24th Street #3, Birmingham, AL

[freebrickproductions]

*originally recorded on 5-19-21*

Signal on the left: 2 pairs of Safetran 12x20 inch lights.
Signal on the right: 2 pairs of Safetran 12x20 inch lights and a General Signals Type 2 electronic bell.

After catching CSX M730, I drove around a bit and saw the other NS Ensley Branch local was heading back towards the yard. As such, I turned around and set-up at this crossing where, after a little while of waiting, they finally began to approach after waiting at the diamond with the NS West End District. However, they paused for about a minute or so just before 25th Street, but eventually, they got on moving again, finally coming through with an SD40e leading an SD40-2!

This crossing is also a pretty decent one, featuring yet another pair of gateless SOU signals that appear to have been installed in the 70s (or possibly the 80s). It appears that these would've originally had all Harmon 8 inch lights (or possibly older Harmon 12x20 or 12x24 inch lights), but in 80s (or possibly the early 90s), NS replaced at least the lights on the far signal with Safetran 12x24 inch lights. Then, in the 2000s, NS upgraded the lights and bell on the closer signal to the current equipment. Finally, sometime after 2011 (and certainly before 2019, though possibly before then as well) the lights on the far signal were once again replaced, this time with the current Safetran 12x20s.

http://www.rxrsignals.com/Alabama/A-F/Birmingham/24_3/