Mudd Street, Eastaboga, AL

[freebrickproductions]

*originally recorded on 3-27-20*

Signal on the left: 3 pairs of Safetran 12x20 inch lights, a General Signals Type 2 electronic bell, a Safetran gate mechanism, and NEG gate lights.
Signal on the right: 3 pairs of Safetran 12x20 inch lights, a Safetran mechanical bell, a Safetran (Siemens) gate mechanism, and NEG LED gate lights.

After catching what I believe was NS 187, I went on over to the next crossing west and set-up for 23D. After just a few minutes of waiting, NS 23D came through with an SD70ACC leading a pair of Dash-9s, with this being the first SD70ACC I caught leading! This was also one of the earliest ones NS rebuilt, based on the number it has.

This crossing is another nice one, having originally had a pair of signals installed by NS in the 1990s. The signals remained unchanged until sometime in the 2000s, when the original Safetran mechanical bell was replaced with the current GS Type 2. The crossing then remained mostly unchanged until sometime around 2016/2017, when the closer signal was replaced entirely with a brand new one! However, thankfully enough, the remaining Safetran mechanical bell here was re-used onto the new signal!

[freebrickproductions]

*originally recorded on 10-6-24*

Signal on the left: 3 pairs of Safetran 12x20 inch lights, a General Signals Type 2 electronic bell, a Safetran gate mechanism, and RECO LED gate lights.
Signal on the right: 3 pairs of Safetran 12x20 inch lights, a General Signals Type 3 electronic bell, a Safetran-branded Siemens gate mechanism, and NEG LED gate lights.

After we caught 191 in Pell City, EquusStorm and I hopped back onto I-20 and continued our way east to this crossing in Eastaboga. Here, after about another hour or so of waiting, we were able to get our fourth train of the day: NS 395 with a pair of ES44DCs for power and a very friendly crew aboard!

Sometime between when I last recorded this crossing in action in 2020 and when I came through this area back in 2022, NS had sadly replaced the remaining Safetran mechanical bell here with a new General Signals Type 3 e-bell. At about the same time, the far signal had its gate lights replaced with the current RECO LED gate lights. Thankfully, since then, no further changes appear to have occurred to this crossing. I'll have to return here soon-ish to see about checking-up on the remaining mechanical bells around Eastaboga, TBH.

http://www.rxrsignals.com/Alabama/A-F/Eastaboga/Mudd/