Mike's Railroad Crossing Forum

ZachL wrote:Aw man that sucks I wonder why the signal maintainer(s) on that line haven't had the courtesy on their inspections/tests to fix it.

I can think of three reasons why:
#1 is probably because it's up on a cantilever, and with how some of those ladders are, I can't blame them for not wanting to climb up there with all of the necessary tools to fix and/or replace the bell.
#2 is that the other bell still works so it's not an issue if one of two bells is dead, at least to them.
#3 is that they've got other priorities that they have to worry about getting done on time, and fixing one bell could make them get those others done late.

freebrickproductions wrote:

ZachL wrote:Aw man that sucks I wonder why the signal maintainer(s) on that line haven't had the courtesy on their inspections/tests to fix it.

I can think of three reasons why:
#1 is probably because it's up on a cantilever, and with how some of those ladders are, I can't blame them for not wanting to climb up there with all of the necessary tools to fix and/or replace the bell.
#2 is that the other bell still works so it's not an issue if one of two bells is dead, at least to them.
#3 is that they've got other priorities that they have to worry about getting done on time, and fixing one bell could make them get those others done late.

I guess one functioning bell is enough.

Got a video yesterday of the new e-bell here:


Signal on the left: 4 pairs of Safetran 12x24 inch lights and a General Signals Type 2 electronic bell.
Signal on the right: 5 pairs of Safetran 12x24 inch lights and a dead RACO mechanical bell.

I suspect that the new bell came from Alabama Street in Courtland, AL, as that's the only GS Type 2 on an NS line in the area that was replaced recently.

Sounds like the RACO bell is clicking.

ZachL wrote:Sounds like the RACO bell is clicking.

Yea, it's not "quite" dead yet, but it's not really ringing anymore...

freebrickproductions wrote:

ZachL wrote:Sounds like the RACO bell is clicking.

Yea, it's not "quite" dead yet, but it's not really ringing anymore...

Honestly, I had thought it was fully dead, but the Safetran bell seemed to overpower its clicking, thus making it inaudible. The GS bell...not so much.

Signal on the left: 4 pairs of Safetran 12x24 inch lights and a General Signals Type 2 electronic bell.
Signal on the right: 5 pairs of Safetran 12x24 inch lights and a General Signals Type 2 electronic bell.

Well, the new e-bell here is sadly a GS Type 2, though with how new it looks, it is likely new old stock that the maintainer had laying around. Other than that though, no changes have occurred to this crossing. I was also able to rescue the old RACO bell, and I found a few issues with it.

http://www.rxrsignals.com/Alabama/Huntsville/Pratt1/

Here's a few videos I have from Pratt Avenue, both that have the General Signals Type 2 and the Dead RACO Bell, which is now gone...




Also, I was the one who discovered that the GS Type 2 bell was replaced when I discovered in on my trip back in October of 2017...

First video was taken on October 7, 2017
Second video was taken on November 24, 2017

I will see about getting a third video soon... but it's going to be a while...

No major changes here as of 10-23-21:

No major changes here as of 5-4-22 either: