Google Maps Scavenger Hunt

[ZachL]

CSX left a pair of 8 inch lights at this crossing in Plant City, FL:
https://www.google.com/maps/@27.9955214 ... 312!8i6656

I've driven by that crossing in the past, so maybe I should get it for the site?

Looks like there are WCH LEDs in reused Safetran frames, too. Those are not original to the crossing either.

Although it's quite normal for CSX to just replace 8" lights at random. They'll keep old 12x20" and 12x24" lights, but if it's 8" then nope they have to go.

[ZachL]

And not too far away from the crossing above are these classics:
https://www.google.com/maps/@27.997822, ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com/maps/@27.9982515 ... 312!8i6656

[freebrickproductions]

CSX left a pair of 8 inch lights at this crossing in Plant City, FL:
https://www.google.com/maps/@27.9955214 ... 312!8i6656

I've driven by that crossing in the past, so maybe I should get it for the site?

Looks like there are WCH LEDs in reused Safetran frames, too. Those are not original to the crossing either.

And not too far away from the crossing above are these classics:
https://www.google.com/maps/@27.997822, ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com/maps/@27.9982515 ... 312!8i6656

Yes, you should definitely get those! The second appears to be out of service though.

Although it's quite normal for CSX to just replace 8" lights at random. They'll keep old 12x20" and 12x24" lights, but if it's 8" then nope they have to go.

I've seen them replace 12x20s and 12x24s before.
A WCH 12x24 inch here was replaced with a Safetran 12x20 (oddly enough):
http://www.rxrsignals.com/Alabama/Talladega/17/

This crossing had the MI 12x20s replaced with WCH 12x24s:
http://www.rxrsignals.com/Tennessee/Nashville/19/
https://www.google.com/maps/@36.1614009 ... 6656?hl=en

This crossing had Safetran 12x24s replaced with WCH 12x24s:
https://www.google.com/maps/@36.1637401 ... 6656?hl=en
https://www.google.com/maps/@36.1637408 ... 6656?hl=en

And this crossing had MI 12x20s replaced with WCH 12x24s:
https://www.google.com/maps/@36.1653893 ... 6656?hl=en
https://www.google.com/maps/@36.1653958 ... 6656?hl=en

[ZachL]

Yes, you should definitely get those! The second appears to be out of service though.

Do you have any suggestions on where to pull off/park then? I feel it'd be kinda awkward to just pull to the middle of the road and take pictures, unless that's how y'all all do it.

I've seen them replace 12x20s and 12x24s before.

Oh there are definitely some of those here, too.

However, there are just a lot of crossings in and around the Tampa area that used to have a mix of 12x20" lights and 8" lights, and they'd go around replacing only the 8" lights with 12x24 LEDs and keeping the incandescent 12x20" lights. Most of these are just crossings with cantilevers, though.

[freebrickproductions]

Yes, you should definitely get those! The second appears to be out of service though.

Do you have any suggestions on where to pull off/park then? I feel it'd be kinda awkward to just pull to the middle of the road and take pictures, unless that's how y'all all do it.

I know here in Alabama, as long as you aren't blocking the right of way, or there aren't any signs prohibiting it, you can park wherever. Not sure about Florida, but the law should be similar as I pulled off to the side for a lot of the crossings I photographed and no-one really mined. The second crossing has wide enough shoulders that you could park just about anywhere and get photos. The first one doesn't have as much room. You could park in most spots along the side with the 8 inch lights, but here's what appears to be a good spot:
https://www.google.com/maps/@27.995362, ... 312!8i6656

I've seen them replace 12x20s and 12x24s before.

Oh there are definitely some of those here, too.

However, there are just a lot of crossings in and around the Tampa area that used to have a mix of 12x20" lights and 8" lights, and they'd go around replacing only the 8" lights with 12x24 LEDs and keeping the incandescent 12x20" lights. Most of these are just crossings with cantilevers, though.

Reminds me of what CSX did on the Lineville Sub in Talladega, AL, only they upgraded most of the overhead lights to LED as well later.

[cabman701]

The second appears to be out of service though.

Quite obvious that it hasn't seen a train in forever and a day... but there is still electricity!
https://www.google.com/maps/@27.9979532 ... 312!8i6656

[cabman701]

Found this interesting crossing in Pontiac Michigan... https://www.google.com/maps/@42.6234779 ... 56!6m1!1e1

Here it is caught in action: http://www.railpictures.net/photo/585924/

Can't tell if the traffic lights just flash yellow except when there is a train? It looks like they may have been originally put there for a factory exit or something that appears to be no longer in use. Streetview shows them flashing yellow, but in the "active" shot you can see the one light is red.

[ToledoRailfan]

Found this interesting crossing in Pontiac Michigan... https://www.google.com/maps/@42.6234779 ... 56!6m1!1e1

Here it is caught in action: http://www.railpictures.net/photo/585924/

Can't tell if the traffic lights just flash yellow except when there is a train? It looks like they may have been originally put there for a factory exit or something that appears to be no longer in use. Streetview shows them flashing yellow, but in the "active" shot you can see the one light is red.

Here is that crossing in action from Train Talk For Kids From Kids. https://youtu.be/UmMKKqxpCN0?t=8m53s

[ToledoRailfan]

Strange place for the crossing ID tag. https://www.google.com/maps/@45.3436136 ... 6656?hl=en
_____________________________________________________________
Active crossing, Houston, Texas. https://www.google.com/maps/@29.7304656 ... 6656?hl=en
_____________________________________________________________
Here is an odd cantilever signal. I thought at first that these were just preemption signals but it looks like that those signals are actually regular traffic signals and the crossing actually goes through the intersection. Kind of similar to the one in Pontiac that cabman found. https://www.google.com/maps/@42.598093, ... !1e1?hl=en

Here is the crossing in action. https://youtu.be/UmMKKqxpCN0?t=7m56s

[cabman701]

Found this interesting crossing in Pontiac Michigan... https://www.google.com/maps/@42.6234779 ... 56!6m1!1e1

Here it is caught in action: http://www.railpictures.net/photo/585924/

Can't tell if the traffic lights just flash yellow except when there is a train? It looks like they may have been originally put there for a factory exit or something that appears to be no longer in use. Streetview shows them flashing yellow, but in the "active" shot you can see the one light is red.

Here is that crossing in action from Train Talk For Kids From Kids. https://youtu.be/UmMKKqxpCN0?t=8m53s

Nice! Thanks for posting! I see the traffic signals do operate with the crossing signals. It appears people ignore them as they turn green once the signals shut off and people are already blowing through the crossing as the gates rise.