Elm Avenue, Wake Forest, NC

[freebrickproductions]

*originally recorded on 8-1-24*

Signal on the left: 2 pairs of Safetran 12x24 inch lights with Leotek EV Series LEDs, a WABCO mechanical bell, a US&S Model 75 gate mechanism, and NEG LED gate lights.
Signal on the right: 2 pairs of WABCO 12x20 inch lights with Leotek EV Series LEDs, a WABCO mechanical bell, a Siemens gate mechanism, and NEG LED gate lights.

After catching L617 heading north out of Raleigh, hoping I'd be able to beat them to this crossing. Thankfully, they wound-up having to stop and work a customer in Neuse for a while, so I was able to beat them here with plenty of time to spare. After a couple hours of waiting, I was able to catch CSX L617 rolling north once again.

This crossing is another nice one, featuring a late-SCL/early-SBD install from the early-1980s. In the late-90s, it appears, CSX replaced the lights on the far signal with the current Safetran 12x24s. Then, sometime between 2018 and 2019, CSX upgraded this crossing to LED. Finally, sometime between 2019 and 2022, the original Model 75 gate mech on the closer signal was replaced by the current Siemens one. Thankfully, the signals here still retain both of their original WABCO mechanical bells, which thankfully both still sound nice and healthy. It seems this crossing's track circuit is set for when Amtrak trains used to just fly through this crossing prior to the S Line north of Norlina being abandoned and ripped-out in the 80s, given the fact that it takes the train nearly a whole minute to reach the crossing after the signals here activate. There also used to be a second track here as well, it appears, based on how far back the closer signal here is from the (remaining) track. No doubt it was a second main or at least a passing siding that was ripped-out as a result of this part of the S Line being rationalized as a result of the abandonment north of Norlina in the 80s.