Total Accidents:
3 Crossing DOT #: 524072C, 941272K TOTAL DAILY
TRAINS: 72 (AS OF 2014)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Northern Signal Mainline
Southern Signal Mainline
Northern Signal Connector
Southern Signal Connector
Bell:
GS Type 3 E-Bell
None
None
Safetran Mechanical Bell
Base:
Safetran 5" Double Sided ^
Safetran 5" Double Sided ^
Safetran 5" Single Sided ^
Safetran 5" Single Sided ^
Lights:
4 - 12"x20" Safetran incandescents
4 - 12"x20" Safetran incandescents
4 - 12"x24" Safetran incandescents
4 - 12"x24" Safetran incandescents
Junction Box:
Safetran
Safetran
Safetran
Safetran
Gate Lights:
3 - 4" RECO LEDs
3 - 4" NEG incandescents
3 - 4" RECO LEDs
3 - 4" RECO LEDs
Gate Mechanism:
Siemens Sticker Style 2 w/ NEG 1 Way Saver
Siemens Sticker Style 2 w/ NEG 1 Way Saver
Safetran 1980s w/ GSI Gate Saver
Safetran 1980s w/ GSI Gate Saver
Gate Striping:
Vertical Striping
Vertical Striping
Vertical Striping
Vertical Striping
Pictues 1-55 and the 1st video were taken April 18, 2014
Picture 56 was taken October 2, 2014.
Pictures 57-64 were taken on April 25, 2015.
Pictures 65-93 were taken on May 18, 2016.
The 2nd video was taken on May 10, 2016.
The 3rd video was taken on July 28, 2018.
Pictures 94-105 and the 4th video were taken on April 24, 2023.
The 5th video was taken on August 14, 2023, by Norfolk Southern Railfan.
Pictures 106-107 were taken on April 16, 2025.
The 6th video was taken on June 8, 2025, by Norfolk Southern Railfan.
Pictures 108-114 were taken on October 7, 2025.
All pictures and videos were taken by Tommy McGowan.
The northern crossing is located on the NS Chicago Line while the
southern crossing is on a connector between the Chicago Line and
Sandusky District.
O1
O2
O3
O4
PUCO images from the late 90s or early 2000s showing two older gated signals with 8" lights, WABCO Model 75 gate mechanisms, and a WCH M-Bell. There was also a 2nd crossing with 1980s era NS signals. By 2014, the northern signal had its WABCO mechanism replaced with a WCH Style 3 mechanism, and the northern signal's gate was replaced.
1
2
Overview of the mainline signals facing south.
Overview facing north.
3
4
5
6
7
8
The northern signal. This had a MI base, 8" Safetran incandescents, 4" NEG incandescents, a WCH Style 3 gate mechanism, and a 1st Gen WCH Mechanical Bell.
9
10
11
12
13
14
The southern signal. This had a MI base, 8" Safetran incandescents, 4" NEG incandescents, and a WABCO Model 75 gate mechanism.
15
16
Overview of the connector crossing facing south.
Overview facing north.
17
18
19
20
21
22
The northern signal.
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
The southern signal.
30
31
32
The grade is rubber and asphalt. It was wood and asphalt in 2013.
In June 2014, the relay bungalow for the northern crossing was repainted.
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
In early 2015, all ENS signs were replaced with new blue ones, except the northern signal on the southern crossing.
By March 2016, the blue ENS signs were
turned forward. I didn't get pictures of the older signals with
this style, but you can see them in this video.
In late April 2016, the mainline signals were replaced with newer
ones. The new signals are mounted on the same bases and retain
the same gates from the older signals.
These new signals represent a curious case of how NS installs
signals. These are new signals on a mainline installed in 2016
with incandescent lights, while Olds St. #2 just north of this one had
new signals installed in 2015 and received a full LED setup. It
seems as though NS installs LEDs on less busy lines and incandescents
on busier lines. I don't know why they do this, but it is
interesting at the very least.
65
66
Overview of the newer signals facing south.
Overview facing north.
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
The new southern signal.
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
The new northern signal.
86
87
88
The same relay bungalow in the northwest quadrant.
As for the
connector signals, the ENS sign on the southern signal was turned
forward and the gate was flipped around and the striping is now
correct. The northern signal still retains the white DOT sign
amazingly.
94
95
96
As of April 2023, the southern mainline signal's gate was replaced. Surprisingly, this still has incandescents while the rest of the Chicago Line crossings in town are LED.
97
98
99
100
101
As for the connector signals, both gates were replaced too, plus the white ENS tag was finally replaced. It also reveals that this actually has its own DOT number.
102
103
104
105
There were some markings around the signals as well. Not sure what these are for.
106
107
In April 2025, we see the northern signal's gate was replaced. I was in a hurry, so I didn't get closeups.
108
109
110
111
112
113
In October 2025, I returned for closeups of the new gate. Surprisingly, the main lights remain incandescent, even though the other crossings in town on the Chicago Line are all LED now.
