Dargin Road, near Calera, AL

[freebrickproductions]

*originally recorded on 5-16-24*

Signal on the left: 2 pairs of Safetran 12x24 inch lights, an NEG electronic bell, a Safetran gate mechanism, an NEG LED gate light, and RECO LED gate lights.
Signal on the right: 2 pairs of WCH 12x24 inch lights, a Safetran gate mechanism, an NEG LED gate light, and RECO LED gate lights.

After catching the empty coal train in Center Hill, I chased it on up to this crossing just north of Calera. Thankfully, despite being held-up by some traffic lights in Calera, I was still able to beat the train here with about a minute to spare. Here we see this empty coal train for the fourth and final time on this day. After this, I tried for another train down in Jemison, but nothing else came through before sunset and I went on back home to Huntsville for the evening.

This crossing is a rather nice one, and I'm glad I was finally able to record it. The signals here were originally installed by the L&N back in the 1950s/60s (or maybe before?), though, in the 1970s, it appears that the closer signal here was replaced with the current one. Then, in about the mid-1980s, the SBD replaced the lights on at least the closer signal with the current WCH 12x24 inch lights. After that, in about the mid-90s, CSX replaced the lights on the far signal with the current Safetran 12x24 inch lights. Then, in the late-90s or 2000s, CSX replaced both gate mechs here with the current Safetran ones. The crossing remained largely unchanged for about a decade or so, but finally, sometime between 2015 and 2016 or so, the original WRRS mechanical bell here was sadly replaced by the current NEG e-bell. Thankfully, since then, no major changes appear to have occurred to this crossing.
Interestingly, this crossing is another crossing along the S&NA South to feature a bell that rings until the gates rise. Admittedly, I ain't sure if it's always been like this or if it was a more recent change. The gate lights here are also messed-up, though. On the far signal, it appears that the newer NEG LED gate light at the base ain't working right and doesn't remain on as long as it should, while the tip gate light flashes with the middle gate light. Meanwhile, on the closer signal, all three gate lights flash together. The closer signal's gate arm also appears to have recently been struck by something, as the tip of it is damaged as well.

http://www.rxrsignals.com/Alabama/A-F/Calera/Dargin/