College Street (AL 70), Columbiana, AL

[freebrickproductions]

*originally recorded on 4-2-20*

Signal on the left: 2 pairs of Safetran 12x20 inch lights, a Safetran mechanical bell, a Safetran gate mechanism, and RECO gate lights.
Signal on the right: 5 pairs of Safetran 12x20 inch lights, a Safetran mechanical bell, a Safetran gate mechanism, and RECO gate lights.

After catching A84 in Calera, I chased it on over to this crossing in Columbiana where I was able to set-up with just over a minute to spare before he came flying on through. Certainly am quite glad I did, though.

This crossing is another nice one. The signals here were installed by NS in the late-90s, and appear to have not been changed at all since then! Well, outside of the ENS signs, that is. This makes it the only crossing left on the NS Rome Line with a pair of mechanical bells, and with it, I've been able to record every remaining mechanical bell on the Rome Line!
Something else of note here as well is the fact that this crossing also sports a Safetran WT/F cantilever, easily one of the few in Alabama (and one of only two on this line, with the other being a gateless one, for some reason). All in all, I'm glad I was able to catch A84 here, especially with how nice this crossing is.

AL 70 is a state route that runs from US 31 in Calera (just north of I-65) to AL 25 in Columbiana. Not entirely sure why it's a state route, especially with how short (and seemingly pointless) it is. Perhaps to serve as a bit of a bypass of downtown Calera for any traffic heading north on US 31?