Pratten Street (MT 78), Columbus, MT

[freebrickproductions]

*originally recorded on 8-30-22*

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

After catching the loaded coal train, I went over to this crossing to get it recorded as well. After a little bit of waiting, the signals here lit for another westbound, and a little while after that, this westbound MRL local freight came through with an MRL SD70ACe leading a pair of MRL SD40-2XRs.

This was the fourth and final crossing I recorded on this day, and it too is another rather nice one featuring a pair of older EM signals at it. The signals here appear to have originally been installed by the Northern Pacific back in the 1960s, but in the 1970s, the closer one was replaced by the Burlington Northern with the current Safetran EM signal. Then, in the mid to late-1980s (and certainly prior to the MRL taking over in 1987), the BN replaced all of the lights here with the current Safetran 12x20 inch lights. Finally, sometime in the 2000s, the MRL replaced the bell here with the current GS Type 2 electronic bell, which rings while the gates are down, interestingly enough. Since then, thankfully, no further major changes have occurred to these signals.
Unfortunately, however, these signals weren't too much longer for the world while I was here, as a bit of new conduit had been installed on the far side of the crossing, seemingly as the start to an upgrade that would be coming here. No idea if these signals have been replaced yet, but, if they haven't, then they're probably due to be replaced soon. Either way though, I'm quite glad to have been able to record this crossing when I did. And with this crossing, I have filmed all four pairs of surviving EM signals on the MRL's 2nd Subdivision.