8th Street #2, Leeds, AL

[freebrickproductions]

*originally recorded on 4-2-20*

Signal on the left: 4 pairs of Modern Industries 8 inch lights.
Signal on the right: 2 pairs of WRRS 8 inch lights and a Safetran Type 3 electronic bell.

This was the last place I caught NS 373 at, and I was only just barely able to beat him here, in part due to some unexpected road work along AL 25. However, I was able to catch 373 here, so I'm glad.

This crossing is a very nice one, and probably the best crossing I recorded on this day. The signals here appear to have been installed by the Central of Georgia (probably back in the 60s, if I were to hazard a guess), but in the 70s, the lights on the far signal were replaced with the current ones, along with the bell being replaced with a Safetran mechanical bell (though this could've been installed as late as the late-90s). The crossing then remained unchanged until sometime between 2012/13 and 2016, when the bell was replaced with the current Safetran Type 3.
Thankfully, the 8 inch lights are still around, making it one of only two crossings north of Sylacauga to still retain 8 inch lights. What's especially nice about this one is that it's still fully 8 inch, as well as having some of the few Modern Industries 8 inch lights left here in Alabama! All in all, I'm quite glad to have been able to record this crossing.
It also appears that there was originally a second track here, with how far back the closer signal is from the crossing.