McIntosh Street (GA 297) #2, Vidalia, GA

[freebrickproductions]

*originally recorded on 6-22-21*

Signal on the left: 3 pairs of Safetran 12x20 inch lights, 1 pair of Modern Industries 12x20 inch lights, 1 pair of WCH 12x20 inch lights with Harmon Fading LEDs, a General Signals Type 3 electronic bell, a Safetran gate mechanism, and RECO LED gate lights.
Signal on the right: 3 pairs of Safetran 12x20 inch lights, 2 pairs of Harmon 12x20 inch lights, a Safetran gate mechanism, and RECO LED gate lights.

On June 22nd, Ethan and I got up, and while eating breakfast in the hotel's lobby, we watched L782 roll past. As such, we finished our breakfast, grabbed our stuff, and headed out to go chase them. Thankfully, we were able to catch-up with them at the yard, and since they were about to head to work the branch line out here, we went up to this crossing to catch them. Here we see them on their way to the pole plant with a GP38-3 leading a B32-8 and a GP38-2 and a cut of empty pole cars.

This crossing is an interesting one, and has what are currently the oldest signals still in use in Vidalia. Originally, this was part of the Georgia & Florida's mainline from Madison, FL, to Greenwood, SC. However, in the 1960s, the Southern Railway took over and eventually merged that railroad into the Central of Georgia, which they also owned. The signals here were installed by the SOU back in the late-70s, though in the early 80s the mast lights on the far signal were struck and replaced with a set of Modern Industries 12x24 inch lights. Then, in the (late?) 90s or so (it appears), one of the overhead lights on the far signal got replaced with a newer Safetran 12x20 by NS, who then sold off this part of the line to the Georgia Central not too long after, whom then replaced the base on the gate mast of the closer cantilever sometime after that.
Then, sometime between 2008 and 2014, the original Safetran mechanical bell here was replaced with a WCH mechanical bell, the remaining Safetran 8 inch lights on the closer signal were upgraded to the current Harmon 12x20 inch lights, and the backgrounds of the rear pair of Modern Industries 12x24 inch lights on the far signal were changed to 20 inch ones. In March of 2014, the remaining MI 12x24s were struck by a vehicle (it appears) and were replaced later that same month with the current pair of WCH 12x20s with Harmon Fading LEDs. Then, sometime between 2014 and 2018, the WCH mechanical bell here must've died so the GC replaced it with the current GS Type 3. Since then, no major changes have occured to these signals.
Even with all of the upgrades, this is still a pretty nice little crossing. Like I said, these are some of the oldest signals remaining in Vidalia, having been installed in the late-70s by the SOU. Most everything else in Vidalia dates back to the 80s or later, though there is some equipment on a HOG crossing on the west side of town that dates back to the 70s. Sadly, that crossing currently doesn't see any train traffic, though apparently they are planning to bring some traffic back, and they are currently doing track work on that part of the line. All in all though, I'm glad to have been able to record these old SOU signals.

http://www.rxrsignals.com/Georgia/Vidalia/McIntosh2/