Main Street (AL 22) #2, Maplesville, AL

[freebrickproductions]

*originally recorded on 6-12-24*

Signal on the left: 2 pairs of Safetran 8 inch lights and a General Signals Type 2 electronic bell.
Signal on the right: 2 pairs of Safetran 8 inch lights.

After catching the Autauga Northern rolling through Prattville, we decided to chase them north to the only known signalized crossing they have outside of Prattville, which is this one in Maplesville. Sadly, they didn't get here until a bit after sunset (and then sat for a bit waiting for permission from the NS 3B North District dispatcher to be able to interchange), but, eventually, they were able to come on through. Thankfully, there was still enough ambient light here from nearby street lights and car headlights, including my own, to be able to record a pretty decent video here. While we were waiting, the local cop pulled-up curious as to what we were doing, and thankfully he was pretty cool with it. Apparently, due to Maplesville being a pretty small town, the locals are fairly nosy which meant we got called in by a number of people to said cop's superiors.
Anyways, after getting the AUT here, madisoncountysirens4295 and I continued on home to Huntsville, dropping CentralALSirens off at his house in Birmingham on the way.

This crossing is another pretty nice one, and I'm glad I was able to record it as well. It appears that there was originally an old WRRS install here from the GM&O, though it was replaced decades ago with the current signals. Admittedly, I ain't entirely sure when the current signals were installed, the masts and relay case here scream late-SOU/early-NS to me, but the lights I'm guessing would've most likely been installed by the ICG in the 1970s or late-SOU in the early-1980s. Either way, it appears that the closer signal had the original WRRS-branded junction box for the lights, along with the finial on it, reused from the old GM&O install here. In the (early?) 2000s, NS installed the current GS Type 2 e-bell on the far signal. Admittedly, I ain't sure if this bell even replaced anything or not. The FRA inventory reports up to 10-1-1997 claim that this crossing did not have any bells at it, with the next inventory report after that (about five years later on 10-24-2002) records there being one bell here. Honestly, I wouldn't be too surprised to find-out that this crossing was originally bell-less, and didn't have a bell until NS installed the current one in the early-2000s. Either way, this is still a pretty nice crossing, and I'm glad I finally got it recorded. With this, I have now also recorded three out of the four 8 inch crossings on the AUT!

http://www.rxrsignals.com/Alabama/G-Q/M ... lle/Main2/