Google Maps Scavenger Hunt

[ZachL]

Willing to bet the stop signs were installed by the municipality in charge of the road, so when NS upgraded the crossing to gated signals, there was no need for them to remove the stop signs, as they technically weren't their's to begin with.

I didn't realize that railroads installed standalone stop signs at public/passive crossings like that. I had always assumed those were municipal installs.

That's what I was saying, lol. However, at a crossing near Hillsboro, AL, the stop signs that were at the crossing (when it was still crossbucks) were removed by NS when it was upgraded to a pair of gated signals, it appears.

One thing I don't understand is why some passive crossings have stop signs while many have yield signs. If a crossing needs to be stopped at, then it may as well be gated IMO

[KCMO Railfan]

Active crossing in Independence, Mo (My hometown)
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.0645873 ... authuser=0

[NathanFromEngland]

What's all this?
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.8054785 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.8054785 ... 312!8i6656

Late-2000's NS installation with US&S gate mechanisms.
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.8025367 ... 312!8i6656

Here's a 1970's SOU installation.
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.786087, ... 384!8i8192

Original Safetran base?
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.7861158 ... 312!8i6656

Why is this blankout sign double sided?
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.7121377 ... 312!8i6656

Well, okay then!
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.6840144 ... 312!8i6656

[freebrickproductions]

What's all this?
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.8054785 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.8054785 ... 312!8i6656

Work train.

Original Safetran base?
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.7861158 ... 312!8i6656

Yes.

Why is this blankout sign double sided?
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.7121377 ... 312!8i6656

Probably ordered that way by the city/county/state to allow them to install it anywhere they need to.

[Ethan the Railfanner]

Late-2000's NS installation with US&S gate mechanisms.
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.8025367 ... 312!8i6656

IIRC, I think NS used to do that in both North Carolina and South Carolina. Those are US&S Model 95 gate mechanisms... BTW.

[freebrickproductions]

Late-2000's NS installation with US&S gate mechanisms.
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.8025367 ... 312!8i6656

IIRC, I think NS used to do that in both North Carolina and South Carolina. Those are US&S Model 95 gate mechanisms... BTW.

Yea, it was a trial that NS did in that area before ultimately deciding not to go with US&S Model 95s and sticking with Safetran. Currently, after getting fed-up with the S-60s, NS is spec'ing S-40s across the system, and is currently trialing WCH gate mechs on their lines in the midwest.

[NathanFromEngland]

BN-era signal.
https://www.google.com/maps/@45.7297126 ... 312!8i6656

Probably a mixture of a 1980's/2000 BN/BNSF installation, not sure.
https://www.google.com/maps/@45.7299013 ... 312!8i6656

Not sure why BNSF chose to replace this late 1990's/early 2000's installation.
https://www.google.com/maps/@45.7221882 ... 328!8i1664
https://www.google.com/maps/@45.7221965 ... 312!8i6656

Safetran EM Mechs? (One has a Safetran bell)
https://www.google.com/maps/@45.8902479 ... 312!8i6656

Loose counterweight
https://www.google.com/maps/@45.8030298 ... 312!8i6656

Tiny E-Bell???
https://www.google.com/maps/@46.6004888 ... 328!8i1664

US&S E-Bell on a Griswold installation.
https://www.google.com/maps/@46.6065368 ... 312!8i6656

[Ethan the Railfanner]

Probably a mixture of a 1980's/2000 BN/BNSF installation, not sure.
https://www.google.com/maps/@45.7299013 ... 312!8i6656

Looks more like a 2000's BNSF install to me.

Tiny E-Bell???
https://www.google.com/maps/@46.6004888 ... 328!8i1664

It's another US&S E-Bell.

[freebrickproductions]

Classic crossing:
https://www.google.com/maps/@32.3304906 ... 328!8i1664

Downgraded WRRS cantilever signals:
https://www.google.com/maps/@32.2641517 ... 312!8i6656

[NathanFromEngland]

Downgraded WRRS cantilever signals:
https://www.google.com/maps/@32.2641517 ... 312!8i6656

I keep feeling like those cantilevers were a striking hazard, though i don't know why they were downgraded, maybe no use for cantilever considering the road is straight?

What's the striping for?
https://www.google.com/maps/@33.7720014 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com/maps/@33.7719967 ... 312!8i6656

Old IC installation, but i don't think the Hybrid is original.
https://www.google.com/maps/@33.7783387 ... 312!8i6656

I hate crossbucks that are written in bold text.
https://www.google.com/maps/@33.7805486 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com/maps/@33.7806862 ... 312!8i6656

Out of service signals.
https://www.google.com/maps/@33.8055707 ... 312!8i6656

I also have no idea why the "Grenada Railroad" chose to replace the crossbucks with the bold text.
https://www.google.com/maps/@33.805479, ... 328!8i1664
https://www.google.com/maps/@33.8054721 ... 312!8i6656

More out of service signals.
https://www.google.com/maps/@33.8383233 ... 312!8i6656

Unrelated, but what's with the metal in the road?
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.0091312 ... 312!8i6656

Looks like CN may've reinstalled these signals prior to giving the line over to the Granada Railway.
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.0282052 ... 312!8i6656

Odd light positioning.
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.1168446 ... 312!8i6656

Where exactly is the crossing?
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.2152937 ... 312!8i6656
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.2149284 ... 312!8i6656

Safetran Type 1!
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.3101273 ... 312!8i6656

Stored preserved passenger cars.
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.3094535 ... 312!8i6656

Active crossing.
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.4370414 ... 312!8i6656

IC cantilever with a side-mounted Safetran hybrid
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.5104544 ... 312!8i6656