Vermont Ave. (Independence, MO)

MP: 273.96

Updated September 2025

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

Page originally created by: freebrickproductions

>>>>>>>>>>>>>	Northern Signal	Southern Signal
Bell:	WCH 2nd Gen Mechanical	WCH 2nd Gen Mechanical (Weak)
Base:	Safetran	Safetran
Light Frames:	2 - 12"x20" Safetran w/ WCH/Miller 2nd Gen LEDs 1 - 12"x20" Safetran w/ Electro-Tech LEDs 1 - 12"x20" Safetran w/ GE Pixelated Look LEDs	4 - 12"x20" Safetran w/ GE Pixelated Look 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 on September 1, 2022, by Freebrickproductions.
The 2nd video was taken on September 27, 2024, by KCMO Railfan.
The 3rd video was taken on October 6, 2024, by KCMO Railfan.

Pictures 19-131 and the 4th video were taken on October 26, 2024, by KCMO Railfan.
The 5th video was taken on December 7, 2024, by KCMO Railfan.
The 6th video was taken on January 27, 2025, by KCMO Railfan.
Pictures 132-143 and the 7th video were taken on June 8, 2025, by KCMO Railfan.

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 northern signal.

24	25	26	27
The southern 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.

The southern signal:
81	82
Front view of the southern signal.	A look at the front lights on the southern signal.

83	84	85
The crossbuck on the southern signal was replaced with a newer crossbuck with the ugly font. This was done around May of 2023.	The remaining Electro-Tech LEDs in one of the front lights on the southern signal is now a GE Pixelated Look LEDs. This change was also done back in May of 2023.	Close up at one of the GE Pixelated Look LEDs in one of the front lights on the southern signal.

86	87	88	89
The ENS sign on the southern 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 southern signal is from Safetran.	The lights on the southern signal are all from Safetran. The light bracket is also from Safetran.	Close up at one of the Safetran lights on the southern signal.

90	91	92	93
The gate mechanism on the southern 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 acquired by me (KCMO Railfan). I was able to get it working again after adjusting the contacts as mentioned in the WCH Mechanical Bell #2 page.	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 initially installed.	The gate on the southern 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 southern signal.	The remaining Electro-Tech LEDs seen in one of the rear lights in picture 23 has been replaced with GE Pixelated Look LEDs.	Back view of the southern signal.
The northern signal:

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

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

105	106	107	108
The light bracket on the northern signal is from Safetran as well.	The lights on the northern signal are all from Safetran.	Close up at one of the Safetran lights on the northern 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 northern 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 northern signal.

113	114	115	116
The rear lights on the northern signal now feature a mixture of GE Pixelated Look, and Electro-Tech LEDs as UP replaced the LEDs on this signal at around the same time the bell on the southern signal was replaced.	Close up at the new GE Pixelated Look LEDs in one of the rear lights on the northern signal.	Close up at the remaining Electro-Tech LEDs in one of the rear lights on the northern signal.	Back view of the northern signal.

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

A return visit to the crossing on June 8, 2025, shows the crossing in action for Amtrak Missouri River Runner train #316. The WCH Mechanical Bell on the closest signal was working again at the time of these photos as well albeit a bit weak.

The crossing in action!
132	133	134	135
A look at the signals before activation. The train is at Harvard Ave. #1.	The signals activate with the bell on the closest signal ringing again!	The gates lowering with the train now at Sterling Ave.	The gates fully lowered, and the bells stop ringing. The train is now at Claremont Ave.

136	137	138	139
IDTX SC-44 #4603 leads the return trip on ttain 316 east towards St. Louis.	A shot of the train about to pass the block signal, and eventually Scott Ave. #1.	A look at the northern signal in action.	The end of the train is about to pass by the crossing. Once again the same two Viewliner 2 baggage cars at the rear of the train.

140	141	142	143
The end of the train as it approaches the block signal, and eventually Scott Ave. #1.	Last look at the signals in action before the gates begin to rise.	The gates are now rising with the bells ringing again, although the WCH on the closest signal is struggling to ring in the same way the original 1st gen did.	The signals fully deactivated with the train now at Independence Station.