What in the World, ATN?

[freebrickproductions]

So the Alabama & Tennessee River Railway recently upgraded the US 431 crossing in Albertville, AL from the gate-less mast signals it had before, to these cantilevers with no mast lights facing the highway, and the overhead lights above the cantilever arms:
US 431, Albertville, AL by freebrickproductions, on Flickr
US 431, Albertville, AL by freebrickproductions, on Flickr
US 431, Albertville, AL by freebrickproductions, on Flickr
US 431, Albertville, AL by freebrickproductions, on Flickr
US 431, Albertville, AL by freebrickproductions, on Flickr

I have a feeling they positioned the overhead lights like that for visibility reasons, but why didn't they install mast lights facing US 431? Also, there were two bells on the old set-up, but this one only has one.

[cabman701]

I'm sorry... but that's just fugly!

[freebrickproductions]

I'm sorry... but that's just fugly!

I agree. Seems completely unnecessary too.

[cabman701]

I'm sorry... but that's just fugly!

I agree. Seems completely unnecessary too.

I was going to ask... are the tracks that busy... or are they getting busier?

[freebrickproductions]

I'm sorry... but that's just fugly!

I agree. Seems completely unnecessary too.

I was going to ask... are the tracks that busy... or are they getting busier?

The line only gets about two trains a day, Monday through Friday (one up to Guntersville, one down). They might be getting busier, but I think it's because US 431 through here is rather busy. The part I was referring to as unnecessary was the cantilevers, more specifically, how the mounted the overhead lights.

[cabman701]

I'm sorry... but that's just fugly!

I agree. Seems completely unnecessary too.

I was going to ask... are the tracks that busy... or are they getting busier?

The line only gets about two trains a day, Monday through Friday (one up to Guntersville, one down). They might be getting busier, but I think it's because US 431 through here is rather busy. The part I was referring to as unnecessary was the cantilevers, more specifically, how the mounted the overhead lights.

Well... they definitely stand out. Maybe that was what they were going for...

[freebrickproductions]

Got a recording of the crossing in action today:
viewtopic.php?f=18&t=3184