Mike's Railroad Crossing Forum

Found a crossing here in Alabama that still has a Teardrop bell! The crossing is Alabama Street in Odenville, AL, and it still gets somewhat regular use by the ATN when they send trains between Gadsden and Birmingham. I sadly wasn't able to record this guy in action though, since the train had yet to arrive by the time I had to leave, so I have no idea if he still works or not. This crossing doesn't have any street view at it either, so this was a complete surprise! The signal is an old SAL install too!
Alabama Street, Odenville, AL by freebrickproductions, on Flickr
Old Railroad Crossing Signal by freebrickproductions, on Flickr
Old Railroad Crossing Signal by freebrickproductions, on Flickr
Old Railroad Crossing Signal by freebrickproductions, on Flickr
Old Railroad Crossing Signal by freebrickproductions, on Flickr
US&S Teardrop Bell by freebrickproductions, on Flickr
US&S Teardrop Bell by freebrickproductions, on Flickr
US&S Teardrop Bell by freebrickproductions, on Flickr

Amazing find, that's a neat looking signal. Do you know if it was custom made, or were they available to buy like that? It's sure would be nice to see in action. I have often wondered what rare equipment is still hiding out there that is not on street view.

Redwater, Texas: https://www.google.com/maps/@33.3641655 ... 6656?hl=en

McK&H.Aust wrote:Amazing find, that's a neat looking signal. Do you know if it was custom made, or were they available to buy like that? It's sure would be nice to see in action. I have often wondered what rare equipment is still hiding out there that is not on street view.

I believe they could be ordered like this. It would've been done to keep the lights from being hit by the gate back in the days of wooden gates.

freebrickproductions wrote:

McK&H.Aust wrote:Amazing find, that's a neat looking signal. Do you know if it was custom made, or were they available to buy like that? It's sure would be nice to see in action. I have often wondered what rare equipment is still hiding out there that is not on street view.

I believe they could be ordered like this. It would've been done to keep the lights from being hit by the gate back in the days of wooden gates.

Nice find. Makes you wonder how much more cool stuff is out there that StreetView never seems to get to.

brett nc railfanner wrote:https://www.google.com/maps/place/S+Sla ... 18.4105566

Nice find! There's another one there as well!
https://www.google.com/maps/@33.96077,- ... 312!8i6656

freebrickproductions wrote:

brett nc railfanner wrote:https://www.google.com/maps/place/S+Sla ... 18.4105566

Nice find! There's another one there as well!
https://www.google.com/maps/@33.96077,- ... 312!8i6656

Very nice... and it looks like they were painted recently. It appears it has been a long time since they have seen a train though...

cabman701 wrote:

freebrickproductions wrote:

brett nc railfanner wrote:https://www.google.com/maps/place/S+Sla ... 18.4105566

Nice find! There's another one there as well!
https://www.google.com/maps/@33.96077,- ... 312!8i6656

Very nice... and it looks like they were painted recently. It appears it has been a long time since they have seen a train though...

Judging from the fact that the spur ends not too far from the crossing, I'm going to assume that if any trains were to cross the road, it would be for switching purposes only.

Anyone else notice this?
https://www.google.com/maps/@33.9608526 ... 312!8i6656

More Italian crossings with WABCO Teardrops.
These sound pretty healthy:


One of the Teardrops here is dead with the other starting to die, it sounds like:


Here's another one with more healthy sounding teardrops:


Two more healthy ones: