Elm Street, New Castle, AL

[freebrickproductions]

*originally recorded on 2-13-23*

Signal on the left: 2 pairs of WCH 12x24 inch lights with WCH 2nd Generation LEDs, a dead NEG electronic bell, a Siemens gate mechanism, RECO LED gate lights, and an NEG LED gate light.
Signal on the right: 2 pairs of WCH 12x24 inch lights with WCH 2nd Generation LEDs, an NEG electronic bell, a Siemens gate mechanism, and RECO LED gate lights.

After catching that northbound mixed freight, and waiting for a few trains to clear out of the way of this crossing, I set-up here for my next shot on this day. After a bit of waiting, this southbound autorack train (CSX M203?) came rolling through with an ES44AH leading an AC44CW for power.

This crossing is the southernmost one on the CSX S&NA North Subdivision, and is another decent one. The signals here were apparently installed by CSX back in 2016 (per the FRA), and must've been one of CSX's last installs to feature a full set of new WCH 2nd Gen LEDs, as by this time they were already starting to use the Leotek EV Series LEDs, and these heads are also the newer WCH flat-back ones. Strangely, the closer signal seems to use an older Siemens gate mech, as it's one that features the earlier sticker on the back of it, while the far one features the later sticker on it, which is what was being made around this time.
Either way, these signals are still pretty much fully original as well, only having had one of the gate lights (on the far signal) replaced since they were installed. Sadly, it sounds like the bell on the far signal here has died.

http://www.rxrsignals.com/Alabama/G-Q/New_Castle/Elm/