Meridian Street, Huntsville, AL

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Decided to get another recording of this crossing, since it's been almost a year since I last recorded it.

Signal on the left: 3 pairs of Safetran 12x24 inch lights, 2 pairs of Safetran 12x20 inch lights, a Safetran gate mechanism, and RECO gate lights.
Signal on the right: 3 pairs of Safetran 12x24 inch lights, 2 pairs of Safetran 12x20 inch lights, a Safetran mechanical bell, a Safetran gate mechanism, and NEG gate lights.

http://www.rxrsignals.net/Alabama/Huntsville/Meridian1/

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Here's a video that's in focus for the most part:

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Got this video yesterday:

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Here's the new e-bell in action:


*originally recorded on 8-1-18*

Signal on the left: 2 pairs of Safetran 12x20 inch lights, 3 pairs of Safetran 12x24 inch lights, a Safetran gate mechanism, and RECO gate lights.
Signal on the right: 2 pairs of Safetran 12x20 inch lights, 3 pairs of Safetran 12x24 inch lights, a General Signals Type 3 electronic bell, a Safetran gate mechanism, and NEG gate lights.

Well, we finally have a General Signals Type 3 e-bell in Huntsville proper! I'm honestly not entirely sure when these signals were originally installed, though it appears that the cantilevers themselves and the overhead lights (and likely the previous Safetran mechanical bell as well) date to the 1980s/early 1990s, around the time Meridian Street was rerouted here to make way for I-565 and have it no longer intersect Pratt Avenue on the crossing, while the mast lights and gate masts appear to be from the late 1990s/early 2000s. The I-565 bridge through downtown Huntsville can be seen just beyond the crossing.

http://www.rxrsignals.com/Alabama/G-Q/H ... Meridian1/

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*originally recorded on 7-15-21*

Signal on the left: 3 pairs of Safetran 12x24 inch lights, 2 pairs of Safetran 12x20 inch lights, a General Signals Type 3 electronic bell, a Safetran gate mechanism, and RECO LED gate lights.
Signal on the right: 3 pairs of Safetran 12x24 inch lights, 2 pairs of Safetran 12x20 inch lights, a Safetran gate mechanism, a RECO LED gate light, and RECO gate lights.

After chasing the HMCR, I decided to head over to the Memphis East to see what was running. While there was a 22N in the area, they unfortunately got held-up for a few hours as the ET44AC on it refused to crank after having to wait a long time to meet another train. Eventually, they were able to get a Dash-9 from NS 101, but then the crew ran out of time before they could really get going anywhere. As the replacement crew wasn't ready yet, but NS 362 was beginning to leave Decatur, the dispatcher had 362 stop next to 22N and the crew board that train. Finally, after being delayed several hours, 22N was able to get going, reaching downtown Huntsville just as the sun set. Here we see them passing through Meridian Street with an SD70ACe leading the ET44AC and Dash-9. Interestingly enough, the ET44AC I saw on this train was actually NS's first Tier-4 unit built, which, even though I was able to catch two of the deliveries of these NS had gotten back in 2016 (and I even got 3601, 3602, and 3603 on the second), apparently I didn't get this one before.

As you can see, since I last recorded this crossing in 2018, there's been another change to it. In about late-2018/2019, NS replaced both gate arms here and upgraded most of the gate lights on this crossing to LED. The far signal got all RECO LEDs on its gate arm, though the closer signal just had its tip gate light replaced with an LED. Also decided to record this side of the crossing this time around, as I hadn't recorded over here yet and the lighting was going to allow for it prior to sunset. Still a pretty nice crossing overall though and I'm glad to have finally been able to record it again.

http://www.rxrsignals.com/Alabama/G-Q/H ... Meridian1/

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No major changes as of 10-23-21:

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No changes here as of yesterday either:

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It looks like NS will be installing a new relay case here, but there hasn't been any other changes here as of 11-28-23:

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Still no changes here as of 1-28-24: