Harrison Avenue #1, Cary, NC

[freebrickproductions]

*originally recorded on 8-2-24*

Signal on the left: 1 pair of Safetran 12x24 inch lights with Leotek EV Series LEDs, 3 pairs of Modern Industries 12x24 inch lights with Leotek EV Series LEDs, 1 pair of RACO 8 inch lights, an NEG electronic bell, a Safetran gate mechanism, and RECO LED gate lights.
Signal on the right: 3.5 pairs of Modern Industries 12x24 inch lights with Leotek EV Series LEDs, 1.5 pairs of Safetran 12x24 inch lights with Leotek EV Series LEDs, a Safetran mechanical bell, a Safetran gate mechanism, RECO LED gate lights, and an NEG LED gate light.

After I caught the Amtrak Carolinian, I went on back over to this crossing to get it recorded, since I knew L619 was coming. The Carolinian actually wound-up meeting a Piedmont just east of Maynard Road and that wound-up coming through as I was leaving, but I didn't care too much since I had a broken elbow and I was more interested in getting S Line crossings anyways. Anyways, after less than half an hour of waiting, I was able to get my fourth and final train of the day: CSX L619 heading south to Hamlet with an SD70MAC leading an ES44AH for power! Definitely a great catch to end off my day with, especially since this would be the last freight train I'd catch on this trip.

This crossing is another great one, featuring what was originally an old SCL install from the early-1970s. Later on in the 1970s, or possibly the early-80s, it appears, the SCL replaced the original cantilevers here with the current MI ones, though left the gate masts pretty much alone. Admittedly, I'm not sure if the 70s-style Safetran 12x24s on the cantilever masts are original to the signals or not, though they're almost certainly reused from somewhere else, possibly even the previous signals here. Anyways, the crossing remained largely unchanged for a few decades after. However, sometime between 2007 and 2012, CSX replaced the 8 inch lights, which I believe were the original RACO ones, with a pair of WCH 8 inch lights. Then, in 2018, this crossing received an LED upgrade and the original 1st Gen Safetran mechanical bell on the far signal was replaced by the current NEG e-bell. For some reason, despite the LED upgrade here, CSX left the 8 inch lights here alone at the time. The crossing would then remain largely unchanged for a few more years, but then, sometime after street view came through here in July of 2022, the closer signal had its WCH 8 inch lights replaced with the current reused mid-90s Safetran 12x24s, which have a pair of Leotek EV Series LEDs in them.
Thankfully, somehow, the classic RACO 8 inch lights on the far signal remain in service, as both the last 8 inch lights on the CSX Aberdeen Sub but also I believe the last incandescent lights left on the line too. I'm also glad to see the classic 1st Gen Safetran mechanical bell on the closer signal hanging on as well, as it still sound fairly healthy. It's also nice to see both of the original rare early-70s Safetran gate mechs here too, as they ain't the easiest to find. In fact, I believe these were the only ones I filmed on this trip. Of course, while we're talking about nice things with gates, it's very much nice to see that the closer signal still retains a diagonally-striped gate arm, and that the other one is still mostly diagonally-striped. All in all, this is a great little crossing, and I'm glad I was able to film it after missing it back in 2021 when I was last in this area.

http://www.rxrsignals.com/North_Carolin ... /Harrison/