6th Avenue, Alabaster, AL

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Signal on the left: 3 pairs of WCH 12x24 inch lights and a WCH mechanical bell.
Signal on the right: 3 pairs of WCH 12x24 inch lights and a dead WCH mechanical bell.

This train was traveling down the CSX S&NA South Sub Main 1 track. The reason why this crossing is single-tracked though is because the two Mains split going through Alabaster, AL. It appears that the Main 1 carries mostly southbound traffic while Main 2 carries northbound traffic.

I went to this crossing first as it is a rather nice set-up: an almost pure gateless 1980s CSX install! Unfortunately, one of the bells is dead and the other is starting to die.

[freebrickproductions]

No major changes here as of 1-8-22. In fact, both the dead WCH mechanical bell and working (but dying) WCH mechanical bell are still around, with no noticeable changes to either.

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*originally recorded on 5-5-24*

Signal on the left: 3 pairs of WCH 12x24 inch lights with Leotek EV Series LEDs, an NEG electronic bell, a Siemens gate mechanism, and NEG LED gate lights.
Signal on the right: 3 pairs of WCH 12x24 inch lights with Leotek EV Series LEDs, an NEG electronic bell, a Siemens gate mechanism, and NEG LED gate lights.

After I shot I181, I started making my way over to Helena Road #2 in Helena, as I knew that crossing had been upgraded with new gated signals not too long ago. However, while I was passing through Pelham (and checking on the signals at the interlockings there), I saw that CSX had a northbound lined through Pelham on the S&NA South Sub, along with a pile of recently replaced gateless signals, including some that appeared to have come from this crossing in Alabaster. As such, I went south along US 31, confirming that CSX had the northbound lined-up along Main 1, and got set-up at this crossing. Here we see a northbound CSX mixed freight rolling through with an AC44CW leading a CM44AC for power!

As you can see, sometime in 2023 (it appears), CSX sadly replaced the classic gateless 80s CSX signals here with a pair of brand new gated signals. I suppose in some ways this isn't too surprising, the road here is decently busy and the old signals were starting to appear a bit worn-out, especially since the bell on the far side had been dead for at least a few years with the other one sounding rather rough as well, but it's still a shame nonetheless. I believe with this upgrade, there are no more fully original 1980s CSX installs left in Alabama.
Amusingly, despite being less than a year old, the middle gate light on the far signal has already failed. The bell on that signal is also mounted a bit unusually for a modern CSX install, as it's mounted on the junction box for the side lights rather than the main lights.

http://www.rxrsignals.com/Alabama/A-F/Alabaster/6/