20th Street, Bessemer, AL

[freebrickproductions]

*originally recorded on 6-27-19*

Signal on the left: 5 pairs of Safetran 12x20 inch lights, a General Signals Type 2 electronic bell, a Safetran gate mechanism, and NEG LED gate lights.
Signal on the right: 5 pairs of Safetran 12x20 inch lights, an Invensys Rail gate mechanism, and RECO LED gate lights.

We decided to move up to this crossing to catch the next train. However, the train was a local freight that stopped at the block signal just north of this crossing to wait on a northbound, so it just caused this crossing to time out. However, a recording is a recording so... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
The main reason we decided to move to this crossing was because, at least back in 2015 when I was last here, the bell at this crossing rang when the gates rose when I saw it time out from 19th Street for another local freight that stopped at the signal. However, it appears that in the years since, NS has updated the relays here so the bell no longer rings when the gates rise, unfortunately.
Either way though, this is another nice 1990s NS install, that, like the others, has had a few changes to it over the years. 10 years ago, this crossing was still a pure 1990s install with the original Safetran mechanical bell, according to Google Street View. However, between 2009 and 2013, most likely between 2011 and 2013, the gate mast and rear mast lights on the right-hand signal were replaced, likely being damaged by a car or truck (somehow). The Safetran mechanical bell was also replaced in this same 2009-2013 time-frame, quite possibly when the gate mast was also replaced.