Country Club Road, Sanford, FL

[freebrickproductions]

*originally recorded on 6-23-25*

Signal on the left: 5 pairs of WCH 12x24 inch lights with General Signals LEDs, a General Signals Type 3 electronic bell, a US&S Model 95 gate mechanism, and NEG LED gate lights.
Signal on the right: 2 pairs of Safetran 12x24 inch lights with General Signals LEDs, a WCH mechanical bell, a US&S Model 75 gate mechanism, and NEG LED gate lights.
This crossing is located in a quiet zone. Trains do not usually blow their horns at this crossing.

After catching L717, I returned back over to this crossing to try and get another SunRail commuter train. After a bit of waiting, I was able to catch my fourth train of the day: a southbound SunRail commuter train with an MP32PH-Q for power and a friendly crew aboard.

This crossing is a rather nice one, featuring the last remaining mechanical bell on the SunRail's mainline at it! The signals here were originally installed by the SBD back in the early-1980s, though in the mid-90s, CSX replaced the lights on the closer signal with the current Safetran 12x24s (which were originally incandescent) and the bell on the same signal was replaced about the same time with the current WCH mechanical bell. Then, in the late-90s or early-2000s, the bell on the far signal was replaced with a GS e-bell. Shortly after, in the 2000s as well, CSX replaced with the front-left mast light on the far signal with another Safetran 12x24. The crossing remained largely unchanged for a while after that, but, then, when SunRail (re)added a second track through this crossing between 2011 and 2013, the signal on the far side was replaced entirely with the current one, though it originally had a GS Type 2. At about the same time, SunRail upgraded the closer signal's lights to LED. Thankfully, since then, the only notable change here was replacing the GS Type 2 on the cantilever with a GS Type 3 e-bell at some point. Unfortunately, I'm entirely unsure when this was, though I suspect it was at some point in the mid to late-2010s based on the condition of the bell.
I'm quite glad to see that the old SBD-era mast signal here still retains its US&S Model 75 gate mech, which I believe is the last surviving Model 75 on the SunRail's mainline these days. Even better, the closer signal still retains its WCH mechanical bell, which is quite nice to see, especially since, as stated above, it's the last surviving mechanical bell on the SunRail's mainline. Unfortunately, the bell does sound like it's starting to wear-out, as it struggles a bit when starting, which is a bit of a shame to see. Hopefully SunRail gives it some TLC, but, either way, I'm quite glad I was able to record it when I did.