Mike's Railroad Crossing Forum

freebrickproductions wrote:https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Quincy+C ... 84,,0,4.25

Quite odd to have a bell only crossing at a rather busy intersection like that. Especially since the next crossing over (on what looks to be a much less busy street) has gates.

But I noticed the traffic signals have the light up no turn signs, so I would guess the traffic lights play a role in protecting the crossing. The bells would mainly be there for pedestrians.

Bell only crossing at Higdon Road in Huntsville, AL on the NARM line. I'm not sure if the bell still works though:
https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=3 ... 6,,1,-0.29

freebrickproductions wrote:Bell only crossing at Higdon Road in Huntsville, AL on the NARM line. I'm not sure if the bell still works though:
https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=3 ... 6,,1,-0.29

Nice find!

Looks like they might have planned at one time for at least lights... since the mast on the other side is a standard mast (and not wooden or something simpler). I don't see any markings on either pole that would suggest there were lights on them at one time and then they were removed.

cabman701 wrote:

freebrickproductions wrote:Bell only crossing at Higdon Road in Huntsville, AL on the NARM line. I'm not sure if the bell still works though:
https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=3 ... 6,,1,-0.29

Nice find!

Looks like they might have planned at one time for at least lights... since the mast on the other side is a standard mast (and not wooden or something simpler). I don't see any markings on either pole that would suggest there were lights on them at one time and then they were removed.

The signals actually had lights. I believe they were WRRS 8 inch incandescents. Here are some screenshots from street view before it was updated:

Higdon Road, Huntsville, AL (2007) by freebrickproductions, on Flickr

Higdon Road, Huntsville, AL (2007) by freebrickproductions, on Flickr
It appears that a visor was missing from one of the lights.

Looks like that is a museum line and it dead-ends not far to the west at the Alabama A&M University campus.

This must have had signals at one time, but get a load of what's there now!

https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=3 ... 13.74&z=19

AndyWS wrote:Looks like that is a museum line and it dead-ends not far to the west at the Alabama A&M University campus.

This must have had signals at one time, but get a load of what's there now!

https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=3 ... 13.74&z=19

Yep, that crossing had signals at one time, with a bell that was turned an odd way:

Chase Road, Huntsville, AL (2007) by freebrickproductions, on Flickr

Also, Moores Mill Road #2 had a pair of old WRRS cantilevers with 8 inch lights and a mechanical bell. Here is what's there now:
https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=3 ... 10.47&z=18

If you further up the line, there is a crossing with normal crossbucks and then the rest of the crossings have 45* crossbucks. The Museum has 45* crossbucks too.

freebrickproductions wrote:Also, Moores Mill Road #2 had a pair of old WRRS cantilevers with 8 inch lights and a mechanical bell. Here is what's there now: https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=3 ... 10.47&z=18

The cantilevers are still visible on satellite view: http://goo.gl/maps/4TlP3

Ran across this a few weeks ago taking a group of kids to a basketball game. A pedestrian crossing in a rather small town. Quite interesting...

http://goo.gl/maps/B6r1T

Here's a view from the other side:

http://goo.gl/maps/wvOqy

I believe at one time that street was actually open, so my guess is that it had regular signals. When they closed the street they decided to at least keep a bell there for pedestrians. I would venture to guess it is still the same control box and they just mounted the bell directly to it.

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=napoleon ... 59,,0,5.91
It appears the lights and crossbucks were removed from the signals.

freebrickproductions wrote:https://maps.google.com/maps?q=napoleon ... 59,,0,5.91
It appears the lights and crossbucks were removed from the signals.

It also turns out that it's a US&S Teardrop as well!
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=napoleon ... -6.76&z=20

I'm pretty sure it's because the line is defunct. To the south of it, there is a grain elevator and the tracks look like they see daily service (I estimate 1 a day). To the north however, it's completely overgrown and looks like it hasn't seen action in about 2-3 years. I'm pretty sure the crossing is only used during shunting periods.