the southern signal.
The southern signal.

117	118	119	120
The relay bungalow.	The grade is all concrete.	Track view facing east towards Scott Ave. #1	Track view facing west towards Claremont Ave.

121	122	123
The signals activate. Unfortunately the bell on the closest signal is dead now sadly.	A look at the front lights on the northern signal in action.	The gates fully lower with the bell on the southern signal shutting off.

124	125	126	127
Amtrak SC-44 #4610 leads Amtrak Missouri River Runner train 316 on its journey to St Louis.	A look at the Electro-Tech gate lights in action!	Another look at the front lights on the northern signal in action.	A look at the rear lights on the southern signal in action.

128	129	130	131
Last look at the signals with the gates down before the gates rise.	The gates rise, and the southern signal's bell rings again.	The gates on both signals are almost fully raised.	The signals finally deactivate with the train nearing Independence Station to pick up passengers.