This is the most northern part of U.S. 60 where there are 2 crossings next to each other so close like this.

 

Note: Milepost 181.15 is for the 75th St. crossing. Milepost 181.18 is for the Olive St. crossing.

 

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The blue tint is from the inside of my car. From Olive Ave.

One of the rear signals on Olive Ave.

This set of 3 is from 75th Ave. just about 25 feet away.

A crossing with gates and signals apart is getting harder to find.

 

A few notes on these two crossings. The Phoenix area along US 60 is mostly like this with 3 streets intersecting at one point creating red traffic lights approximately 5 minutes in wait. After this crossing, you head into Glendale, which is a little bit on the unsafe side. There were many crossings heading South into Phoenix, however many have been closed, or modified to the point where they aren't classic anymore. Check the Glendale section to find out more.

 

The reason why I didn't get out in time to film this crossing is because there were too many traffic lights slowed me down, and I was the furthest away at that point, but not far enough. These signals activated 45 seconds before the train came. The bells are GS types 1 and 2.

 

There are lots of crossings around the Peoria area that have the gates apart from the signals. Most of the time you find them together as one piece. Those 2-piece signals still exist today at several crossings.

 
CLICK THE ICON TO THE LEFT TO HEAR THE CROSSING IN ACTION.
(RECORDED SEPTEMBER 21, 2003)



 

The following pictures were taken by BNSFman08.

 

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The signals in action!
The train approaches.
And crosses.

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You can see rear lights in the background.

Both shoulder signals became cantilever signals, while the median signal got 24" background upgrades.

 

Sometime between 2003 and 2007, both crossings were changed. The above pictures are from 75th Avenue. Unpictured is Olive Avenue which is now a one-way crossing facing East with two 12"x24" gated signals with GS L.E.D. lights and 2 GS electronic bells. Westbound traffic gets diverted off to 75th Avenue and has no chance to cross the tracks anymore.

 

Pictures 5-9 were taken on December 30, 2007.

 

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On February 15, 2008, we get more of the same. Another BNSF train heading Northbound.

Little did BNSFman08 know this, but just a mere 6.32 miles from here, at Thompson Ranch Rd. in El Mirage, this very train would be involved in an accident!

 

I knew about these cantilever upgrades a long time before this. Google Street Maps shows both crossings changes pretty well, including Olive Ave.

 

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Here's a side view on what's changed on 75th Avenue on March 8, 2008. The right signal is where the signal in pictures 1 and 4 used to be.

As you can see, it's now a one-way street.

Here's a view of one of the cantilevers at 75th Avenue taken on March 16, 2008 @ 12:55 PM MST/PDT.

 

Notice how the rear lights on the gate doesn't match where the cantilever lights are at...

Here's a front view. Note the damaged right light on the front of the cantilever mast.

 

This was taken on March 25, 2008.

 

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Another rear view of the cantilevers at Olive Ave.

A rear view of 75th Ave.

A side view of an Olive Ave. cantilever.

 

Note how the right crossbuck is facing the wrong way in picture 22, making people think that the street is two way, when it's actually one way.

 

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Another rear view of one of the 75th Avenue signals.
Another view of the configuration at Olive Ave.

 

Pictures 21-25 were taken on April 27, 2008.