Bell only crossings

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cabman701
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Re: Bell only crossings

Post by cabman701 »

Quite odd to have a bell only crossing at a rather busy intersection like that. Especially since the next crossing over (on what looks to be a much less busy street) has gates.

But I noticed the traffic signals have the light up no turn signs, so I would guess the traffic lights play a role in protecting the crossing. The bells would mainly be there for pedestrians.
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freebrickproductions
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Re: Bell only crossings

Post by freebrickproductions »

Bell only crossing at Higdon Road in Huntsville, AL on the NARM line. I'm not sure if the bell still works though:
https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=3 ... 6,,1,-0.29
They/Them for me, please.

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cabman701
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Re: Bell only crossings

Post by cabman701 »

freebrickproductions wrote:Bell only crossing at Higdon Road in Huntsville, AL on the NARM line. I'm not sure if the bell still works though:
https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=3 ... 6,,1,-0.29
Nice find!

Looks like they might have planned at one time for at least lights... since the mast on the other side is a standard mast (and not wooden or something simpler). I don't see any markings on either pole that would suggest there were lights on them at one time and then they were removed.
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freebrickproductions
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Re: Bell only crossings

Post by freebrickproductions »

cabman701 wrote:
freebrickproductions wrote:Bell only crossing at Higdon Road in Huntsville, AL on the NARM line. I'm not sure if the bell still works though:
https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=3 ... 6,,1,-0.29
Nice find!

Looks like they might have planned at one time for at least lights... since the mast on the other side is a standard mast (and not wooden or something simpler). I don't see any markings on either pole that would suggest there were lights on them at one time and then they were removed.
The signals actually had lights. I believe they were WRRS 8 inch incandescents. Here are some screenshots from street view before it was updated:
Image
Higdon Road, Huntsville, AL (2007) by freebrickproductions, on Flickr
Image
Higdon Road, Huntsville, AL (2007) by freebrickproductions, on Flickr
It appears that a visor was missing from one of the lights.
They/Them for me, please.

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AndyWS
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Re: Bell only crossings

Post by AndyWS »

Looks like that is a museum line and it dead-ends not far to the west at the Alabama A&M University campus.

This must have had signals at one time, but get a load of what's there now!

https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=3 ... 13.74&z=19
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freebrickproductions
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Re: Bell only crossings

Post by freebrickproductions »

AndyWS wrote:Looks like that is a museum line and it dead-ends not far to the west at the Alabama A&M University campus.

This must have had signals at one time, but get a load of what's there now!

https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=3 ... 13.74&z=19
Yep, that crossing had signals at one time, with a bell that was turned an odd way:
Image
Chase Road, Huntsville, AL (2007) by freebrickproductions, on Flickr

Also, Moores Mill Road #2 had a pair of old WRRS cantilevers with 8 inch lights and a mechanical bell. Here is what's there now:
https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=3 ... 10.47&z=18

If you further up the line, there is a crossing with normal crossbucks and then the rest of the crossings have 45* crossbucks. The Museum has 45* crossbucks too.
They/Them for me, please.

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cabman701
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Re: Bell only crossings

Post by cabman701 »

freebrickproductions wrote:Also, Moores Mill Road #2 had a pair of old WRRS cantilevers with 8 inch lights and a mechanical bell. Here is what's there now: https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=3 ... 10.47&z=18
The cantilevers are still visible on satellite view: http://goo.gl/maps/4TlP3
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cabman701
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Re: Bell only crossings

Post by cabman701 »

Ran across this a few weeks ago taking a group of kids to a basketball game. A pedestrian crossing in a rather small town. Quite interesting...

http://goo.gl/maps/B6r1T

Here's a view from the other side:

http://goo.gl/maps/wvOqy

I believe at one time that street was actually open, so my guess is that it had regular signals. When they closed the street they decided to at least keep a bell there for pedestrians. I would venture to guess it is still the same control box and they just mounted the bell directly to it.
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freebrickproductions
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Re: Bell only crossings

Post by freebrickproductions »

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=napoleon ... 59,,0,5.91
It appears the lights and crossbucks were removed from the signals.
They/Them for me, please.

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LARDLOGO
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Re: Bell only crossings

Post by LARDLOGO »

freebrickproductions wrote:https://maps.google.com/maps?q=napoleon ... 59,,0,5.91
It appears the lights and crossbucks were removed from the signals.
It also turns out that it's a US&S Teardrop as well!
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=napoleon ... -6.76&z=20

I'm pretty sure it's because the line is defunct. To the south of it, there is a grain elevator and the tracks look like they see daily service (I estimate 1 a day). To the north however, it's completely overgrown and looks like it hasn't seen action in about 2-3 years. I'm pretty sure the crossing is only used during shunting periods.
Railfanning since December 28, 2009!
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