DeArmanville Drive, DeArmanville, AL

[freebrickproductions]

*originally recorded on 9-28-24*

Northbound signal: 2 pairs of Safetran 12x20 inch lights, a Safetran gate mechanism, and NEG LED gate lights.
Southbound signal: 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 NEG LED gate lights.

On September 28th, I get on up and made my way down to the NS East End District around Anniston to see about recording some crossings on this part of the line. I got down here and, after a little bit of waiting, was able to get my first train of the day: an eastbound intermodal train with an AC44C6M leading an SD70ACe and a Dash-9 for power.

This crossing is a bit of an odd one, and I'm definitely glad I was able to get it recorded in action finally. The signals here are a mid-90s NS install, though, in the late-90s or 2000s, the gate mast and mechanism in on the closer signal were replaced with the current one. At about the same time (though definitely in the 2000s, IIRC), NS replaced the original mechanical bell here with a General Signals e-bell. Not sure when the mast lights here had their backgrounds upgraded to 12x24s, but I suspect around the same time. Either way, the signals here remained largely unchanged until sometime between 2019 and 2021, when the bell here was replaced again, this time with the current GS Type 3. Thankfully, since then, nothing too major has changed here, which is nice to see.
Strangely, the cantilever here has two pairs of mast lights facing the same direction. I'm not entirely sure why this is, I suspect one may have originally intended to be sidelights for a nearby driveway. Either way, it is always kinda neat seeing crossings like this where you've got two pairs of mast lights mounted directly next to each other and facing the same way, IMHO. The bell here is also set to ring as the gates rise as well, which is nice to see.

http://www.rxrsignals.com/Alabama/A-F/D ... nville_Dr/