Old Griffin Road, McDonough, GA

[freebrickproductions]

*originally recorded on 1-19-22*

Signal on the left: 2 pairs of Safetran 12x20 inch lights, a Safetran gate mechanism, and NEG gate lights.
Signal on the right: 2 pairs of RACO 8 inch lights, 2 pairs of Safetran 12x20 inch lights, a General Signals Type 2 electronic bell, a Safetran gate mechanism, and NEG gate lights.

After getting the surprise ATN catch, my mom and I continued on into Georgia. Here, we planned to stop for a couple of crossings on the NS Atlanta South District, and this was the first one we came to. After a little while of waiting, a LORAM rail grinder pulled-up to the signal at the end of the siding to our south and stopped, in order to let a northbound intermodal train through. A bit more waiting, and this northbound intermodal came through with an NS SD70ACe leading a UP AC44CW.

This crossing is a pretty nice one, and features what I believe are the last 8 inch lights on the Atlanta South. The signals here were originally installed by the Southern Railway back in the early to mid-70s, with the far signal originally having been a double mast install. It appears these remained largely unchanged until the early 2000s, when the bell here (I'm guessing the original Safetran mechanical bell) was replaced with the current early GS Type 2. Then, sometime between 2008 and 2012, the far signal was replaced with the current one. Since then, however, it appears that no major changes have occurred to this crossing, thankfully. Hopefully the signals here (or at least the closer one and its 8 inch lights) remain untouched for years to come, but either way, I'm glad I was able to get it recorded.